Penalty heartache for Beckham

Galaxy denied MLS Cup by Real Salt Lake in shoot-out

Last updated: 23rd November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Penalty heartache for Beckham

Beckham: Proud of efforts

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David Beckham missed out on lifting the MLS Cup after his Los Angeles Galaxy side were beaten on penalties by Real Salt Lake following a 1-1 draw in Seattle.

England international Beckham, who required painkilling injections in his ankle in order to play, had slotted away the first spot-kick of the shoot-out.

However, Jovan Kirovski, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle all missed from 12 yards to allow Robbie Russell to score the decisive penalty in a 5-4 sudden-death win.

Beckham has been in three England teams knocked out of major tournaments after shoot-outs, by Argentina in the 1998 World Cup when he had earlier been sent off, and twice by Portugal, the then England captain having missed from the spot at Euro 2004 before watching from the sidelines at the 2006 World Cup.

Russian roulette

"It's always tough losing, whether you lose on penalties or in normal play, but we can be proud of where we've come to," said Beckham.

"I wouldn't say it's tougher to lose on penalties, but it's Russian roulette, it's not a nice way to lose, but that's the way it is.

"The people that step up are brave enough to step up and if you score, great, and if you miss it's hard to take.

"Josh (Saunders) did great to make those saves, he's a great goalkeeper, it just wasn't our night."

He added: "I had three injections in my ankle and it wore off after about 15 minutes.

"I knew it would be like that going into the game and of course it got worse and worse during the game, but that's what happens when you've got an injury like that."

Galaxy had taken the lead in normal time with Beckham playing his part in the 41st minute opener as he fed Donovan to cross for Mike Magee to score at the far post.

However, Salt Lake levelled in the 64th minute through leading scorer Robbie Findley after captain Kyle Beckerman put the ball into the box. Two shots were blocked by Galaxy defenders before it fell to Findley who fired home from the corner of the six-yard box.