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David Beckham and his LA Galaxy teammates beat The Oceania All Stars 3-0 on Saturday December 6 at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
Just two minutes into the game the Galaxy nearly went in front as David Beckham lashed a right-footed shot from the top of the box, only for his former Manchester United teammate Mark Bosnich to dive to his left to parry the ball away for a corner.
However, Bosnich would not be so lucky a minute later as the Galaxy went in front 1-0. Mike Randolph's cross from the left wing found Chris Klein at the top of the box. He headed the ball forward to Alan Gordon, who knocked it down for another former Man United man, Jovan Kirovski. Kirovski hit a first time volley past Bosnich at his right post, giving LA a 1-0 advantage.
It was 2-0 in the 14th minute when Alan Gordon got free inside the box to beat Bosnich with a header from eight yards out. Beckham collected the ball in the center of the field and played it forward on the left to Eddie Lewis. With plenty of space in front of him, Lewis placed a pinpoint cross onto the head of Gordon, who easily beat Bosnich with a header and proceeded to celebrate his goal with an improvised version of the Haka.
Oceania had their first chance of the half in the 27th minute, but Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Jarrod Smith fired a shot high and wide of Josh Wicks' goal.
Five minutes later the Galaxy made it 3-0 as Brandon McDonald beat Bosnich with a free header inside the box off a Beckham corner from the left side. A Beckham freekick was deflected out for a corner, which was curled to the back post for McDonald who was unmarked, leaving him the easiest of finishes.
McDonald nearly had a second five minutes later as a Beckham freekick from the right found him free again in the box. This time however, his low header was saved by Bosnich. The rebound fell inside the six yard box, but Oceania defender Ivan Vicelich was able to clear the ball off the line just before Chris Klein could reach the ball.
Down three goals, the All-Stars tried to pull one back in the 39th minute. An Edgar Davids freekick from the right flank found Steven Old in the box, but his low header was saved and held by Wicks.
The Galaxy nearly grabbed a fourth just before the intermission as a long ball from midfield put Klein in behind the Oceania defense, but his attempted lob went high and wide of Bosnich's goal, keeping the score at 3-0 going into the break.
The fireworks of the first half would not be replicated in the second 45 minutes as the string of substitutions slowed the game down considerably, with neither team being able to get on the scoreboard.
Kirovski went close off a Beckham cross from the right and Eddie Lewis continued to cause problems for the All-Stars down the left flank, while second half substitutes Bryan Jordan and Tristan Bowen were active as well.
The Galaxy were reduced to 10-men in the 68th minute when Josh Tudela was sent off for his second yellow card. But despite the sending off, the Galaxy were able to keep the clean sheet for Wicks and send the club into their winter break on a high.
Inspite of last minute two-for-one deals only 16,500 people showed up to Mt Smart Stadium to watch the event. This is compared to December 2007, when a crowd of 31,853 was on hand to see the Galaxy defeat the Wellington Phoenix 4-1.
Poor ticket sales are being blamed on the tough economic climate and the fact that Beckham had already made one trip to New Zealand.
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