Bend it like me: LA Galaxy player David Beckham of England shoots on goal past Indonesian Selection player Mahadirga Lasut during a friendly game at Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on Wednesday
span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">Bend it like me: LA Galaxy player David Beckham of England shoots on goal past Indonesian Selection player Mahadirga Lasut during a friendly game at Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on Wednesday. LA Galaxy won 1-0. JP/R. Berto WedhatamaFielding the same lineup that recently won the Major League Soccer Cup, LA Galaxy cantered to a cool 1-0 win over Indonesia Selection in front of a disappointingly small home crowd of 20,000 people at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Having had only a few days to prepare for the match, Indonesia Selection, a team made up of senior squad and U23 Indonesian national team players, appeared to lack coordination.
LA Galaxy’s squad was bristling with star power, spearheaded by their main trio of David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.
The match got off to a scrappy, low-tempo start, with both sides giving up possession cheaply.
Beckham was involved in a brief scrap with Andik in the 8th minute, after the former Manchester United player was judged to have fouled the Indonesian. Beckham was then seen to push Greg Nwokolo, prompting a chorus of boos from the crowd, which persisted each time Beckham received the ball thereafter.
The deadlock was broken soon after, with Ireland striker Robbie latching onto a pass from Mike Magee to slot home Galaxy’s first goal.
The host team’s most promising chance came in the 31st minute, when Andik received a pass from Greg, but his shot was stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
LA Galaxy had quite a number of chances to extend their lead, but their execution was lacking.
Just before half time, Adam Christman hit the wood work, but when the ball rebounded to Keane, he too could only find the post.
In the second half, the previously lackadaisical pace of the game reached a new excruciating lethargy that was at times difficult to watch.
Numerous substitutions were made by both teams, but the new players were not able to inject any real pace or urgency into the game, which was played in hot and humid conditions.
After the game, Andik Vermansyah swapped shirts with Beckham, who had been substituted for Dan Keat in the 84th minute.
“I felt bad for kicking him. I think he is a very talented player for the Indonesian team,” Beckham said after the match.
“The game was very good, full of talented, quick players who know how to play the game. I’m gonna rest, I have a big decision to make,” Beckham added, referring to his decision to continue playing for LA Galaxy next year, or sign for Paris Saint-Germain.
Sole goalscorer Robby Keane said after the match: “I am happy to score the goal. I enjoyed the game though it was very very hot tonight.”
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