SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - David Beckham scored twice for his first two-goal game Major League Soccer while leading the Los Angels Galaxy to a 2-2 tie against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Beckham thrilled the fans with two of his trademark long, curving kicks in the first half after Los Angeles had fallen behind 2-0. He nearly had a third but was upended by a defender before he could get off a shot into an open net early in the second half.
The last time Beckham played in this stadium was August 2006 in an exhibition when he was still with Real Madrid. His return Saturday drew a crowd of 25,500, the third-largest in Real Salt Lake history.
Fabian Espindola and Kenny Deuchar scored early in the first half for Real Salt Lake and Nick Rimando finished with four saves, including a diving stop on a point-blank header by MLS leading scorer Landon Donovan
Los Angeles goalkeeper Steve Cronin also knocked away some tough shots to preserve the draw and finished with five saves.
Beckham got the Galaxy within 2-1 with one of his trademark benders from about 25 yards in the 36th minute. He almost one-timed it, but instead controlled it and reared back for a kick that curved around the defense and past Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando inside the far post.
Beckham did it again on a free kick in the 40th minute. Real's Dema Kovalenko was called for a foul and the Galaxy were awarded a free kick from 29 yards from the middle of the field.
Beckham wasn't the one who was fouled, but there was no doubt he would be taking the free kick. The home fans went silent as he blasted a shot that went over the wall of Real players and curved inside the left post again as Rimando dived helplessly for it.
Beckham ended his night by taking off his jersey and handing it to an ecstatic teenager in the front row, then walked across the field and waived goodbye to the fans.
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