Beckham shines but Galaxy pipped

Teenager Jozy Altidore, at only 17, stole much of the show as the Red Bulls scored a dramatic late winner to beat Galaxy.

Beckham had two assists inside the first 10 minutes, setting up Carlos Pavon both times as the Galaxy cancelled out Juan Pablo Angel's early goal to take the lead.

But Altidore then helped set up Clint Mathis before scoring twice himself to put New York in the clear, although Landon Donovan responded.

The game appeared headed for a draw until Mathis struck a long-range shot which Joe Cannon could only parry, and Angel popped up to finish from a tight angle.

Pleasingly for his paymasters, the opening stages had belonged to Beckham.

All too aware of the threat posed by the former England captain, Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena had spoken about the need to limit the Galaxy's set-piece opportunities going into the game. His players did not listen.

Two Beckham set-pieces led to two Galaxy goals in the space of five minutes.

The first came in the sixth minute when Beckham whipped in a corner directly on to the head of Pavon, who placed it in the far corner.

They linked up again two minutes later, Beckham's deep free-kick looping over a crowd of players to find Pavon all alone at the far post. Ronald Waterreus got a hand to the ball but could not stop it.