Galaxy Rip Wellington Phoenix

Despite falling behind early on, the Los Angeles Galaxy scored four unanswered goals to close out their post-season tour of Oceania with a 4-1 victory over the Wellington Phoenix. The sell-out crowd of 35,000 - the largest ever for a soccer game in New Zealand - got their money's worth as star-of-the-night David Beckham set up several goals before hammering home a penalty late in the game for his second goal in as many games.

Having been thoroughly defeated by Sydney FC earlier in the week, things looked none too promising for the G's in the opening minutes of this match, either. Joe Cannon was forced into a big diving save in the seventh minute, giving the home side a corner kick, a chance they would take full advantage off when the ball squirted free of the crowd to captain Ross Aloisi, who skied his attempt over Cannon and into the roof of the goal to give WPFC the early advantage.

The lead wouldn't last long, however, as Beckham led the Galaxy down the field in the 16th minute, launching a long pass to Landon Donovan that the U.S. star chested down in the box before turning and firing on goal. Though Donovan's shot was initially knocked away by the Wellington 'keeper, the rebound fell directly into the path of the recently-acquired Clint Mathis, with Cletus blasting the ball into the back of the net to even the score.

The game would remain knotted until just before halftime, with Los Angeles getting a go-ahead goal in the 45th minute. Forward Edson Buddle took on a pair of defenders at the line of the 18-yard box, turning to his left and slipping as his shot was deflected back to Donovan. This time, Donovan would not be denied, beating the Wellington keeper between the legs with a left-footed effort for the Galaxy's second goal.

It would only take Los Angeles a few minutes into the second half to cash in once more, this time when a Donovan cross from the left side was redirected back across the front of goal by Mathis to second-half substitute Carlos Pavon. The Honduran international, widely considered a huge flop in his first MLS season, easily knocked the ball across the goal-line to stretch the Galaxy lead to two, 3-1.

Pavon would create the final goal of the night by being tripped up inside the area to hand the Galaxy a penalty kick. The normal PK-taker for Los Angeles, Donovan sensed what the crowd wanted, waving Beckham in to take the spot kick, with the English midfielder slamming the effort home to cement the final scoreline, 4-1 Galaxy.

"I was surprised because I am not a penalty taker but Landon told me to have it and I was happy to," said Beckham after the game.