for TFC, the fourth game in their 10-match run without a goal in setting an all-time MLS goalless record. For LA, it was the first of three successive shutouts, which came to an end in Beckham's first start in a wild 5-4 loss to New York.
• Coaches record: Ruud Gullit vs. TOR: first game ... John Carver v LA: first game
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy returned home and won for the first time on the new season, getting a pair of first-half goals for a 2-0 victory against their arch-rivals, the expansion San Jose Earthquakes. The Galaxy have three points from two matches, tied for second place in the Western Conference, a point behind fellow Home Depot Center denizens Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
• The Galaxy were back home for the first time in 2008, after their season-opening defeat in Colorado, facing their long-time rivals from northern California, the Earthquakes returning to action after a two-year hiatus.
• It seemed as if the expansion team had a dream start when Ryan Cochrane headed home a corner after just two minutes, but the flag was up for offside.
• Seven minutes later, David Beckham had his first MLS goal since coming to the league. Landon Donovan picked off a ball in midfield and sprung Beckham with a perfectly weighted through ball on the right. Beckham slotted the ball underneath Joe Cannon from the edge of the area for the ninth-minute opener.
• Then in the 37th minute, the roles were reversed. Beckham this time played provider, lobbing a ball over the San Jose backline for Donovan to run onto. Donovan beat Cannon to the ball, looping a shot over the 'keeper and into the net.
• Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit made four changes to the team that lost 4-0 to the Colorado Rapids to open the season. Sean Franklin and Mike Randolph came into the back four, Brandon McDonald into the midfield and Alan Gordon up top as Gullit changed his formation. They replaced Abel Xavier (suspended), Carlos Ruiz (injured), Michael Gavin and Peter Vagenas.
• Here's Gullit's team (4-4-2): Steve Cronin - Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Greg Vanney, Mike Randolph (Michael Gavin 86) - David Beckham, Alvaro Pires, Brandon McDonald, Ely Allen - Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon. Substitutes Not Used: Edson Buddle, Bryan Jordan, Troy Roberts, Josh Tudela, Peter Vagenas, Josh Wicks
• "In the first game, we were all over the place, from the back to the midfield to up front. That's something that we've worked on the last two or three days," said David Beckham. "It showed tonight. It showed that we worked hard on it. It pays off when you take that into a game."
TEAM NEWS
• After trying out a 4-2-3-1 system for most of the preseason, which became a 4-3-3 in attack, Gullit reconfigured the team into a more traditional-looking 4-4-2 scheme in the second half of the Colorado game. He maintained that system for the Earthquakes match, with Landon Donovan beside Alan Gordon in attack.
• "The only difference (tonight) was the strikers were playing beside each other, instead of behind each other," said Gullit. "It was a slight difference. If you play any kind of system and play like we played last week, you're going to lose."
• Of course, the big news following the match was the stamp put on the game by the two biggest stars on the Galaxy - Beckham and Donovan. For Beckham, it was his first MLS goal; his first and only previous competitive goal in an LA uniform came in the SuperLiga semifinal last year, a tremendous free kick against D.C. United.
• "It's great to score a goal. I love scoring goals. I'm usually the other end assisting. Landon assisted me, and then I assisted him. It's always nice getting goals. Tonight was one of those nights where I scored. I'm happy," Beckham said. "We got some young players in there, so it's important that we won tonight and pulled well tonight."
• With Donovan playing more as a traditional striker, it provided more chances for the two to combine than perhaps would have happened if they were wide players in the previous system.
• "The funny thing is that on Saturday we had two or three moments like that but since it didn't come off people think that it all of a sudden happened tonight and it's working," Donovan said. "We understand the game the same way. We see the game the same way. Having played and trained together now, it's made it even easier. I know where he wants the ball and how he wants the ball, and he knows where I want it and how I want it."
• But equally pleasing for Gullit was the play of his young players in the lineup. Sean Franklin was making his first professional appearance in a start in central defense, Brandon McDonald was making his second appearance and first start, and Ely Allen was starting for the second game in a row.
• "Everyone always asks me about David and about Landon. Everybody knows them already," said Gullit. "For me, it's important to talk about the other players who have done extremely well for us ... I want to give a compliment especially to the youngsters who played. I think Sean (Franklin) played extremely well. Brandon McDonald was excellent also. Ely (Allen) did a good job. He could have scored a goal."
• From the start Gullit has said the best players in his team will play, regardless of who they are. "I'm not afraid to play the young players if they're good enough," said Gullit. "The only way to get a little bit of experience is to play."
TORONTO FC
Toronto FC went down to defeat for the second consecutive match on the young season, conceding a pair of early goals and going a man down as well in a 4-1 loss to D.C. United on Saturday night at RFK Stadium. TFC is still looking for its first point on the new season, sitting at the foot of the Eastern Conference, six points off the pace of the Kansas City Wizards entering the week.
LAST MATCH
• D.C. United were back home for their league opener in the nation's capital off two consecutive shutouts, at Kansas City to open the 2008 MLS season, then by Pachuca in Mexico in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal. Toronto FC was also looking for a first goal on the year, shut out in Columbus to start the season.
• It was D.C. United who exploded from the gates, scoring twice in the opening five minutes of the game. First Luciano Emilio latched onto a ball that the TFC defense couldn't deal with and prodded it under goalkeeper Greg Sutton from inside the box after just two minutes.
• Emilio then cracked a rising shot that crashed off the crossbar. Devon McTavish headed the rebound goalward, only to be denied by Sutton, but Santino Quaranta came into to knock home the rebound for his goal since his return to the club where he began his career.
• The Reds were left a man down after just 22 minutes when Kevin Harmse was sent off for a harsh two-footed tackle on Gonzalo Peralta in midfield. But United didn't take advantage until after the break, when Marcelo Gallardo came in unmarked at the back post to finish off Quaranta's cross-shot from the right (52).
• United made it 4-0 in the 78th minute as Jaime Moreno scored his MLS record 113th league goal, taking possession of the ball in the TFC area and coolly rolling a tidy finish just inside the far post. Toronto finally broke through two minutes from the end, Maurice Edu rising up to meet a Jim Brennan cross from the left corner and looping a header inside the post.
• TFC head coach John Carver made four changes to the team that lost 2-0 to the Columbus Crew. Greg Sutton returned between the posts in place of rookie Brian Edwards, while Kevin Harmse and Laurent Robert came into the midfield for Todd Dunivant and Tyler Hemming. Danny Dichio also made his first start of 2008, in place of the injured Collin Samuel.
• Here's Carver's team (4-3-1-2): Greg Sutton - Marvell Wynne, Tyrone Marshall, Marco Velez, Jim Brennan - Maurice Edu, Kevin Harmse, Carl Robinson - Laurent Robert (Tyler Rosenlund 83) - Jeff Cunningham (Andrea Lombardo 64), Danny Dichio (Tyler Hemming 83). Substitutes Not Used: Andrew Boyens, Brian Edwards, Julius James, Pat Phelan
• "We conceded the two goals and then the game settled down a little bit and we created two chances -- Jeff Cunningham had a great chance with the header and then you shoot yourself again when you got down to 10 men. It's difficult playing against any side with 10 men, let alone D.C.," Carver said.
TEAM NEWS
• Carver wasn't pleased with Harmse's sending off, that all but killed any chance TFC would have had of coming back into the game. "In fairness, I don't think I can defend him because it was a reckless tackle. So, our backs are up against it two-nil down, and we're down to 10 men but I thought we created one or two half-chances," Carver said.
• Carver was pleased with what Laurent Robert brought to the team in his MLS debut. He started the game just behind the front two.
• "I think you see what you get with Laurent," said Carver. "He's a huge asset on set plays; he strikes a great ball. I was delighted to get so long out of him; I was surprised he lasted as long as he did. The fitter he gets the better he'll be and he'll be a huge asset for the club."
• While the Reds have conceded six goals in their first two matches - the defending was supposed to be a strong suit entering the season - Carver does not think it will take much to improve. He had been trying to have the team hold a higher line.
• "But there's a time to do that ... if our forwards are putting pressure on the ball the guy with possession can't obviously get his head up to move the ball forward. But if there's no pressure on the ball, you can't squeeze up," he said to The Sun. "What was happening was, when there was no pressure on the ball we were still squeezing up the field and the guy could just pick and pass wherever he wanted. So we had runners coming in from behind and down the side -- and we were still going thataway when the ball was coming this way.
• After sitting the opening match, Greg Sutton returned between the posts for TFC. He saw 18 shots, stopping seven, as United attacked relentlessly from the opening kick. "It made up for lost work last year," quipped Sutton. Said Carver: "He was fantastic. I told him at halftime that the save he made (on an Emilio header) in the first half was world-class."
• Todd Dunivant is expected to return to training on Thursday. He missed the United game with a hip flexor injury and has not trained this week. "It was frustrating missing the game in D.C. but I feel good now and should be able to return to training on Thursday," said Dunivant.
• Julius James is almost ready to make his first appearance of the season. The first round selection in the MLS SuperDraft injured his shoulder in the final preseason game against Charleston and has had to sit out the first two games. He played 45 minutes of the 2-1 reserve team win against USL side Cleveland on Monday and Carver is pleased with his progress. "Julius did well and came through the game fine. I don't know yet if he'll be starting on Sunday," Carver said.
