The LA Galaxy closed out 2007 with a 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night in the New Zealand capital. Clint Mathis and Landon Donovan grabbed first-half goals as LA erased an early 1-0 deficit to defeat the A-League side who had played a league match against Adelaide a night earlier. Carlos Pavon and David Beckham rounded out the scoring after the break, as LA rounded out the win in front of 31,853.
A sea of yellow and black, the colors of the Phoenix, greeted the players as they entered the field and they did not stop cheering until well after the final whistle. Those fans were making the most noise in the seventh minute when their side scored the game's opening goal. After a fine save from Joe Cannon, the Phoenix had a corner kick from the right which Felipe placed into the center of the box. Steven Old and Chris Klein went up for the ball and Old's header deflected off Klein and right back to his feet, allowing him to poke the ball toward the corner of the six-yard box for Wellington captain Ross Aloisi to slam past Cannon from close range for a 1-0 lead.
That lead would last for just ten minutes however before Clint Mathis would equalize for the visitors. A long ball from Beckham found Donovan in the center of the box and he took the ball down on his chest before tiring to fire a shot with his right foot. That shot was blocked but was deflected directly to Mathis who side-footed a shot home with his right, leveling the score.
It would stay that way right until the final minute of the half when another deflection came to the Galaxy's aid. This time is was an Edson Buddle shot that was deflected only for the rebound to fall to the feet of Donovan who calmly slotted the ball past Wellington 'keeper Mark Paston, giving LA a 2-1 halftime advantage.
Coach Ruud Gullit made four substitutions at the half and one of them wasted no time in getting his name on the scoresheet as Carlos Pavon gave LA a 3-1 lead in the 48th minute. Donovan got free on the left flank and crossed to Mathis at the back post. His attempted volley got underneath Paston and right into the path of Pavon who tapped the ball home from close range for a two-goal advantage.
Pavon was instrumental in the Galaxy's fourth as well as he was dragged down in the box by Steven Old, leaving the referee no choice but to call the penalty. Donovan waved Beckham up to the spot and the England international, who has been given a hero's welcome at every step on his first visit to New Zealand, smashed the penalty straight down the middle for his second goal in as many games giving his side a 4-1 lead in the 77th minute.
The score would stay that way until the end of the match as the Galaxy backline gave Wellington few chances at goal and any that did get through were gobbled up by Steve Cronin to seal the victory.
LA Galaxy 4, Wellington Phoenix 1
LA Galaxy - Joe Cannon (Steve Cronin 46'), Ante Jazic, Kyle Veris, Chris Klein, Chris Albright (Quavas Kirk 46'), Kevin Harmse (Peter Vagenas 46'), Josh Tudela, David Beckham, Clint Mathis (Cobi Jones 75'), Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle (Carlos Pavon 46').
Wellington Phoenix - Mark Paston, Karl Dodd (Steven O'Dor 79'), Kristian Rees, Steven Old, Ross Aloisi © (Jeremy Christie 58'), Michael Ferrante (Costa Barbarouses 72'), Richard Johnson (Daniel 72'), Vince Lia (Ahmad Elrich 58'), Felipe, Vaughan Coveny (Greg Draper 86'), Shane Smeltz (Royce Brownlie 46').
Scoring Summary:
WEL - Ross Aloisi (Felipe) 7'
LAG - Clint Mathis (unassisted) 17'
LAG - Landon Donovan (unassisted) 45'
LAG - Carlos Pavon (Clint Mathis, Landon Donovan) 48'
LAG - David Beckham (penalty kick) 77'
Misconduct Summary:
LAG - Kevin Harmse (yellow) 16'
Referee: Mike Hester
Referee's Assistants: Paul Dunham and Nick Waldron
Fourth Official: Matt Conger
Attendance: 31,853
