Highlights: LA Galaxy 2 - 0 Whitecaps FC

VANCOUVER, BC - Playing their first match in the month of September, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10W-11L-7D) suffered a 2-0 away defeat to Western Conference rivals LA Galaxy (13W-11L-4D) in Major League Soccer on Saturday evening.

A first-half strike by Juninho helped the Southern California outfit earn this year’s regular season series of matches versus Whitecaps FC. The Galaxy wrapped up all three points after the break, as David Beckham struck home a trademark free kick in the late stages at The Home Depot Center.

“It’s a very frustrating score line and result, but there are a lot of things we can take from that game and from that performance. I thought we showed a lot of energy in the first half and it was a fairly even game. We gave Juninho a lot more space than we should have two or three times and he managed to play balls in behind and then he scored a fantastic goal. So, in the first half, that was really the difference between the teams. In the second half, obviously, we were wanting to push a little more, we were frustrated that we didn’t create more chances, that was a disappointment. But again, the goal that cost us the game was an outstanding goal from a very good player, an outstanding player in our league.” Whitecaps FC head coach, Martin Rennie

Defeat for the Blue and White sees the distance between fifth-place Vancouver and the top four in the MLS Western Conference extend to six points, with six matches remaining in the 2012 regular season schedule for Whitecaps FC.

In a bid to give some first-choice players some rest before the end-of-season run-in, Rennie freshened up his starting XI by making five changes on Saturday. This included a first MLS start of the season for youngster Russell Teibert, who put in a very solid performance on the left flank for Vancouver. Englishman Matt Watson also made his first start for nearly four months in the ‘Caps midfield.

In gorgeous early September weather in Carson, California, Whitecaps FC worked hard to close down the defending MLS Cup champions and keep their shape. Chances were limited from the visitors before the break. An off-target Kenny Miller header was the closest that Whitecaps FC came to testing Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the opening 45 minutes.

Much of the first half revolved around the Galaxy trying unsuccessfully on several occasions to penetrate the Vancouver backline with through balls. They created chances through Robbie Keane, Mike Magee, Juninho, and a Beckham free kick, but goalkeeper Brad Knighton - who was making his second MLS start for Whitecaps FC - made the necessary saves.

What makes LA so dangerous in MLS is their ability to unlock teams at any moment. That occurred on 41 minutes when the home side scored the match winner. Following a neat passing sequence that involved several Galaxy players on the right flank, Keane steered Hector Jimenez’s pass into the path of Juninho. The Brazilian took a touch before beating Knighton with an unstoppable right-footed strike for his fifth goal of the season and a 1-0 LA lead at halftime.

The second half proved just as challenging for Whitecaps FC, who struggled to turn the momentum of the match back in their favour. Dane Richards came closest to finding the back of the net with a curling cross-shot that just missed the Galaxy far post on 64 minutes.

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Instead, the Galaxy created more chances after the break, with Keane forcing a couple more saves from Knighton, while Jun Marques Davidson had to clear a Jimenez shot off the Vancouver goal line.

Whitecaps FC’s hopes of taking an away result on Saturday ended when Beckham showed his world-class quality on set-pieces to score his seventh goal of the season on 79 minutes. After being awarded a free kick near the edge of the Vancouver box, the former England captain curled it over the visitors’ wall and past a helpless Knighton to seal a 2-0 victory for the surging Galaxy.

The ’Caps will now take a two-week break before focusing on the final game of this four-match away spell, as they visit Frisco, Texas, for a crucial Western Conference encounter versus FC Dallas on Saturday, September 15.