David Beckham no factor for L.A. in MLS return

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — David Beckham returned to Major League Soccer with a whisper, not a shout.

Playing in a stadium nearly three-quarters empty, the star midfielder was slow and had little role in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Thursday night.

"The most important thing is for us to get three points, and tonight we did that in style," Beckham said.

In his first match since the Italian League's season finale on May 31, Beckham was often behind the play and seemed winded. He had no free-kick chances near the goal, didn't make any crosses that created threats and didn't even take all the Galaxy corner kicks while he was in the match.

Alecko Eskandarian scored for the Galaxy (6-3-9) on a left-footed volley that beat keeper Danny Cepero from about 28 yards in the third minute. Landon Donovan scored on a shot from about the same distance in the 31st, and Eddie Lewis from 15 yards in the 45th.

Juan Pablo Angel had an 87th-minute penalty kick and failed to convert one in the 90th for the Red Bulls (2-14-4).

Beckham appeared to go out of his way to be friendly with Donovan, who recently criticized his teammate as unprofessional. Beckham and Donovan, who regained his captain's job from the Englishman, shook hands and embraced ahead of the opening whistle.

"There was never a doubt in our minds that these guys would work together,"coach Bruce Arena said. "It was certainly a great moment with all the buildup of the so-called questionable relationship."

Note

• Houston forward Brian Ching has been fined $500 by the MLS for criticizing the officiating in the Dynamo's 2-1 loss to Sounders FC on Saturday through his Twitter account.

Ching, a former Gonzaga and USL Sounders standout, was playing for the United States that night in a Gold Cup match, so he watched the Dynamo on television. Houston led 1-0 when Fredy Montero fired a shot in the 32nd minute that was kicked away near the goal line, but linesman Emiliano Monje awarded the goal.

"Ref in seattle just cheated the dynamo," Ching tweeted minutes later. "What a joke. Not even close. Ref is a cheat."

He apologized in two Twitter posts the next morning, blaming "the heat of the moment."