Carson, Calif. – So much for jet lag.
David Beckham, just off a flight from London earlier in the day, got feisty after being tackled from behind by Jesse Marsch of Chivas USA in the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 3-0 loss Thursday night.
Beckham played the entire 90 minutes for the third time in six days, and was limping slightly near the end of the game in which he served as captain for the third consecutive match.
Beckham was in the starting lineup about six hours after arriving on a flight from London. He had spent the past four days with the England team, including playing the entire game in a 2-1 loss against Germany at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
He failed to connect on a couple of first-half free kicks, and near the end, as 5 a.m. London time approached, a tired Beckham had Carlos Pavon handle a corner kick.
Maykel Galindo scored twice in the second half, including his team-leading 10th goal of the season, for Chivas USA.
An announced crowd of 27,000 – camera flashes popping on Beckham’s corner kicks – saw the Galaxy’s $6.5 million man show his temper for the first time.
Marsch came running up behind Beckham and applied a high kick to the Galaxy captain’s upper right hip during injury time at the end of the first half of the MLS game.
Beckham fell forward, got up and ran over to Marsch, shouting in his face. A grim-faced Marsch stood his ground while Beckham was pulled away by teammate Edson Buddle. Beckham continued shouting at Marsch and swung his right arm when the referee tried to grab him and usher him away.
A shoving match ensued between the teams, which Beckham quickly backed out of and circled around. Defender Alex Zotinca of Chivas USA head- butted Galaxy midfielder Kevin Harmse in the scrum, and Harmse threw a punch at Zotinca. Both received red cards.
The Galaxy faces the Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Sunday night.
