CARSON, Calif.—Alvaro Pires and Edson Buddle scored first-half goals to help David Beckham get a win in his return as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Colorado Rapids 3-2 on Saturday night.
Ely Allen added an early second-half goal for the Galaxy (5-4-2), who moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Colin Clark and Herculez Gomez scored second-half goals for Colorado (5-6-0).
Beckham missed last week’s 2-0 loss at Toronto as he was away with the English national team.
Beckham helped the Galaxy get on the scoreboard 4 minutes in as he swung a free kick into the penalty area from some 40 yards out on the right side. The ball bounced off two players before Pires knocked it past Colorado goalie Preston Burpo for his first MLS goal.
Buddle doubled the Galaxy’s lead in the 32nd minute. With Colorado defender Facundo Erpen playing him closely, Buddle dribbled the ball into the penalty area and rifled a shot from the right side of the box into the back of the net.
Alan Gordon and Erpen were each ejected near the end of the first half after a brief altercation.
Allen took a pass from Peter Vagenas in the 50th minute and slotted home a shot from just inside the penalty area for his first career MLS goal.
Clark took a pass from Omar Cummings and slipped a 12-yard shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin in the 73rd minute. Former Galaxy star Gomez poked in a goal in the 82nd minute to cut into the lead.
Landon Donovan, who leads MLS with nine goals, missed his second consecutive league game. Donovan is with the United States national team for Sunday’s game in New York against Argentina.
Beckham returned after missing one match with his national team.
