David Beckham left the field with a sprained right knee in the 30th minute as the Los Angeles Galaxy went on to lose the Superliga final 4-3 on penalty kicks to Mexico's Pachuca.

 

Carlos Rodriguez's kick into the right corner of the net past goalkeeper Joe Cannon gave Pachuca a 4-3 lead in the shootout after the two teams finished 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime tied at 1-1. Abel Xavier missed wide right for Los Angeles, ending the marathon match.

 

The SuperLiga championship was the only title match the Galaxy will likely play in this season. Its chances of making the Major League Soccer playoffs are slim.

 

Beckham, who injured his knee after taking a fall, rejoined his team on the bench for overtime and the penalty kicks before limping off the field in a suit and tie.

 

During a scoreless first half, Beckham and Pachuca midfielder Fernando Salazar each went after the ball just outside the Mexican club's penalty area. Beckham tripped over the ball and fell. He lay face down on the grass for a few seconds before getting up and hobbling off the field, signaling to the bench he needed to come out.

 

Beckham has been plagued by an injured left ankle since June 6, when he suffered the injury while playing for England in a Euro 2008 qualifying game against Estonia.

 

"I'm still uncomfortable," Beckham told reporters Tuesday. He said the ankle "is definitely feeling stronger, but it's taking time."

 

"I've had quite a few matches in a short space of time," said Beckham, who played complete 90-minute games for the Galaxy August 18 in East Rutherford N.J. and Carson Thursday and the English national team last Wednesday in London.

 

Beckham joined the Galaxy July 13 and made his debut with the team July 21 amid one of the greatest promotional buildups in American sports history.

 

However, the ankle injury forced him to miss five of the next six games, creating fan disappointment and raising questions about the team's credibility.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)