MANILA, Philippines — Two of the most iconic figures in global sports last night converged in a place where the Beatles once tore the house down.
David Beckham displayed the skills that made him a football icon while boxing champion Manny Pacquiao delighted the audience by just showing up, highlighting the LA Galaxy's 6-1 mastery of the Philippine Azkals at the jampacked Rizal Memorial Stadium.
In front of an approximate crowd of 12,000, Beckham made a lasting impression with his superb passing skills while scoring an effortless opening goal in the 20th minute.
After playing 75 minutes, Beckham came out in place of Jovan Kirovski then approached Pacquiao to give his game jersey. A smiling Pacquiao showed Beckham's gift like it was a world title belt.
"I couldn't wait to get off the field and talk to him," said Beckham, who briefly chatted with Pacquiao after the final whistle. "I'm a huge fan of him and he's a good person."
Beckham noticed Pacquiao arriving amidst cheers from the crowd in the 44th minute. At halftime, the England captain smiled at the Sarangani congressman then gave a thumbs up sign.
It was an expected win for the 2011 MLS champions, but the Azkals made it interesting in the first half when Phil Younghusband cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 40th minute off a splendid goal from the right side of the penalty box and over keeper Josh Saunders.
From there, it was pure dominance by the Galaxy.
Not minding flashbulbs and giggling fans, Beckham's corner kick set up Robbie Keane's goal in the 47th minute for a 3-1 advantage. Two more goals by Adam Cristman and another from substitute Gregg Berhalter later sealed LA's second win in the Asia Pacific Tour.
But the score hardly mattered at all.
Seeing Beckham and Landon Donovan, who had two passes that set up goals by Mike Magee and Cristman's first goal, and the rest of the Galaxy's superior skills coupled with Younghusband's goal was well enough for fans to have their money's worth.
Despite the expensive ticket prices, the crowd exceeded what organizers projected. Afterwards, the match further enhanced the legacy of a stadium that weathered the wrath of World War II.
"We would love to come back," said Donovan, who made his promise by exchanging uniforms with Azkals' injured captain Aly Borromeo.
Except for a worker who was doing a welding job at a constructed building near the stadium, all were glued for this so-called Dream Cup.
There were long lines outside the venue, Galaxy and Azkals jerseys were selling like hotcakes and a scalper even offered a P1,000 ticket for the bleacher seat that is legally pegged at P2,000.
Other prominent figures from various sectors were in attendance, from Manila mayor Alfredo Lim to actress Dawn Zulueta to Pacquiao's wife Jinkee, who arrived late with his three sons.
When she got into her seat, Beckham scored a long strike from the left side of the box. Goalkeeper Eduard Sacapano of the Philippine Army attempted to save it but his efforts went in vain as the ball hit the right side of the net.
Beckham's goal silenced a festive crowd, perhaps awed with how the English captain and former Manchester United and Real Madrid star did the trick.
"I haven't done that in years," Beckham described.
Magee made it 2-0 in the 38th minute off a counter attack that was aided by a short pass by Donovan. Two minutes later, Younghusband put the Azkals on the board.
"I'm happy that I scored a goal on the same game where David Beckham also scored a goal," said Younghusband, who personally received an autographed jersey from his idol during the post-match press conference.
Minutes after Keane's goal, a short shot that mesmerized Sacapano, the so-called "Blue-Haired Guy" named Ebong Joson announced that there was a missing kid named Vincent Ferrer.
After the announcement, Ferrer was found, the crowd was delighted but Cristman made it 4-1 in the 62nd minute off a Donovan pass.
Cristman added a second goal, 13 minutes later before Berhalter settled the final count in the 86th minute.
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