Sat Aug 25 23:55:22 2007

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Beckham won't play for L.A. in Colorado

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Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Galaxy confirmed Friday that David Beckham will not join the club for their Major League Soccer match Sunday vs. the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The team is hoping Beckham will be ready for Wednesday's SuperLiga final against Pachuca FC at The Home Depot Center. The North American club final against the Mexican champions is for a $1 million purse, the largest in North American soccer history.

"While it's regrettable that he will not get the opportunity to play in Colorado this season, we have to focus on healing Davids injury," Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas said. "He will rest this weekend in L.A. while preparing for our SuperLiga final match on Wednesday."

L.A. coach Frank Yallop made the decision Friday afternoon after evaluating Beckhams condition following Thursday night's match with Chivas USA, in which the midfielder played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss. Beckham left the field limping on the nagging left ankle injury after playing his third 90- minute game in five days, including a match in England Wednesday.

"I'm really disappointed to not be able to play my first match in Colorado, when I was there for the All-Star Game it looked like a fantastic stadium," Beckham said. "I'd love to be on the pitch with my team this Sunday, but our training staff has advised me that it would be detrimental to not only my health for this game but for the rest of the season as well. Thanks to all the fans that have supported me these last few weeks; I look forward to making it out to Colorado for our next scheduled match there."

"While we were looking forward to hosting David here in Colorado, the Rapids game against the Galaxy is still a huge match for us this Sunday, its basically a six-point game," Jeff Plush, Managing Director of the Rapids said. "The Galaxy not having their best player helps us out on the pitch as we make our final push to the playoffs, and having that 12th man support in the full building Sunday night will only help us against the Galaxy.

"We applaud Beckham's efforts as a competitor on the pitch over this last week, and we believe if he could play on Sunday, that he would. We wish him a speedy recovery, but at the same time I look forward to seeing all the fans that will be at the fifth sellout of the year at Dicks Sporting Goods Park on Sunday supporting their Rapids in this all-important match," Plush added.

The Rapids, who seemed like a long shot to make the MLS Cup playoffs two weeks ago, have rattled off consecutive wins against two of the strongest teams in the league - Houston and New England, the most recent against the Revs on Aug. 16.

"Things are coming together, but its only two games," Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo said. "We know who we are. We have to keep fighting. We haven't achieved anything by just getting out of the hole. That is the history of the league, but this will give us the right momentum going forward, at a crucial time in the season. It has never crossed anyones mind on this team that we would not make the playoffs, but it is going to be difficult. I thought we played the best soccer of the year today. We created chances, we controlled at the back, we managed the game well, and for the first time in the last ten games we could relax."

Currently, the Rapids are just two points out of the last playoff spot.

The Galaxy, on the other hand, are winless in six, including four straight losses, and without Beckham on Sunday, offense could be hard to find. There are rumors circulating that Yallop and Lalas are on the hot seat, and if there aren't any positive results soon, both could be replaced.

After Sunday's game, L.A. plays the SuperLiga on Wednesday and hosts Real Salt Lake on Sept. 1 in a league fixture. Colorado will be back in action a day later at Columbus.