Beckham put a stylish finish on the best season of his five-year stint with the Galaxy, finishing second in MLS with 15 assists. After the game, Donovan revealed Beckham strained his hamstring during training earlier in the week, while coach Bruce Arena said Donovan has been struggling with undisclosed injuries for several weeks.
[+] EnlargeLandon Donovan and David Beckham
Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesLandon Donovan and David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrate after defeating the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS Cup in Carson, California. Donovan scored the game’s lone goal.
“David is a champion,” said Arena, the first coach to win three MLS titles. “I’ve been around great athletes and competitors in my life, and this guy is as good as it comes. Unbelievable desire to win. He’s a great teammate, a great person. He’s done it all in every country he’s been in. What more can you say about a guy like this and what he’s brought to this organization and this league in five years? He gutted it out tonight. He obviously wanted to be there.”
Beckham grinned at mention of his injury.