Galaxy-Crew post-game

Galaxy 3 Columbus Crew 1

i-5f011119bafc352a96cb277208972541-Becksback.jpgGratuitous Elvis Costello reference: Columbus Crew defender Shaun Francis didn’t look like an angel who wanted to wear David Beckham’s red shoes Saturday in Carson (AP Photos).

Game story

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Was this the Galaxy’s best performance of the season?

Perhaps. But Edson Buddle, seen here out jumping Riverside’s Chad Marshall, suggested it might have been the most important:

“If we had lost the lead in the league it would have been a totally different atmosphere in the locker room,” he said. “It would have felt like things were slipping away.”

BTW, the best irony of the night? The LA Times has a piece Sunday about how Edson Buddle is off the boil. The MLS scoring leader promptly scored 13 minutes into the game.

What was the difference between this sterling performance and the underwhelming ones we’ve seen recently? There were theories aplenty.

Coach Bruce Arena suggested the missing ingredient was motivation.

“The challenge of playing a team of Columbus’ character obviously woke us up a little bit,” he said.

Or was it Beckham?

“It’s kind of remarkable he’s back on the field in such a short period of time,” Arena said. “It’s inspirational for the team.”

Or was it unsung hero Dema Kovalenko?

“Kovalenko did what he’s known for,” said Crew Coach Robert Warzycha. “He tackled everybody, he grabbed everybody and the ref let him do it. That was the difference.”

Or was it a determination not to play badly yet again?

“We’ve been disappointed with how we played and that more than anything pushed us tonight,” said Landon Donovan.

Or was it just a matter of guts (and other intangibles)?

“I’ve been telling you guys for the last few weeks we haven’t been competitive and tonight we were very competitive,” said Donovan “Most of the 50/50 plays we came on top of. We had more desire than they did and that makes a difference.”

Take your pick.

Take a look at the highlights:

Here’s Kovalenko’s reaction to his contribution that so enthralled Warzycha:

“It’s nice to hear, but that’s what I do, that’s why I’m here, that’s why Bruce and coaches have brought me in, to disrupt plays. I love games like that. I look forward to playing games like that. That’s what makes you better. That’s what makes you compete. That makes a difference y’know? My job today was to watch Schelotto because he’s the guy that can make a difference. I love that. I like (a) challenge. He said to me ‘it’s not a war.’ … And I said, ‘my friend, it’s a war.’ To me, it’s a war. He’s a good player. He makes a difference.”

Arena said the goal of Beckham’s continuing rehab was trying to get him playing 90 minutes by the end of the regular season.

So, the daftest question of the night came from an over-reaching English journalist who asked Beckham whether he would be fit enough for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier next month against Montenegro.

And, of course, it deserved a daft answer:

“I’ve always said I’ll always be available for England,” Beckham said. “And I’m sure the manager will consider me.”

I’m sure he won’t (thankfully).

Most unlikely locker room visitor (I wish I had taken my camera): former Galaxy defender Abel Xavier. He wore incredibly shiny black shoes, white jeans, a black cardigan over a white shirt and a black and white tie. Oh, and he had black and white hair.

Next for the Galaxy: D.C. United Saturday at Home Depot Center.

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