David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy got their Major League Soccer title defence off to a rocky start, falling 3-1 to Real Salt Lake in their season opener.The defeat was the first suffered by the Galaxy in 26 matches at their Home Depot Center ground, a streak dating back to November 14, 2010, and spoiled what was meant to be a celebratory night.Beckham delivered a dazzling pass that Edson Buddle headed home to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the 71st minute.But Sean Franklin’s own-goal moments later gave Salt Lake the equaliser.In the 80th minute Javier Morales took advantage of a miscue in the Galaxy defence, pouncing on a deflected ball in the penalty area and firing a short shot past Josh Saunders.And five minutes later Fabian Espindola scored on a breakaway for Salt Lake, who had lost to the Galaxy last season in the Western Conference final of the MLS Cup playoffs.Beckham, the former England captain who returned to Los Angeles in January saying he didn’t want to settle for just one MLS title, said the Galaxy may have been feeling the effects of their 2-2 draw at Toronto on Wednesday in the first leg of their quarter-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
