The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Chicago

David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy were knocked out of playoff contention Sunday when the Galaxy fell 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on the final day of Major League Soccer's regular season.

The Galaxy, who had mounted a late-season surge to keep their playoff hopes alive, needed a victory in order to advance to the eight-team championship playoffs of the 13-team league.

The Fire only needed a draw but managed to go one better with a 90th-minute goal to claim the last playoff spot.

A sell-out crowd of 21,374 at the Fire's home stadium included standing room temporary seating added during the week in anticipation of seeing Beckham.

The English superstar had logged 25 minutes in a Thursday game against New York in his first appearance since a knee injury on August 29.

While Beckham was likely to play limited minutes, manager Frank Yallop noted that it was not a given.

"There's no guarantee that he will get on the field," he said right before the game. "We have to win this match. If it's the right thing to do then we will do it, and if it's not. Then we won't.