The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Wellington

Superstar David Beckham thrilled a record New Zealand football crowd by scoring as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Wellington Phoenix 4-1 in a friendly match here Saturday

A penalty awarded when a Phoenix defender allegedly chopped down a Galaxy player in the box was questionable and a howl went up from the crowd when it was given.

But the jeers turned to cheers when Beckham stepped up and blasted the spot kick high into the net for the Galaxy's final goal.

"I was surprised. I'm not the penalty taker but (striker) Landon (Donovan) told me to have it and I was happy to," he said later. "I struck it pretty well."

Beckham said it was good for the Galaxy to end their two-match tour Down Under on a winning note, following a 5-3 loss to Sydney on Tuesday.

"We played the ball around well and enjoyed it," he said.

But the result did not mean much to the crowd, who just wanted to be able to say they saw their hero in the flesh.

The decibel level rose every time the 32-year-old England star touched the ball, even though the bulk of the 31,853 crowd-a New Zealand record for a football match-were nominally supporting the home team.