After weeks of frustration, David Beckham finally made his debut for LA Galaxy last night. They lost 1-0 to DC United in Washington amid a heavy rainstorm, but that could not dampen the England midfielder's spirits.

Beckham admitted he was delighted to get onto the pitch as a 72nd-minute substitute but was disappointed he was unable to mark his curtain-raiser with a victory.

"It was a good night, but it was also a bad night," the former Real Madrid player said. "Obviously, there's been a certain amount of pressure because everyone is talking about how I've come to MLS and not played yet. But I don't feel pressure in that sense. I feel pressure in myself to get fit and to get back playing again.

"It's not nice to disappoint people who have paid a lot of money to come and see you, so it was good to get on the pitch tonight."

Although clearly a little ring-rusty, Beckham showed few ill effects of the ankle injury which delayed his first appearance for so long, and he went crunching into two tackles almost as soon as he came onto the field. The injury has not gone away, however.

"It was tender," he said of the ankle. "I haven't played on it for eight weeks, I haven't trained on it for eight weeks and it was going to be tender because it was the first time I really got into anything competitive. But I was happy to be out there. I'm sure there will be [tenderness] for a while because it's not an injury that just heals up and is perfect right away. There will be some reaction tomorrow, but this was a big, important step for me."

Beckham had hinted on Wednesday that he might be ready to play, but said the final decision only came Thursday. "The manager made that decision," he said. "I told him how I felt. He said, 'If you are confident that you can get through the game without making it any worse, then go and do it,' and that was decided."

The decision was made easier when a large storm hit Washington early in the second half, softening up the turf. "Those were the biggest raindrops I've ever seen," Beckham said with a laugh. "We don't get them like that back home. That was more surprising than anything. But I think it made it more fun. I'm used to that sort of weather, being from England. I like it when the ground is wet."

The sell-out crowd of 46,686 was on hand at RFK Stadium, and they gave Beckham a deafening welcome when he stepped to the touchline. "That cuts out all the frustration that I've had for the last few weeks, ever since I joined the Galaxy and haven't been able to play," Beckham said of the reception. "Stepping out there and seeing the reaction, it was great. I feel very honoured. It was great for me to be on the pitch and to kick a soccer ball around.

"We had 40,000-odd fans, so you know it's been a successful night. A full stadium, that's what the sport needs."

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