CARSON, California (AP) — David Beckham put on a show in his first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The English superstar scored his first goal with a free-kick in the 27th minute and made an assist while playing 63 minutes of the Galaxy's 2-0 victory over DC United in the SuperLiga semi-finals on Wednesday night.

"It's very satisfying," Beckham said. "I wanted to get off to a good start. I'm happy."

And he became captain of his new team, with Landon Donovan turning over the armband to Beckham after their conversation a day earlier.

"He said he felt it would give the team a lift," Beckham said. "I'm very honoured."

Beckham and Donovan teamed up on the Galaxy's second goal in the 47th minute, with Beckham sending a long pass to a streaking Donovan, who scored on a breakaway.

"David makes a big difference in there, and it's not just the goal," Donovan said. "It was a big lift for everyone. We were all excited. It was nice."

Beckham had played just 37 minutes in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that didn't allow him to practice with the Galaxy for the first time until Tuesday.

"I didn't expect to last an hour," he said. "It felt a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I felt confident going into tackles."

The Galaxy advanced to the August 29 tournament final in Carson against Mexican club team Pachuca, who drew 2-2 with Houston, but won 4-3 on penalty kicks on Wednesday.

The winning team earns $1 million, which the Galaxy could put toward paying Beckham's $6.5 million yearly salary.

His next test comes on Saturday on the road against the New York Red Bulls. He said his ankle was slightly swollen after the game, but he hoped to be able to play at least a half on Saturday.

If he does, Beckham said he expects to join the England team for their August 22 friendly against Germany in London. But he plans to return in time to play in the Galaxy's Major League Soccer game against Chivas USA the following day.

Beckham's night of firsts included his first yellow card after fouling United's Jaime Moreno in the 18th minute. Beckham got fouled once in the first half, when he also took two corner kicks.

The highlight was his 26-yard free-kick, a Beckham trademark, but something he had not practised in eight weeks.

After he connected inside the left post, he was mobbed by team-mates. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.

"The guy hadn't even taken a free-kick in practice," Cannon said. "Think about what happens when he can start playing every day and start doing those things."

Beckham waved to the crowd a couple times while blue, gold and white confetti fluttered through the air, reminiscent of the scene when he was introduced amid much fanfare July 13.

"It was quite pleasing," he said. "I don't want to sound too confident, but I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands."

However, he was stopped on a 28-yard free-kick in the 58th minute, when United goalkeeper Troy Perkins leaped to the left and caught the ball.

"He hit it well, but I wasn't in a good spot, either, and he caught me," Perkins said. "When you get a player who can hit a ball to either side, you've got to keep to one side and make him beat you."

The victory avenged the Galaxy's 1-0 loss to United last week in MLS action, when Beckham made his league debut on the road.

As captain, Beckham actively urged on his team-mates, talking to them and waving his arms during play.

"He's very vocal out there and you hear him all the time," Donovan said. "He understands the game on every level and he understands how to win."

The game, which iasn't part of the Galaxy season ticket package, attracted an announced crowd of 17,223 in the 27,000-capacity stadium.