Beckham, capped 99 times for England, had an influential match - scoring from the penalty spot in the 77th minute - as the Galaxy completed their two-match tour that also included a 5-3 defeat by Hyundai A-League club Sydney FC on Tuesday.

The match was played before a record football crowd for any match in New Zealand of 31,853. It bettered by more than 300 the international between New Zealand and Kuwait at Auckland in 1981.

The game was played at a considerably slower tempo than the A-League match between the Phoenix and Adelaide United the previous night, but remained a willing contest.

The home side struck first when in the seventh minute Phoenix midfielder Michael Ferrante forced Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon to parry a shot away. From the resulting corner, delivered by Felipe, the ball travelled to Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi who rifled the ball into the net from close range.

Beckham instigated the equaliser for the Galaxy in the 17th minute when his cross found Landon Donovan inside the Phoenix penalty area. Donovan's attempted shot was blocked by goalkeeper Mark Paston but Clint Mathis was on hand to steer the ball home.

Galaxy's Cannon was twice forced into action midway through the half, first to deny a goal bound shot from striker Shane Smeltz and soon after attacking midfielder Felipe, his 25-metre, snaking run through the middle met with a finish easily collected by the keeper.

However, it was the Galaxy that went into half-time 2-1 ahead when Donovan shot low and hard past Paston into the goalkeeper's right corner after Edson Buddle's shot from in front of goal was only partially blocked by two Phoenix defenders.

Beckham turned provider again in the 48th minute when, following a jinking midfield run, he passed wide to Donovan who crossed to Mathis at the far post. Mathis' shot across the face of the goal beyond Paston was tapped in by Carlos Pavon.

Phoenix continued to press, with Royce Brownlie having the best opportunities in the 68th and 72nd minutes, but both attempts failed to trouble Cannon.

Beckham had the camera flashlights going and crowd roaring when his spot kick in the 77th minute was clinically dispatched high and to Paston's left after Phoenix defender Steven Old had earlier committed the foul.