Cunliffe claims LA first

John Cunliffe has beaten David Beckham to the punch and become the first English player based in Los Angeles to score in the MLS.

The Bolton-born striker got his first goal for Chivas USA in the 3-2 defeat by Kansas City Wizards.

While Beckham arrived in a blaze of publicity, Cunliffe crept in through the back door after being drafted from college, and he was pleased to get off the mark.

“It was good to get my first goal, ” he said.

“I had a couple of chances. On another day I might have scored a second.”