Dichio leaves Beckham in the shade

(Nick Potts/PA)

David Beckham's underwhelming start to his first full season in Major League Soccer continued on Sunday night as Los Angeles Galaxy slipped to a 3-2 home defeat against Toronto FC.

The England midfielder, sporting a heavy beard, played all 90 minutes, but could not prevent his team from dropping their first home points of the campaign against the previously winless Canadian side.

"We're disappointed," Beckham said. "Three games into the season we can't panic too much, but it's not the result we wanted."

The former Queen's Park Rangers and Sunderland striker Danny Dichio put Toronto ahead on 42 minutes, with Landon Donovan equalising for the Galaxy a minute later.

Jarrod Smith got Toronto back into the lead after 53 minutes before Beckham helped to win a penalty for his team when Carl Robinson handled his attempted cross inside the area.

Donovan converted, but Galaxy's hopes were dashed when Jeff Cunningham scored a breakaway goal with three minutes to go, leaving the hosts to rue a series of missed chances. Beckham was fortunate to escape a red card late in the game after bringing down Cunningham as the striker ran on goal. "It was the one time we got lucky," said Ruud Gullit, Galaxy's coach.

"As long as I can create chances at some point we are going to score," Beckham added. "Hopefully that will start soon."

The Galaxy next play defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center on 19 April. Galaxy are now fifth in the seven-team Western Conference standings.