The Vancouver Whitecaps could not stop David Beckham when they needed to Wednesday night.

Beckham scored a goal and assisted on another as the L.A. Galaxy roared back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the Whitecaps 2-2 before a disappointed sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium.

''Anytime you're 2-0 up and you tie 2-2, it feels like a defeat - that's obvious,'' Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said. ''But it was an exciting game, an entertaining game, a fantastic crowd tonight and a great atmosphere.''

The defending-champion Galaxy (8-10-3) remain four points back of the fourth-place Whitecaps (8-6-7) in the Western Conference.

''We can't complain,'' L.A. coach Bruce Arena said. ''We're getting out of town real quick here (Thursday) and not looking back at all. We're fortunate to get a point.''

Second-half substitute Jose Villarreal, 18, secured the tie as he netted his first career MLS goal in the 87th minute. Beckham launched the play as he lobbed a lead ball to Juninho, who flicked it on to Villarreal.

The Inglewood, Calif., native, who was playing only his second game after missing most of the season following surgery on both shins, made no mistake as he turned and beat Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon with a high shot.

''They obviously had a lot of play in the first half, and they played well,'' said Beckham. ''But we were able to capitalize on the hard work that we put in towards the end of the game.''

Beckham and Villarreal scored six minutes apart to cap the successful comeback.

Gershon Koffie and Barry Robson, with his first goal as a Whitecap and 100th of his professional career, scored for the Whitecaps in the first half. The tie spoiled a strong effort from Robson in his home debut after the Scottish international began his Vancouver tenure with four road games.

Robson, one of Vancouver's three designated players, sent four shots on goal while taking seven altogether.