(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-19 15:35

CARSON, Calif - Jozy Altidore's header in the 16th minute gave the New York Red Bulls a 1-1 tie with Los Angeles on Thursday night, when David Beckham played for the first time in 1 1/2 months and the Galaxy kept their slim playoff hopes alive.

A loss would have eliminated the Galaxy (9-13-7). Now, they need to win at Chicago on Sunday and get help from other Major League Soccer teams to prolong their up-and-down season.

Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham (R) screams after being tackled by New York Red Bulls' Seth Stammler during their MLS soccer match in Carson, California, October 18, 2007. [Agencies]

Beckham entered the game as a substitute in the 68th minute with the score tied. He took five corner kicks in 22 minutes, but the Galaxy couldn't score on any of them.

The midfielder had missed 10 consecutive games after spraining his right knee in the SuperLiga tournament final on Aug. 29. He already was playing with an injured left ankle that occurred before he joined the Galaxy in mid-July.

Los Angeles had won five in a row coming into its final regular-season home game.

The Red Bulls (12-11-7) already have a date with New England in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Troy Roberts' header into the right side of the net gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute off a cross by Landon Donovan.

But New York came right back on Altidore's header off a cross by Dave van den Bergh on the left wing.

The Galaxy had several good scoring chances late in the game, including a pass by Donovan intended for Carlos Pavon that sailed across the mouth of the empty goal.

The Galaxy's Kyle Martino earned his sixth yellow card of the season in the 54th minute, triggering an automatic suspension that will keep him out of Sunday's game.

New York's Dane Richards earned a yellow card in the 63rd minute.

In the teams' other meeting this season, the Red Bulls won 5-4 in front of 66,237 at Giants Stadium on Aug. 18, when Beckham made his first MLS start.

It was a sentimental evening for the Galaxy's Cobi Jones, who played the final home game of his career. The 37-year-old midfielder plans to retire after the season, having spent his entire 12-year career with the same team -- the only player in MLS history to do so. Jones was a stalwart on the U.S. national team, too.

Jones' teammates warmed up wearing No. 13 white T-shirts with `Cobi' on the back. A video tribute aired before the game and MLS commissioner Don Garber was on hand as Jones' jersey was retired. The team gave him a ski vacation to a destination of his choice.

"Most importantly, I want to say thank you to all the fans who've been here from day one," Jones said.