London Olympics: MLS players give league’s image a boost

LONDON -- David Beckham, Major League Soccer’s best-known star, isn’t playing in the Olympic tournament after being cut from the British team last month. But three of the players MLS did contribute to the field have done the league proud.

Striker Jerry Bengtson of the New England Revolution has scored all three Honduras goals in the tournament, including the one that eliminated Olympic favorite Spain and sent the Central Americans on to Saturday’s quarterfinal with Brazil. That makes him the second-leading scorer in the tournament, one goal behind Moussa Konaté of Senegal.

Honduras, which hasn’t lost in the tournament, has also been bolstered by midfielders Andy Najar of DC United and Roger Espinoza of Sporting Kansas City.

Jake Gleeson of the Portland Timbers was also in London as the backup goalkeeper for New Zealand. But he didn’t get off the bench as the Kiwis were eliminated, losing twice and drawing their third match.

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