There was a collective gasp coming from Salt Lake City when Kyle Beckerman left the U.S. National Team’s friendly against Mexico on Wednesday with a thigh contusion. On Thursday, he confirmed what Head Coach Jeff Cassar told media earlier that day when he made a guest appearance on The Bill & OC Show on ESPN 700.
“In my mind, it was nothing serious,” the Real Salt Lake captain said jovially.
Beckerman explained that he took two separate knocks to his quad within a few minutes of each other and tightened up. He left the field more as a precautionary measure than anything else. After the first contact – when his knee and thigh collided with the head of one of his opponents – his quad quickly loosened up after he ran around a bit. Then, he said, a few minutes later he had another collision when he ran into a player’s stud as they were winding up to shoot.
Moments later, he hobbled to the ground in what appeared to be a non-contact injury that left many fearing for the worst.
“I think the coaching staff decided not to push it,” he said. “It looked worse on TV.”
Part of those concerns arose from the field conditions at the Alamodome. In the days leading up to the match, the temporary grass surface was a point of contention for Mexico National Team Head Coach Miguel Herrera and in the first half the play on the field was broken up by the bumpy pitch.
“The grass … it wasn’t the best. It just was what it was. You just had to go out and play and both teams had to play on it,” Beckerman said. “You just get it past your mind and get on with the game.”
Beckerman was replaced by Perry Kitchen in the 63rd minute and the U.S. went on to win 2-0 on goals from Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo. The win was just the second of the year in five matches for the U.S.
“We had a lot of energy in there. We were really fighting for each other,” Beckerman said. “We seemed to be working as a unit defensively and offensively, that came with the defensive work.”
Beckerman is slated to train with RSL on Friday ahead of Saturday’s match with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
To hear the full interview, click here.
For Cassar's words on his captain, click here.
