Kyle Beckerman became Real Salt Lake’s ninth player named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week this season when he earned the honor after stifling the D.C. United attack on Saturday and Sunday in a match split up by a weather delay that postponed the final 62 minutes until 24 hours after the match originally kicked off.
Head Coach Mike Petke didn’t mince words in praising Beckerman while the midfielder was being interviewed on Real Salt Lake’s postgame television broadcast. Walking past the broadcast site to the locker room, Petke shouted with a grin, “Greatest captain in MLS history!”
Indeed it was Beckerman’s leadership that helped keep RSL focused and elevated the team’s level as it dealt with the delay and restart. The combination of Petke and Beckerman ensured that the team was ready to get the job done, especially when the match restarted with a D.C. United corner kick.
“We got these guys in the best positions we could,” Petke said. “I think my guys showed excellent character in not letting that affect them.”
Beckerman has been strong since his return from a controversial suspension that saw him miss RSL’s 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City on July 22 and has been instrumental in RSL’s current streak of six straight matches without a loss and three straight wins on the road.
Joining Beckerman on Team of the Week were goalkeeper Sean Johnson (New York City FC); defenders Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Lalas Abubakar (Columbus Crew SC), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders) and Justin Morrow (Toronto FC); midfielders Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Blerim Dzemaili (Montreal Impact) and Samuel Piette (Montreal Impact); and forward David Villa (New York City FC).
Team of the Week
Week 4: Matt VanOekel
Week 6: Albert Rusnák and Yura Movsisyan
Week 7: Mike Petke
Week 13: Sunny
Week 16: Joao Plata
Week 19: Albert Rusnák and Jefferson Savarino
Week 20: Joao Plata and Danilo Acosta
Week 23: Kyle Beckerman
