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Sandy
Having pieced together one lineup after another lately, Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis remains a contender for Major League Soccer's Coach of the Year award.
This much is certain: Jurgen Klinsmann is RSL's coach of the week. Maybe even the whole month, judging by the value of this victory, under the circumstances.
By allowing midfielder Kyle Beckerman to miss a game with the U.S. Men's National Team in favor of staying home Saturday night, Klinsmann can take full credit for Real's 2-1 win over Philadelphia at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Beckerman's laser shot for one goal and well-placed corner kick leading to another score provided all of RSL's offensive production in an eight-minute stretch of the first half — and now he's off to Belgium, joining Klinsmann's lineup Tuesday.
No wonder Kreis laughed appreciatively when asked how thankful he was that Klinsmann compromised, saying it was "important that our captain was with us."
You think?
Beckerman is the heart of this team, and he was better than ever against Philadelphia. While not acknowledging any personal incentive to play well and justify Klinsmann's gesture, Beckerman knew this game mattered. "It had a lot of importance," he said. "It was just like any other big game we play."
He did not say this, but Beckerman had to know how much his presence meant to his teammates. "He's our captain," said Chris Schuler, who turned Beckerman's assist into RSL's second goal. "He's a huge asset. It's always good to be closer to full strength."
Closer, but not even close.
At one point during the week, Kreis wondered if he would have to dress a third goalkeeper just to complete the game-night roster of 18 players. RSL was missing midfielders Will Johnson (Canada), Arturo Alvarez (El Salvador) and Jean Alexandre (Haiti) to World Cup qualifying. Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) played 90 minutes Friday night in Los Angeles against the U.S. team — the game Beckerman was allowed to miss — and convinced Kreis to activate him Saturday, although he did not play.
Nat Borchers was serving his suspension for last weekend's red card, while Ned Grabavoy entered in the 73rd minute, making his first appearance in six games.
Those were among the reasons Kreis was thrilled to have Beckerman available. The coach has dealt with just about every imaginable personnel issue. "Extraordinary is about the right word," Kreis said. "It's such a trying season for us as coaches to try to get through all these injuries and international call-ups and suspensions. It's been difficult on the players, because we've been relying on some guys that you don't expect to be every-week contributors."
RSL has managed to stabilize itself, after its once-promising season could have collapsed. Beckerman believes the struggles will have a positive effect in the end. "Last year, we didn't lose much," he said. "We didn't have any bad times in the season — it was happy times, a lot. So, hopefully, this'll help us in pushing for the playoffs."
The team is 12-7-6, hardly matching last season's pace, but showing signs of coming together. Javier Morales should return in a few weeks, having recovered from his devastating leg injuries, and just about everyone else will be available for the closing stretch.
"To have everybody healthy, all 11 starters back on the field, would be just phenomenal," Borchers said.
That was hardly the case Saturday, but Beckerman was right there in the middle of things, and that was enough.