This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Replacing the flair, creativity and consistent offensive threat of a playmaker is one thing. Finding the ideal substitute for your team captain, whose stellar career has been predicated on ferocity, grit and anticipation?
Well, that's the same quandary facing Real Salt Lake for a fourth consecutive summer.
Off to star with the U.S. men's national team for another major summertime tournament is Kyle Beckerman, the dreadlocked defensive midfielder who for a nearly a decade at RSL has been the connective link in the club's chain. The 34-year-old midfielder will miss a minimum of two games while with the U.S. during the upcoming Copa America Centenario, but that number could bloat if the U.S. advances out of group play. RSL is 4-6-4 the past three seasons while Beckerman has been featured at CONCACAF Gold Cups tournaments and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But unlike previous seasons when Beckerman was summoned for national-team duty, RSL is more equipped to absorb the loss of his presence in the midfield, mainly due to the seamless transition of Nigerian midfielder Sunday Stephen (nicknamed "Sunny"), signed in the offseason to be the club's second holding midfielder alongside Beckerman.
"I think Sunny's been a huge contribution this year, and I think his impact has been maybe understated a little bit publicly," said RSL right back Tony Beltran. "But on the field, it's really very evident."
The 27-year-old bounced around Europe and Asia since turning professional in 2005. In his past 11 seasons, he was featured on eight different clubs around Spain, Bulgaria, Israel and Turkey. His move to Major League Soccer and RSL in January provided — at least on paper — another defensive piece to a midfield that needed bolstering.
Like Beckerman, Sunny's ability to stay positionally sound and restart possessions in the midfield for RSL has helped the club to its 6-3-2 start. In his eight starts in 2016, RSL is 5-1-2. He remains one of the more underrated signings of the MLS offseason.
"I don't think many people knew who Sunny was, and to come in and have the impact he's had and to give us that much more depth has been massive," said left back Chris Wingert.
An ankle injury suffered late in RSL's 1-0 win against league-leading Colorado Rapids on April 9 lingered for nearly a month. After another all-around performance in RSL's 3-1 win at Sporting KC last weekend, it's evident he's back to operating at his optimum level. Following a midweek training session, Stephen confirmed exactly that, saying his ankle is healed.
RSL coach Jeff Cassar said the ankle sprain affected Stephen's mobility the past month.
"At the end of the day, somebody's 80 percent isn't good enough," Cassar said. "You've got to be at 100 percent to be successful in this league, or we'll get somebody else that's at 100 percent and do it. It was good to see his mobility [in Kansas City]."
Asked how his role in the midfield will change sitting behind Javier Morales, but without Beckerman by his side, Stephen offered just a smile before saying, "It's obvious." Over the next few weeks, he'll be featured alongside fellow RSL midfielders John Stertzer or Luke Mulholland.
"Everyone has their own characteristics," he explained. "We have different classes of players on the team. We just need all these types of players to complement the team."
Beltran has played with Beckerman since 2008 and says he sees similar characteristics between the two defensive midfielders.
"It's a position on a team that's not very flashy," Beltran said, "but it's paramount to success."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
About Sunday Stephen
Age • 27
Position • Defensive midfielder
Hometown • Lagos, Nigeria
Pro career • Real Salt Lake (2016-present), Alanyaspor (2015-2016), CSKA Sofia (2014-15), Bnei Sakhnin (2013), Numancia (2011-2013), Valencia (2007-2011), Poli Ejido (2005-2007)
Transaction • Signed with RSL on Jan. 21, 2016
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Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew
P At Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff • Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 6-3-2, Columbus 2-4-5
Last meeting • RSL 2, Columbus 2 (June 27, 2015 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL • Captain Kyle Beckerman was RSL's only international call-up for the upcoming Copa America Centenario tournament. The U.S. men's national team is in Group A along with Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica. … RSL is 1-7-1 all time at Mapfre Stadium … RSL's last visit to Columbus was a 1-1 draw in June 2014. … In seven road matches in 2016, RSL already has eight points compared to 2015 when the club had just 14 road points in 17 road matches. … RSL enters this weekend tied for third place in the league with 20 points.
About Columbus • The Crew will be without defender Harrison Afful (Ghana) and midfielder Cedrick Mabwati (Democratic Republic of Congo) after both were summoned to national team duty. … Starting center back Gaston Sauro will miss the next four months with a torn knee ligament suffered in the Crew's 0-0 draw at Toronto FC last weekend. … Columbus recently traded star striker Kei Kamara to New England. … In less than two seasons with the Crew, Kamara scored 27 goals in 41 appearances. … Columbus sits at 11 points entering this weekend, just a point out of last place in the Eastern Conference. … The Crew have three straight draws. —
Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew
P At Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff • Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 6-3-2, Columbus 2-4-5
Last meeting • RSL 2, Columbus 2 (June 27, 2015 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL • Captain Kyle Beckerman was RSL's only international call-up for the upcoming Copa America Centenario tournament. … RSL is 1-7-1 all time at Mapfre Stadium. … In seven road matches in 2016, RSL has eight points; in 2015 the club had 14 road points in 17 road matches. … RSL enters this weekend tied for third place in the league with 20 points.
About Columbus • The Crew will be without defender Harrison Afful (Ghana) and midfielder Cedrick Mabwati (Democratic Republic of Congo) after both were summoned to national team duty. … Starting center back Gaston Sauro will miss the next four months with a torn knee ligament suffered in the Crew's 0-0 draw at Toronto FC last weekend. … Columbus recently traded star striker Kei Kamara to New England. … In less than two seasons with the Crew, Kamara scored 27 goals in 41 appearances. … Columbus sits at 11 points entering this weekend, a point out of last place in the Eastern Conference. … The Crew have three straight draws.