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SANDY — Just weeks ago, the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team transitioned Rio Tinto Stadium into an international stage as it hosted Honduras in a World Cup qualifier. Saturday, the pitch will again be turned international as the USMNT hosts Cuba in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match.
It’s a match that may even see three Real Salt Lake players take the field.
Although last month’s match didn’t see RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman or goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who were with the U.S. side, take their own pitch while sporting the U.S. crest, Saturday’s match has a higher possibility for both and even RSL defender Tony Beltran to see some action.
Beckerman, Beltran and Rimando have been with the USMNT for the past few weeks in preparation for the Gold Cup stage, and Beckerman and Rimando have already seen Gold Cup action. Beltran has been in the lineup but has yet to see action in the tournament.
RSL head coach Jason Kreis told ESPN 700 Tuesday that playing Beckerman, Beltran and Rimando Saturday could be an advantage for USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
“In the game of soccer you’re looking for every small advantage you can get and every small detail like that matters,” Kreis said during a radio interview. “So for me, I think there’s an emotional aspect about playing those three players in that game.”
Fans can most likely expect Rimando to net the goal for the U.S. side as he’s done for the past two matches — Tuesday’s Gold Cup opener and last weekend’s international friendly. Beckerman too saw action in both matches, which gives him a higher possibility to play Saturday.
“From what I understand, I believe Rimando is the first-choice goalkeeper for this tournament so I think he’s pretty much a lock,” said Kreis. “Kyle Beckerman started the friendly last week against Guatemala, and so I think he’s looking to be the starting holding midfielder for them.”
Although Beltran has yet to see minutes, Kreis thinks there’s a good possibility Klinnsmann could play him in Saturday’s matchup.
“Tony didn’t get to play in (either) game so I think he’s a little bit of a stretch, but If it were me and if all things were very, very close, if not even, I would play Beltran as well because I think that you get a little bit more emotion for the fans behind those players in that game, and those guys are extremely familiar with playing in our stadium no doubt,” concluded Kreis.
The USMNT kicked off its group stage of the Gold Cup Tuesday in Portland, hosting Belize, a match the U.S. side dominated, taking a 6-1 win.
The USMNT will enter the match on top of the group with three points and a 1-0-0 record. Following Saturday’s match, the USMNT will wrap up its group stage facing Costa Rica July 16. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
