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SANDY — The U.S. Soccer Men’s National team hosted the Canada Men’s National team Wednesday night in Houston, playing to a 0-0 draw, but Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran tallied his first senior international cap for the United States.
RSL captain and midfielder Kyle Beckerman also earned another cap for the United States Wednesday night, serving as the captain for the United States side. Beltran and Beckerman started the match and logged 45 and 74 minutes, respectively.
Both Beltran and Beckerman have been with the USMNT since the beginning of January after being called up by USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for its annual January camp.
Beltran took to Twitter prior to the match to express his excitement by tweeting, “Buzzing for the match tonight. Lots of hard work the past three weeks by all the boys in camp. Tonight is the culmination and reward. #USMNT.”
The USMNT will travel to take on Honduras in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Feb. 6. Pending Klinsmann’s decision on the roster for that match, Beckerman and Beltran could remain with the USMNT or return to meet up with RSL for preseason training next week.
The United States side will also play two matches in March — hosting Costa Rica March 22 and facing Mexico March 26.
RSL just finished up its first week of preseason training and will head into its second week of training on Friday, Feb. 1, at the University of California-Irvine. The Salt Lake club will then return to Arizona to participate in the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament for the second consecutive year, beginning Feb. 13.
Following the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup, RSL will begin its 2013 MLS regular season on March 3 on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Claret and Cobalt will remain on the road March 9 as it faces D.C. United before opening home play March 16 at Rio Tinto Stadium as it hosts the Colorado Rapids.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
