Real Salt Lake: Beckerman returns in time for critical stretch

SANDY — After two agonizing months watching from the sideline, Kyle Beckerman finally slipped on the captain's armband again for Real Salt Lake.

Beckerman made his first start since May 22 on Saturday against Chivas USA, playing 62 minutes before being replaced by Ned Grabavoy.

"It started cramping a bit in the calves, but for the most part it felt great. I think it will continue to get better each week," said Beckerman.

Beckerman missed seven games with the torn tendon in his left foot, and RSL racked up a 4-1-2 record without him.

The timing of his return was much needed for RSL, which plays 14 games from July 31 to the end of September.

"We've got a lot of games coming up. Usually around this time you feel like the season's winding down almost. (Now) it seems like it's just about to start up. We're going to need everybody healthy and we need to be firing on all cylinders," he said.

Assuming Beckerman doesn't have a relapse with his pain, Real Salt Lake will have six midfielders who've picked up valuable minutes this year heading into the critical stretch.

BACK IN THE MIX: After going a month and a half without cracking Real Salt Lake's the starting line-up, Tony Beltran got the nod at right back against Chivas USA. It was his eight start of the year, and first since a June 9 home match against the L.A. Galaxy.

Beltran has been a spot starter for RSL all year, often only getting the nod when either Chris Wingert or Robbie Russell aren't fit to play.

That wasn't the case on Saturday. With RSL's schedule set to ramp up in August with the CONCACAF Champions League, a visit from the last-place team in the Western Conference seemed like the perfect opportunity to get Robbie Russell a rest.

The first-choice right back has started all but two games this year, and he'd played the full 90 minutes in eight of RSL's past nine matches — many in humid conditions approaching 100 degrees.

Beltran defended well during the match, but struggled to complement the attack as his most of his crosses didn't find their marks.

HAPPY HOMECOMING: Salt Lake City native Justin Braun was in the starting line-up for Chivas USA on Saturday night despite being questionable before the match with a bruised knee.

It was Braun's first start at Rio Tinto Stadium in a regular season match. Back in 2008 though, he did get the starting nod in Chivas' playoff game in Sandy.

Braun said he had about 40 to 50 family and friends hitting him up for tickets.

He didn't score, but still leads Chivas with six goals this year, and is tied for seventh in MLS.

SUPPORTERS APLENTY: Saturday's sellout crowd of 19,469 was the fifth largest regular season crowd in Rio Tinto Stadium history. The stadium wasn't at full capacity though.

With the stage from the Paul McCartney concert still set up in the South end of the stadium, there were about 500 less tickets available.

The largest regular season crowd in stadium history was actually its first, when 20,008 piled in on Oct. 8, 2008 for the 1-1 draw.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com