Beckerman suffers non-contact injury in USA-Mexico friendly

Kyle Beckerman may have been a victim of poor planning, a poor pitch, and — let's face it — a desire to make some dollars in tonight's USMNT-Mexico matchup after being substituted off with a non-contact injury.

Beckerman went down around the 60th minute in a fairly routine defensive play, grabbing his left knee after pulling up. He left the pitch a bit gingerly but under his own power, but there will be worries aplenty for Real Salt Lake coach Jeff Cassar.

The broadcast staff called it a "left-thigh contusion," but he was visible in the broadcast with an ice pack on his left knee.

It's worth remembering that the match is a midweek, non-FIFA-date exhibition being played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, a 65,000-seat convention center and sporting arena. The "pitch" — if it can be called that — was a temporary grass installation, and there was talk yesterday of Mexico potentially withdrawing from the match.

If Beckerman is indeed out through injury, it comes as a blow to Real Salt Lake, but 2015 signing Pecka may be available for his RSL debut. John Stertzer is another option for Cassar, as he's played in that defensive spot before, too.