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redseat
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SAO PAULO – New United States soccer hero John Brooks will be rewarded for his game-winning goal-scoring exploits by … being sent back to the substitutes bench.
Brooks, whose vital header in the 86th minute handed the U.S. a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Natal on Monday, will return to a backup role after first-choice central defender Matt Besler's hamstring injury turned out to not be serious.
Besler came off at halftime as a precautionary move by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who sent Brooks on as a replacement. The 21-year-old acquitted himself well with a solid defensive display and that famous goal.
[Photos: U.S. players injured during opening match at World Cup]
"Matt is no problem," Klinsmann said of Besler, who underwent an MRI after the team's return to Sao Paulo on Tuesday. "He is fine for the next game."
Besler has established himself as one of the U.S.'s most dependable defenders and is one of only a handful of players guaranteed to start whenever fit. However, Brooks, who is second on the depth chart at left-sided center back, did himself no harm by holding his nerve against Ghana in his World Cup debut.
SAO PAULO – New United States soccer hero John Brooks will be rewarded for his game-winning goal-scoring exploits by … being sent back to the substitutes bench.
Brooks, whose vital header in the 86th minute handed the U.S. a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Natal on Monday, will return to a backup role after first-choice central defender Matt Besler's hamstring injury turned out to not be serious.
Besler came off at halftime as a precautionary move by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who sent Brooks on as a replacement. The 21-year-old acquitted himself well with a solid defensive display and that famous goal.
[Photos: U.S. players injured during opening match at World Cup]
"Matt is no problem," Klinsmann said of Besler, who underwent an MRI after the team's return to Sao Paulo on Tuesday. "He is fine for the next game."
Besler has established himself as one of the U.S.'s most dependable defenders and is one of only a handful of players guaranteed to start whenever fit. However, Brooks, who is second on the depth chart at left-sided center back, did himself no harm by holding his nerve against Ghana in his World Cup debut.