Before Sunday’s game DaMarcus Beasley felt his hamstring was 100 percent. Twelve minutes after kickoff, not so much.
The Dynamo’s Designated Player exited before the quarter hour with a left hamstring injury he picked up trying to run down Nick DeLeon in what turned into a 3-1 Houston loss.
As they entered the 18-yard-box Beasley pulled up, hit the ground and his day was done.
“It was a hamstring. I pulled it pretty well, pretty good,” the left back told the media. “It was a little bit tight before the game. I thought it would warm up. That first sprint was all it took.”
This is the second time this season that Beasley has fallen pretty to his left hamstring.
The first time came in training after having started his first three games. The ailment cost him two games before he was able to return to full action and start the last seven contests.
With just 12 days and two games left in the Dynamo’s season – the last being a return trip to his former MLS club the Chicago Fire – there is the temptation to shut it down for the year. But Beasley was hopeful Sunday that his walk off the field was not his last of 2014.
“I don’t know. I’m optimistic, but at the same time I know my body; I know I’m not 20-years-old anymore,” Beasley said. “Muscle injuries are difficult sometimes. I don’t know. We’ll see. It still feels pretty bad today. I think in the morning after I get a good night’s sleep hopefully it’ll calm down. I’m optimistic that hopefully I can play one of the last games of the season.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.