MLS All-Stars defeat West Ham 3-2

Steve Nicol coached the MLS All-Stars to victory in a back and forth affair with some great goals that saw the league's stars putting on what was at times an impressive display in a 3-2 victory over West Ham. In other words, it was exactly what you would hope for from an All-Star game.

Canadian International Dwayne De Rosario scored the game winner on a penalty kick in the 69th minute in front of a sold out crowd at BMO Field in Toronto. It was Chicago Fire playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, however, who stole the show in the first half with an impressive goal and assist to garner MVP honors.

Read the rest at Soccer New England.

Ralston an All-Star Replacement

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer announced that Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein, New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston and FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja were selected by All-Star head coach Steve Nicol to replace Sacha Kljestan, Michael Parkhurst and Robbie Rogers who were named to the U.S. Olympic Team roster today and will miss the All-Star game.

18-Player Game-Day Roster

Goalkeepers (2): Pat Onstad& (Houston Dynamo), Matt Reis* (New England Revolution).

Defenders (4): Jonathan Bornstein& (Chivas USA), Jim Brennan& (Toronto FC), Jimmy Conrad* (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk* (Columbus Crew).

Midfielders (8): David Beckham* (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtémoc Blanco* (Chicago Fire), Dwayne De Rosario+ (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez& (Colorado Rapids), Shalrie Joseph* (New England Revolution), Pablo Mastroeni& (Colorado Rapids), Steve Ralston& (New England Revolution), Juan Toja& (FC Dallas).

Forwards (4): Juan Pablo Angel& (forward, New York Red Bulls), Edson Buddle+ (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kenny Cooper* (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan* (Los Angeles Galaxy).

* First XI Selection
& Coach's Selection
+ Commissioner's Selection

Inactive Roster (14)

Goalkeepers (2): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Greg Sutton (Toronto FC).

Defenders (4): Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution), Gonzalo Segares (Chicago Fire), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).

Midfielders (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Amado Guevara (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan* (Chivas USA), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), Robbie Rogers* (Columbus Crew).

Forwards (2): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Luciano Emilio (D.C. United).

* First XI Selection

More at MLSNet.com.

Final 7 MLS All-Stars Announced

The final 7 All-Stars were announced today with coach Steve Nicol selecting Juan Pablo Ángel (forward, New York Red Bulls), Jim Brennan (defender, Toronto FC), Christian Gomez (midfielder, Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (midfielder, Colorado Rapids) and Pat Onstad (goalkeeper, Houston Dynamo).

Commissioner Don Garber selected Edson Buddle (forward, Los Angeles Galaxy) and Dwayne De Rosario (midfielder, Houston Dynamo) as the two "Commissioner's picks."

Looks like a few surprises here actually. It seemed likely Revolution captain Steve Ralston, who leads the team in goals and assists, and leads the league in game-winning goals and game-winning assists would be selected by Nicol. Angel has missed nearly half the season injured and has only 3 goals, so it's hard to say he deserves a spot. Mastreoni is a bit questionable too as he's only started 10 of Colorado's 16 games this season. Not to mention Colorado has struggled, though Gomez has been having a good season and his pick can be justified. Picking a Toronto player, Brennan, for the home crowd, and a long time Canadian International, Onstad, aren't at all surprising.

As for the "Commissioner's picks", Buddle was an obvious selection as he leads the league in goals. Since the game is in Toronto and De Rosario is a Canadian International, his pick is understandable as he's been having a pretty good season, though by no means his best.

Full 18-Player MLS All-Star Roster:

Goalkeeper: Pat Onstad& (Houston Dynamo), Matt Reis* (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Jim Brennan& (Toronto FC), Jimmy Conrad* (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk* (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution)
Midfielders: David Beckham* (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtémoc Blanco* (Chicago Fire), Dwayne De Rosario+ (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez& (Colorado Rapids), Shalrie Joseph* (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan* (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni& (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers* (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Juan Pablo Angel& (forward, New York Red Bulls), Edson Buddle+ (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kenny Cooper* (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan* (Los Angeles Galaxy)

* First XI
& Coach's Selection
+ Commissioner's Selection

Reis, Joseph and Parkhurst named to MLS All-Star First XI

Here's the complete First XI:

Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (New England Revolution)

Defenders: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)

Midfielders: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Forwards: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

And here is a list they released of some of the top vote-getters (only those named to the first XI on this list are guaranteed a spot on the roster):

GOALKEEPERS	Fans	Players	Media	Coach/GMs	Combined
Matt Reis	11.8	57.8	62.2	77.3	52.3
Jon Busch	10.6	8.2	15.6	11.4	11.4
DEFENDERS	Fans	Players	Media	Coach/GMs	Combined
Michael Parkhurst	9.2	31.0	47.8	47.7	33.9
Frankie Hejduk	17.3	36.2	31.1	31.8	29.1
Jimmy Conrad	10.8	28.4	26.7	38.6	26.2
Gonzalo Segares	6.8	10.8	27.8	20.4	16.4
Bakary Soumare	5.6	9.5	25.6	11.4	13.0
MIDFIELDERS	Fans	Players	Media	Coach/GMs	Combined
David Beckham	38.9	49.6	82.2	79.6	62.6
Cuauhtémoc Blanco	25.9	40.1	74.4	54.6	48.8
Shalrie Joseph	7.7	40.5	48.9	65.9	40.8
Sacha Kljestan	9.1	46.1	24.4	56.8	34.1
Robbie Rogers	13.0	38.4	24.4	45.4	30.3
Dwayne De Rosario	17.3	37.1	23.3	38.6	29.1
Steve Ralston	6.0	14.2	23.3	25.0	17.1
G. Barros Schelotto	14.6	16.0	25.6	9.1	16.3
Maurice Edu	14.1	12.5	16.7	18.2	15.4
FORWARDS	Fans	Players	Media	Coach/GMs	Combined
Landon Donovan	29.3	66.8	82.2	93.2	67.9
Kenny Cooper	7.4	30.6	33.3	40.9	28.1
Luciano Emilio	5.7	12.5	38.9	15.9	18.3
Brian Ching	6.4	12.5	7.8	25.0	12.9