2006 MLS All-Star Game: The Stats

Firstly, in case those reading haven't found out yet, MLS All-Stars 1-0 Chelsea. A well-driven goal by Houstan Dynamo's Dwayne De Rosario in the 70th minute was the only goal in the game, very low-scoring for an all-star game. Now, of course this is a feasible result given that Chelsea has trained for only a week after their summer vacations while the MLS is going on right now, but still certainly a shock for most people. Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho called it "...a training session against other players. And no more than that.", while the MLS All-Stars would consider it a triumph for the slow build of American soccer. Still, certainly not the result most expected.

To begin with, the MLS All-Stars looked dangerous in the game. They certainly had the best of the run of play until the seventeenth minute when they gave up a free kick right on the outside of the box which Frank Lampard came somewhat close to scoring. However, Troy Perkins, D.C. United goalkeeper, dove down to the right bottom corner to stop it. Then in the 28th minute Didier Drogba put the ball in the back of the net, but was somewhat obviously offside. Play remained in MLS hands after that until about the fourtieth minute when Chelsea finally looked inspired and forced the MLS well on to the defensive.

Halftime saw many changes, as is usual in an exhibition. Troy Perkins was replaced by Joe Cannon for the MLS goalkeeper. Freddy Adu, Eddie Robinson, Ricardo Clark, Alecko Eskandarian, Ronnie O'Brien, and Nate Jaqua came on for the MLS as well. Chelsea subbed on several players, but most notable was probably Joe Cole, who scored one of the most amazing goals at the World Cup from outside of the box for England. However, he only stayed on for about five minutes when a collision may have damaged his knee ligaments, a potential worry for Chelsea, though no report has come out on how much of an effect it will have. The second half looked again in favor of the MLS for the first several minutes, eventually giving Dwayne De Rosario a lay-off in the seventienth minute at the edge of the box which he drove in to the goal very well, giving us our final score. Play favored Chelsea again in the last five or ten minutes, with a flurry of chances coming to them, but none were converted and the MLS had won.

Now for some statistics. Six of the starters played for current MLS East leaders D.C. United (well ahead of the MLS West leaders FC Dallas in points as well). Two more of their players were subbed on for the second half as well. D.C. United was on a fourteen game unbeaten streak until losing to FC Dallas, making that only their second loss of the entire season so far. 21,120 people were in attendance at the All-Star game, full capacity for the stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, just barely southwest of Chicago. The All-Star game was Shevchenko's first game for Chelsea, as well as Michael Ballack's. Neither of whom especially distinguished themselves. Chelsea had five shots on goal. Nonetheless, a fairly exciting game with some slow points, but one that will be remembered by the MLS All-Stars.

Source

• ESPN: "De Rosario stuns Chelsea's high-priced lineup"
• ESPN: "MLS All-Stars show rugged determination"

Date

Sun 08/06/06, 6:01 am EST