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Here on the Plex, we continue our countdown to the fantastic, insane, blow-your-mind-to-the-Great-Below-and-never-look-back 2015 Major League Soccer season with ongoing reflections of the past 19 MLS All-Star Games. Today, we reflect on the 2012 MLS All-Star Game, which took place on July 25, 2012 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Baldomero Toledo was the man in the middle for this encounter, which drew a crown of 19,236.
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Chelsea, fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup under then-manager Roberto Di Matteo, were looking to extended the world’s winning streak over the MLS All-Stars after Everton and Manchester United pressed the issue. There were a number of notable faces on this team, including Frank Lampard (who will be starring for New York City FC in a few weeks alongside David Villa), John Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Yossi Benayoun, Florent Malouda, John Obi Mikel, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Romelu Lukaku (who go one to be the USA’s worst nightmare for Belgium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil), Fernando Torres, David Luiz and Eden Hazard.
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As for the MLS All-Stars, there were a number of big names. The MLS featured Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Eddie Johnson, Chris Wondolowski, Graham Zusi, Osvaldo Alonso, Aurelin Collin and Kyle Beckerman. This would be the final All-Star Game for Beckham, and it was clear that the MLS All-Star wanted to win this for one of England’s greats, and one of the finest to don the Galaxy strip.
Wondolowski opened up the scoring in the 21st minute of play, but Terry would counter with a strike in the 32nd minute. Lampard would make it 2-1 Chelsea in the 58th minute of play, but Pontius would fire right back with a goal in the 73rd minute. Johnson would be the hero with the match-winner in the first minute of second half stoppage time, giving the MLS All-Stars a 3-2 victory, smashing their three-game losing streak against the world’s best. And the crowd were chanting to “Maria” by Scooter, a staple of Philadelphia Union and Flyers home games.
Tune in tomorrow for more MLS All-Star Game reflections, when we look back at the 2013 MLS All-Star Game, here on the MLS Multiplex.