Editorial: Looking Back On the 2008 MLS All-Star Game (VIDEO)
Before I get started with this editorial, the MLS Multiplex would like to congratulate Auckland City FC, a semi-professional club from New Zealand, on becoming the third-best team in club world football, only behind Real Madrid and San Lorenzo. They defeated Cruz Azul on penalties, 4-2, after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, You can watch the match in its entirety at the end of this piece below.
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Now then, the MLS Multiplex, part of the FanSided Network of sports news 24/7/365, continues its reflections on the MLS All-Star Games with reflections on the 2008 MLS All-Star Game, which took place on July 24, 2008 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. This was the first-ever MLS All-Star Game that took place in Canada. Mauricio Navarro was the man in the middle for this contest, which drew a crowd of 20,844.
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The 2008 MLS All-Stars featured a blend of veterans and up-and-comers, including Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Frankie Hejduk, Sacha Kljestan, Michael Parkhurst, Robbie Rogers, Kenny Cooper, Shalrie Joseph, Jimmy Conrad, Dwayne De Rosario, Brian Ching, Maurice Edu, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Pablo Mastroeni and Cuahtemoc Blanco, who would go on to be the Man of the Match.
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As for West Ham United, they featured their share of big names. West Ham featured Robert Green (who would go on to infamously give up a howler against the United States for England at the 2010 FIFA World Cup), Lucas Neill, Anton Ferdinand (the brother of Rio Ferdinand), Fredrik Ljungberg (who would spend time with the Seattle Sounders one year later), Jonathan Spector, Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Dean Ashton.
Ashton scored a brace in the 26th and 67th minutes, the latter being an equalizer. However, goals from Christian Gomez (27′), Blanco (45′) and De Rosario off a 70th minute penalty would give the MLS All-Stars a 3-2 win over the Hammers and it would be the MLS that would be blowing its own bubbles in the air.
The victory would be the end of the streak of wins for the MLS All-Stars. After the 2008 edition, the best in the world would strike back and even the score in a big way.
Tune in to the MLS Multiplex tomorrow for our look back at the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, as we continue the countdown to the 2015 Major League Soccer season.