This is the MLS Multiplex on the FanSided Network, and we continue our series of reflections of the MLS All-Star Games of the past 19 years with a look back at the 2009 MLS All-Star Game. This edition of the midsummer classic in Major League Soccer took place on Jul. 29, 2009 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Ricardo Salazar was the man in the middle for this event, which drew a crowd of 20,124.
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The MLS All-Stars were facing another Premier League side in Everton F.C. Everton were a club that Landon Donovan, who played as a member of the MLS All-Stars, would spend two guest stints for. Midfielder Tim Cahill would go on to help lead the New York Red Bulls in 2003, while Tim Howard, born and raised in North Brunswick, N.J. made a name for himself as a local product with the Red Bulls (then known as the NY/NJ MetroStars) before moving on with the Toffees. Howard would earn Man of the Match honors in this contest.
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But it wasn’t just the two Tims that defined Everton. The Toffees were also led by the two Phils in Phil Jagielka and captain Phil Neville, Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and his trademark afro, Leighton Baines, Mikel Arteta, Louis Saha, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, and Jo, who was on loan from Manchester City.
In addition to Donovan, the 2009 MLS All-Stars featured Kasey Keller, Geoff Cameron, Stuart Holden, Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Chad Marshall, Fredy Montero, Fredrik Ljungberg, Javier Morales, Dwayne De Rosario, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Brad Davis. Shalrie Joseph and Pat Onstad were also selected but were injured, while Brian Ching was being rested after CONCACAF Gold Cup action.
Saha opened up the scoring in the 12th minute to give Everton a 1-0 lead, but in the 26th minute, Davis equalized to make it 1-1. No further goals would be scored, and the match would go on to penalties.
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After misses from Everton substitute James Vaughan and Jo, the Toffees did not miss a single spot kick, scoring on conversions from Baines, Neville, Lescott and Jack Rodwell for a 4-3 victory on penalties. Donovan, Johnson and Conor Casey converted for the MLS All-Stars, but Ljungberg’s miss proved to be all the difference.
The victory would spark the beginning of a three-year losing streak for the league against international competition. Also, the win put Everton in the company of teams yet to lose to the MLS, the others being Manchester United (the most successful team against Major League Soccer) and AS Roma.
The MLS Multiplex continues its countdown to the beginning of a new season in the league with reflections on the 2010 MLS All-Star Game. Don’t miss it.