CARSON, Calif. --
Two LA Galaxy players have been named to the MLS All-Star First XI, as announced this morning by Major League Soccer. David Beckham and Landon Donovan will represent MLS when they take on West Ham United on Thursday, July 24 in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. The game will be aired live on ESPN and Telefutura, starting at 4 p.m.
Only the New England Revolution, with three, had more players named to the All-Star Game than the Galaxy. The First XI was determined through a combination of online fan balloting, as well as voting from coaches and general managers, players and the media, with all four groups counting an even 25 percent.
Donovan led all players in combined voting en route to being selected to the All-Star team for the eighth consecutive season. The all-time leading scorer for the U.S. National Team, and the youngest player in MLS history to score 75 goals, Donovan leads MLS with 11 goals this season while his seven assists place him in a tie for second place in the league. He has recorded either a goal or an assist in nine of the 11 games in which he has played this season, including scoring two or more goals in a game four times already. He has played in the All-Star game six times during his MLS career, scoring five goals while adding four assists.
Beckham, who finished second in the voting, was named to the MLS All-Star team for the first time in his career. The 33-year old midfielder has played in and started 14 of the Galaxy's 15 games this season, scoring five goals while adding six assists. His five goals place him fourth on the team while the six assists tie him for third in MLS.
On July 15, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol, the head coach of the MLS All-Stars, and his staff will select five additional All-Stars, who will join two Commissioner selections to complete the 18-man game-day MLS roster. Nicol earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games on June 29.
The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. Nicol will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Nicol will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars.
The Galaxy will be back in action tonight, Thursday, July 10, at the Home Depot Center when they host Chivas USA in the second installment of the Honda SuperClasico at 8 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and can be heard in English on lagalaxy.com and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes Radio 1330 AM KWKW. For more information about this game or to order tickets, please visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY.
