Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario remains the leader in fan balloting for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. The polls will close on Monday at 5 p.m. ET and the MLS All-Stars will take on Celtic FC on July 19 (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2, TeleFutura) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
Fan voting will comprise one quarter of the All-Star First XI selections, with coaches and general managers (25 percent), players (25 percent) and media (25 percent) all getting a say in who is named to the First XI, which will consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.
De Rosario, a Honda MVP finalist the last two seasons running, is the top vote-getter in the fan ballot, having appeared on 21 percent of the ballots cast. The Canadian international leads the midfield pack that also includes Red Bulls designated player and former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna. New York's playmaker is second among midfielders with 17 percent of the votes.
Toronto FC fans have shown that they are among the league's most passionate both at BMO Field and online, as two of the expansion club's midfielders, veteran Ronnie O'Brien and rookie Maurice Edu, also are in the top five in their position with 15 percent of the votes. Rounding out the midfielders is Real Salt Lake's Freddy Adu (13 percent) while Clint Mathis (New York Red Bulls), Carl Robinson (Toronto FC), Herculez Gomez (Colorado Rapids) and Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) are just out of the top five with 12 percent each.
TFC dominate on the defensive end as well with goalkeeper Greg Sutton first in that position with 14 percent of the ballots. However, New England's Matt Reis isn't far behind with 12 percent of the votes.
Two of the top three defenders come from north of the border as well, with Jim Brennan leading the way with 15 percent of the votes. Outside back Marvell Wynne is just behind his captain, with Kansas City's Jimmy Conrad complete the triumvirate with 13 percent. Also pushing for top spots are Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake) and Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), who each have 11 percent.
Up top, it should come as no surprise that New York's Juan Pablo Angel (15 percent) is in first place. The Colombian, who has scored nine goals in seven matches since joining the Red Bulls, has a slight edge on the Galaxy's Landon Donovan. New England's Taylor Twellman and Toronto's Danny Dichio are just behind Donovan in the third and fourth spots with 14 percent.
Fans can vote up to 10 times per day through Monday for their portion of the selection. The MLS All-Star coach will be named that day, with the First XI to be unveiled on July 5. Five days later the remainder of the MLS All-Star squad will be announced. Five additional players will be selected by the All-Star head coach and the final two spots will be filled by selections made by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
