CARSON, CA - Landon Donovan and Chris Albright of the Los Angeles Galaxy were named to the MLS All-Star First XI Major League Soccer announced today. Donovan, Albright and the rest of the MLS All-Stars will take on English Premier League champion Chelsea FC in the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game on Saturday, Aug. 5 at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, Ill. The game will be televised live on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. ET.
"We are excited to announce the All-Star First XI and give MLS fans a glimpse of who will be facing one of the strongest soccer teams in the world, Chelsea FC," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "The game will be competitive, it will be intriguing and exciting for the fans and we're confident it will showcase the talent in our League."
Donovan, who leads the Galaxy this season with four goals and five assists despite missing time while with the United States National Team at the FIFA World Cup, is making his sixth-straight Sierra Mist All-Star Game appearance. Donovan has been selected to the All-Star game every year of his MLS career, and received the most fan votes of any MLS player in 2006.
Galaxy defender Albright is making his third straight trip to the Sierra Mist All-Star Game. Albright has a goal and assist in 10 games for L.A. in 2006, while also spending time with the U.S. World Cup team. The Galaxy joins the New England Revolution as the only teams to place two players on the First XI roster.
The First XI was determined by votes from online fan balloting (25 percent of total), media (25 percent), players (25 percent), and MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent).
The First XI is not necessarily the starting 11 for the game, as All-Star Head Coach Peter Nowak will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. The full, 18-man roster will be announced Monday, July 17 along with 14 alternates. Due to the rescheduling of the All-Star game from its prior date a week earlier, players from the New England Revolution and Chivas USA will not participate as they play a regular season game Aug. 6 that is part of a doubleheader with FC Barcelona and Chivas de Guadalajara.
MLS First XI
Goalkeeper: Troy Perkins (D.C. United)
Defenders: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Christian Gomez (D.C. United), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution)
Forwards: Ante Razov (Chivas USA), Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
