A goal from game MVP Dwayne De Rosario was all the MLS All-Stars would need to defeat Chelsea FC 1-0 Saturday in the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game at Toyota Park.
The sides slugged out a scoreless first half, but the MLS side took over in the second stanza, dominating possession and putting on an impressive attacking display for the sellout crowd of 21,210.
De Rosario notched the only goal of the game in the 70th minute, settling a throw-in from FC Dallas midfielder Ronnie O'Brien at the top of the box, then turning and firing home between substitute 'keeper Hilario and the near post. Chelsea, the two-time defending English Premier League champions, provided stout defense for much of the match, but playing the first match of their preseason, they lacked the attacking links that only match experience can provide.
It was both the lowest scoring game and the first shutout in MLS All-Star history. In the fourth game of the current format where a single MLS side takes on a club or national team, MLS remains unbeaten and untied, having defeated the U.S. national team, CD Guadalajara and Fulham FC in previous matchups.
The MLS side provided the first attacking threats in the opening half. In the fifth minute, Christian Gomez worked his way past his man on the right and slipped a pass ahead for Brian Ching, who then centered for De Rosario. De Rosario provided a smart chip into the box for Joshua Gros, but it was just out of the United wingback's reach.
Then Gros's club teammate Jaime Moreno, the MLS captain, sent Chris Albright in on goal with a deft turning pass in the 14th minute, but Blues 'keeper Carlo Cudicini got to the ball first.
The visitors finally registered a scoring chance three minutes later after Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad took down Didier Drogba just outside the box. Frank Lampard whistled a free kick around the wall, but United 'keeper Troy Perkins got down to make the save.
After sizing up the opposition for the opening 20 minutes, Chelsea came to life halfway through the first stanza. They had a golden opportunity to get on the board when United defender Bobby Boswell attempted a tackle on Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 23rd minute, only for the Chelsea player to skip by and race alone to the corner, but Boswell recovered to close down the England international as he looked for a teammate to cross to.
Just four minutes later, the Blues thought they had the game's opener as Drogba easily slotted home, but he was called back for offside. Chelsea newcomers Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack then both found themselves with the ball at their feet in the box in the following minutes, but neither could get a shot off as the MLS rearguard dealt well with their first taste of Chelsea's attacking pressure.
For much of the first half, Albright got the better of Wayne Bridge on the right flank, and in the 39th minute, he got behind the England left back to run on to a long ball sent into the box by De Rosario. The U.S. international sent his shot wide, though.
As the half drew to a close, the MLS defense found itself completely at sea. Two minutes before the whistle, Wright-Phillips went in alone, rounded Perkins and found himself on the endline. Facundo Erpen, the man Wright-Phillips sprinted past to get free, tracked back to clear the ball out for a corner.
What followed was a game of pinball in the MLS defensive third, including three Chelsea corner kicks. Though a bit frazzled, the MLS defenders managed to clear the danger.
Three minutes after the restart, the MLS side nearly gifted Chelsea the opener. United's Freddy Adu, one of seven second-half substitutes for the home side, gave the ball away to Lampard in midfield, and Lampard quickly passed forward to substitute striker Salomon Kalou. Erpen swooped in for the tackle, but tapped the ball between the legs of new MLS 'keeper Joe Cannon. Luckily for the MLS team, Dynamo's Eddie Robinson sprinted back to clear the ball off the line.
After the shaky start to the second half, the MLS All-Stars settled down and began to attack with flair. On the hour mark, FC Dallas midfielder Ronnie O'Brien had the best chance yet for MLS, creeping into the box to claim the ball from the Chicago Fire's Nate Jaqua. The Irishman's shot from 12 yards was blocked out for a corner.
At that point, the game was opening up, and Chelsea looked to use the pace of Kalou and Dutch winger Arjen Robben to get behind the MLS defense. Robben fed Kalou on a pass into the box in minute 65, but Cannon came out to smother the ball.
The breakthrough finally came for the MLS All-Stars as De Rosario played the hero, once again whistling home a powerful drive from just inside the area after popping the ball over his head before settling. And even though the game was listed as an exhibition, Chelsea fought tooth and nail to get an equalizer.
In the 72nd minute, Kalou fired over the bar, and Michael Essien later launched a 35-yard scorcher into Cannon's arms. Substitute forward Jimmy Smith headed wide in the 87th minute, and Robben did the same in the 90th. In stoppage time, Cannon made a game-saving stop on Ricardo Carvalho, who found himself with the ball at his feet in the six-yard box after a corner kick. But the Rapids 'keeper threw out his legs to parry the shot, and shortly thereafter the MLS All-Stars could celebrate.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
