WASHINGTON, D.C. - Freddy Adu, Bobby Boswell, Alecko Eskandarian and Josh Gros were among the final players added to the MLS All-Star Team today by head coach Peter Nowak. United now has seven total players on the 18-man roster, as these four join Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno and Troy Perkins, who were named to the MLS All-Star First XI last week. The MLS All-Stars will take on English Premier League champions 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.
"Based upon their play, these players deserve the recognition of being in the All-Star game," said Nowak. "I have confidence in their abilities, as individuals and to work with others, and look forward to having them available to me in Chicago next month."
Freddy Adu will be making his second All-Star appearance, following his choice as a Commissioner's Pick in 2004. Adu has played in all 19 of United's games this year. Though he has run into some bad luck finding the net this season and has only one goal so far, Adu has been a valuable contributor to United's success. His six assists are tied for first on the team and second in the League. With the announcement, Adu becomes the youngest player in American professional sports history to twice be named an All-Star. Adu will be 17 years, 64 days old on June 18 when the team takes on Chelsea.
This is Bobby Boswell's first selection as an MLS All-Star. The United defender has started and played in 18 games for the Black-and-Red this season. He has been an integral part of the strong United defense that leads the League with a 0.84 goals-against average. Boswell has also contributed one goal and one assist to the United offense.
Following a 2005 season that was shortened because of a concussion, Alecko Eskandarian will make his second All-Star appearance, this time as one of two Commissioner's Picks for his perseverance in coming back after a serious injury. His first All-Star appearance came during his second MLS season in 2004. Eskandarian is tied for sixth in MLS with six goals on the season. He also has two assists. He has already been the recipient of several League accolades this season. The hard-working forward's goals and celebrations have been sensational and he won the both the Sierra Mist 'Goal of the Week' honor in Week 7 and was named as the Player of the Week in Week 4.
Josh Gros will also be appearing in his first MLS All-Star Game. Gros has been a workhorse for D.C. United Head Coach Peter Nowak this season as he has started and played all 19 United games and is among the League leaders in minutes played with 1678. He has scored two goals and added four assists to the United attack this season, while playing in numerous positions. Over the course of 2006, United's utility man has seen time at both left and right midfield and left and right defender.
The full game day roster for the 2006 MLS All-Star Team is now set and is listed below:
Goalkeepers:
Troy Perkins, D.C. United
Joe Cannon, Colorado Rapids
Defenders:
Chris Albright, Los Angeles Galaxy
Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City Wizards
Eddie Pope, Real Salt Lake
Josh Gros, D.C. United
Bobby Boswell, D.C. United
Midfielders:
Dwayne De Rosario, Houston Dynamo
Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Christian Gomez, D.C. United
Pablo Mastroeni, Colorado Rapids
Freddy Adu, D.C. United
Richard Mulrooney, FC Dallas
Ronnie O'Brien, FC Dallas
Forwards:
Jaime Moreno, D.C. United
Brian Ching, Houston Dynamo
Alecko Eskandarian, D.C. United
Nate Jaqua, Chicago Fire
