All-Star First XI features nine former All-Stars, two newcomers for 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game

Nine former All-Stars and two newcomers were named to the MLS All-Star First XI as announced today by Major League Soccer. 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.

"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."

The First XI is anchored by D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who was selected for his first ever MLS All-Star game. The backline features Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope who was selected for an MLS record 10th All-Star team. The midfield is highlighted by Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan who was selected for his sixth consecutive All-Star game. Selected for his first MLS All-Star team was Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario.

D.C. United, currently in first place in the Eastern Conference (12-1-5, 41 pts), led all teams by placing three players among the First XI, with midfielder Christian Gomez and forward Jaime Moreno joining Perkins on the roster. The New England Revolution and Los Angeles Galaxy each place two players on the First XI roster. Donovan and defender Chris Albright will represent the Galaxy while midfielders Clint Dempsey and Shalrie Joseph represent the Revolution.

The First XI is not necessarily the starting 11, as 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. The First XI selections are below:

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)

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). With each voting category counting for a quarter of the total votes, the formula used for determining the starters involved assigning 25 total points to each category for a possible total of 100 points. Therefore, if a player received 50 percent of the votes in any category, he would earn 12.5 points for that category. For example, Donovan received 7.53 points for online balloting, which is 30.12 (total percentage of online votes) percent of 25. The voting totals were as follows:

D.C. United coach Peter Nowak earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by virtue of leading his team to the highest point total in the League through games played on July 4 (Week 14). On Monday, July 17, Nowak will select the five MLS All-Star reserves and the Commissioner will add two picks to round out the 18-man MLS roster.

Tickets for the midsummer showcase range from $55-$125 and can be purchased at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Avenue, from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT Monday-Friday, by calling TicketMaster at 312-559-1212 or visiting www.MLSnet.com.

2006 MLS First XI:

Ante Razov -- Forward -- Chivas USA
Born: March 2, 1974
He currently leads the League with 11 goals and was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 11 on June 12, 2006. A native of Los Angeles and graduate of UCLA, Razov is playing is in his 11th season in MLS. This is Razov's third MLS All-Star selection, his first as a member of Chivas USA. He competed in the 2000 and 2003 All-Star games as a member of the Chicago Fire. His goal scoring instincts have led him to become the third-leading goal scorer in MLS history with 95 goals. Razov is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Chicago Fire, where he played from 1998-2004.

Jaime Moreno -- Forward -- D.C. United
Born: January 19, 1974
The second leading goal scorer in MLS history (103) and a member of the MLS All-Time Best XI, Moreno is considered to be one of the best players the League has ever seen. This is the seventh All-Star selection for the Bolivian-born Moreno. He has played for D.C. United all but one season during his 11-year career. He is also among the all-time leaders in games played (235) and games started (227). Moreno has reinvented himself following a potentially career-ending surgery on a pair of herniated disks in his back in 2004. He has notched 16 goals in a season three times and, halfway through 2006, he has scored nine goals - second most in the League.

Dwayne De Rosario -- Midfielder -- Houston Dynamo
Born: May 15, 1978
Considered one of the rising stars and most exciting players in the League, De Rosario will be making his first appearance as an MLS All-Star. De Rosario, a fixture on the Canadian National Team, elevated his game in 2005, finishing as the runner-up for the Honda MLS MVP award and securing a spot on the Radio Shack Best XI squad. De Rosario leads the Houston Dynamo from the attacking midfield slot where his creative attacking skills, superior field vision and incessant ability to apply pressure all over the field have allowed him to become one of the top midfielders in the league. De Rosario, who has scored some brilliant goals during his career, was awarded the 2005 MLS Goal of the Year award.

Landon Donovan -- Midfielder -- Los Angeles Galaxy
Born: March 4, 1982
Donovan, a member of the MLS All-Time Best XI, will be making his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance. This will be the 24 year-old U.S. National Team star's second appearance as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy after four previous trips as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. Donovan returned from the 2006 World Cup and immediately sparked a Galaxy offense that sputtered through most of the first half of the season. After a 10-game winless streak, Donovan led the Galaxy to three wins and notched three of his teams four goals during the stretch. In five previous All-Star game appearances, Donovan has tallied five goals and four assists.

Christian Gomez -- Midfielder -- D.C. United
Born: November 7, 1974
A native of Argentina, Gomez is quickly being regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in the League in his third MLS season and only second full season. He's a dynamic scoring threat and possesses incredible field vision. Gomez ranks in the top 10 in MLS in goals scored (6) and assists (6). He helped lead D.C. United to the 2004 MLS Cup Championship. This is Gomez's second MLS All-Star selection.

Clint Dempsey -- Midfielder -- New England Revolution
Born: March 9, 1983
Dempsey is one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in Major League Soccer. This is his third consecutive MLS All-Star selection. He was also selected to the Radio Shack Best XI team in 2005. As a member of the 2006 United States World Cup team, Dempsey impressed and was the only U.S. player to score a goal in Germany. The 23-year-old's high work rate and aggressive style led to his selection as 2004 MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year. He was the eighth overall selection in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft out of Furman University. Since returning from the World Cup Dempsey has notched three goals and two assists for the Revolution.

Shalrie Joseph -- Midfielder -- New England Revolution
Born: May 24, 1978
Joseph, considered one of the top defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, is an intense and gritty ball winner. He was named to the Radio Shack Best XI team in 2005. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Joseph is the engine in the Revolution midfield as he leads the build-up play from the back line. A St. Johns University product, the 27-year-old Joseph is a native of Grenada who moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. as a teenager. This is Joseph's third selection for the MLS All-Star team.

Jimmy Conrad -- Defender -- Kansas City Wizards
Born: February 12, 1977
The seven-year MLS veteran was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2005 and also earned Radio Shack Best XI honors for the second consecutive year. He anchored a defensive unit for Kansas City that recorded seven shutouts in 2005. A member of the U.S. National Team, Conrad came in to lead a U.S. defense that held World Cup Champions Italy to a 1-1 draw in the first round of this month's World Cup. This is Conrad's third All-Star Game selection.

Chris Albright -- Defender -- Los Angeles Galaxy
Born: January 14, 1979
Albright is in his eighth season in Major League Soccer, where he has established himself as one of the league's top defenders. Albright was named to the Radio Shack Best XI in 2005. He began his career as a forward before moving to the backline prior to the 2004 campaign, and the move resulted in him earning a start in the Sierra Mist All-Star Game for the first time in his career in 2004. Since then, the newly found defensive force has been a staple of the Galaxy's back line, earning him his third consecutive All-Star appearance. Albright was a member of the 2006 U.S. National Team that competed in Germany.

Eddie Pope -- Defender -- Real Salt Lake
Born: December 24, 1973
The 32 year-old defensive stalwart is one of the most accomplished defenders in MLS and American soccer history. This is Pope's 10th selection for the MLS All-Star team and he has appeared in seven All-Star games, missing two due to injury. Pope was a member of the U.S. World Cup teams in 1998, 2002 and 2006. The High Point, N.C. native was the 1997 MLS Defender of the Year, a three-time recipient of MLS Best XI honors and a member of the MLS All-Time Best XI. Now a member of Real Salt Lake, Pope began his career at D.C. United where he helped lead the team to three MLS Cup Championships. He played two years in New York for the Metrostars (2003-2004) before heading to Real Salt Lake in 2005.

Troy Perkins -- Goalkeeper -- D.C. United
Born: July 29, 1981
In his third season with D.C. United, Perkins has helped lead the team on an incredible run through the first half of the 2006 MLS Regular Season. He leads all MLS goalkeepers in shutouts (7) and goals against average (0.78). He made only two Regular Season appearances in 2005, after making 16 appearances in 2004 when D.C. United claimed its last MLS Cup Championship. This is Perkins first MLS All-Star selection.