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Eddie Johnson of the Kansas City Wizards and Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls have scored goals at a blistering pace this season, and they headline the MLS First XI for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game announced Thursday.
The MLS All-Stars will take on Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC on July 19 (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2, TeleFutura) in the league's annual midsummer showcase. Given the competitive nature of the match, the First XI is not necessarily the group that will start the match. Revolution head coach Steve Nicol, who won the honor of leading the MLS All-Stars, will choose the formation and lineup on the day of the game.
Johnson and Angel, who occupy the two forward spots in the First XI, entered Thursday tied for the league lead in goals with nine each, and each has made history along the way this year.
Johnson tallied hat tricks in consecutive matches on May 26 and June 2, becoming the first player in MLS history to do so, and Angel scored nine goals in his first seven games in the league; no other newcomer to the league has had a better strike rate in that number of games.
Kansas City Wizards center back Jimmy Conrad has earned his fourth consecutive All-Star selection. Conrad played the full 90 minutes for the Western Conference in 2004 and for MLS against Fulham FC in 2005. He played 45 minutes against Chelsea FC last season. Though he's missed four matches due to either injury or international duty, Conrad has anchored a Wizards defense that has helped put the club in the thick of the race at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Conrad is joined in defense by the two most recent Rookies of the Year, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein (2006) and the New England Revolution's Michael Parkhurst (2005).
Bornstein has missed five games to play in both the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America with the U.S. national team. Though his scoring production is down from last year, his man-marking has been sharp, helping Chivas to the second best defensive record in the league.
Parkhurst has also served his country, taking part in the Gold Cup for the USA. The Rhode Island native has marshaled an oft-changing Revolution rearguard that is tied for third in goals against this season; he will make his second All-Star appearance.
Parkhurst is joined on the MLS First XI by two Revolution teammates. Goalkeeper Matt Reis is tied for the league lead in shutouts with five, and is in the top five in saves, save percentage and goals against average. He received his third consecutive All-Star selection.
The Revolution's Shalrie Joseph pairs with Houston Dynamo's Ricardo Clark in the defensive midfield for the MLS First XI. Despite an unsettled offseason, the Grenadian international has played in and started 10 games this season. In addition to being his usual steady self in the center of the park, Joseph has scored three goals this year. This is his fourth consecutive All-Star selection.
Clark, who received his second All-Star nod, has proven himself among the best midfielders in the league this season, serving as the first line of defense on a Dynamo side that has allowed a stunningly low 10 goals in 14 games this season. Clark has also shown an ability to get into the attack, scoring once and providing two assists, and he scored his first international goal for the U.S. at Copa America.
Clark's midfield partner in Houston, Dwayne De Rosario, is also returning to the All-Star Game for a second time after winning MVP honors by scoring the only goal in last year's 1-0 win against Chelsea. A league MVP candidate each of the past two seasons, De Rosario's numbers have been down this season, but he has still shown the ability to tip the scales in Dynamo's favor.
Another star who will return is D.C. United midfielder - and reigning MLS MVP - Christian Gomez, making his third consecutive All-Star appearance. Gomez has tallied just four goals and four assists this year, but he pulls the strings in a United attack that has been among the league's best with 23 goals in 13 games.
Rounding out the MLS First XI is another international newcomer, FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja. The 22-year-old Colombian has successfully steered the Hoops attack this season, scoring four goals, three of which have been game winners. Since coming into the FCD side, Toja has done well at settling the FCD midfield and breaking up opponents' attacks.
The MLS First XI was determined by voting from four sources: fans (25 percent), media (25 percent), players (25 percent) and coaches and general managers (25 percent). On July 10, the remainder of the 18-man MLS All-Star squad will be announced, with Nicol selecting five players and the final two spots being filled by selections made by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
