SECAUCUS, NJ - New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel was named today to the MLS First XI for the MLS All-Star Team that will take on Scottish champion Celtic FC on Thursday, July 19 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. The match will be televised live on ESPN2 starting at 9 PM ET.
The First XI were determined by online fan balloting comprising 25 percent of the total vote, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent) and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. Angel received the most votes on the Coaches/GMs, media and player ballots and finished second in the fan poll. He led all players in total voting percentage, ahead of Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario.
"I think it's a great honor to be selected after being here for only two months," Angel said. "I'm looking forward to taking part in this game."
Since joining the Red Bulls as the team's second designated player on April 17, Angel has quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in MLS. Angel has scored nine goals in his first eight league matches - the only player to accomplish the feat. More recently, the 31-year-old found the back of the net in six straight league matches after making his MLS debut on May 13 - one game shy of the mark set by Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United - 1997), Wolde Harris (New England Revolution - 2000) and Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas - 2006).
The Colombian international, who joined the Red Bulls from English Premiership club, Aston Villa, earned MLS Player of the Month honors in May after scoring three goals and tallying two assists in his first three games this season - helping New York to a 2-1-1 record. In his short time in MLS, Angel has recorded three multi-goal games, scoring braces in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire on May 24, a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Toronto FC on June 6 and a 3-3 tie against the Kansas City Wizards on June 16.
Prior to signing with the Red Bulls, Angel enjoyed a seven-year stint with Villa, appearing in 205 games and scoring 62 goals. A former standout for Argentine club, River Plate, the forward from Medellin, Colombia has earned a total of 33 caps for his country.
On July 10, the MLS All-Star Team head coach Steve Nicol and his staff will select five All-Stars who will join two Commissioner's selections to complete the MLS 18-man roster.
Founded in 1888, Celtic boasts one of the most dedicated and widespread fan bases in sports and is a perennial power in Scotland, as the team captured its 41st Scottish Premier League champions this past year. Celtic qualified for the knockout round of the prestigious UEFA Champions League by virtue of a stunning, 1-0 upset of English powerhouse Manchester United. The Scottish club fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion, AC Milan, 1-0 on aggregate.
