Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno and Troy Perkins are among the nine former All-Stars and two newcomers 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. D.C. United, at 12-1-5 and with a League-high 41 standings points, led all teams by placing three players in the First XI.
"Christian, Jaime and Troy have been outstanding this season for D.C. United," said Nowak. "Having been voted to this team by the fans, players, coaches and GMs is an honor that they greatly deserve. Playing a club as talented as Chelsea, I'm happy to have these players available to me in the All-Star game."
Christian Gomez, the lone 2005 All-Star for United, makes his second career All-Star appearance. This season, the midfielder has started 16 games for United, collecting six goals, and six assists. He is tied for the League lead with three game-winning assists and had the second-longest streak of consecutive games with either a goal or assist, lasting over a month from May 6 to June 11. Gomez captured the Sierra Mist 'Goal of the Week' honors in Week 11.
Jaime Moreno will make his sixth appearance in an All-Star game. The forward has started four previous All-Star games and collected a goal in the 2000 game. This season, Moreno is tied for second in the League with nine goals, including his 100th career tally, making him only the second player in MLS history to reach this milestone. Leading the League with five game-winning goals and tied for second with two multi-goal games, Moreno has appeared in each of the Black-and-Red's 18 games, logging 1,570 minutes. Moreno collected the Sierra Mist 'Goal of the Week' honors in Week 12 and was named the MLS Player of the Week for Week 9.
This is Troy Perkins first selection to the MLS All-Star team. In just his third full MLS season, the young goalkeeper leads the League in wins (12), shutouts (7) and goals-against-average, an astonishing 0.78 through 18 games. This season, he has already achieved a new career high in shutouts and is tied for the League lead with 1,620 minutes played. Perkins was named the MLS Player of the Week for Week 13.
Nowak and his staff were selected to coach the squad as United led the League in points through games played on July 4. This will be the second time Nowak has coached in the MLS All-Star game. In 2004, he coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars when they defeated the Western Conference 3-2. Nowak has experience coaching against the All-Stars' opponent, as he coached D.C. United in an international friendly against Chelsea in July 2005. United lost the match 2-1.
The First XI is not necessarily the starting 11, as Nowak will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. The players named today were selected as a result of equally weighted votes from club general managers, coaches, players and fans. The full, 18-man roster will be announced Monday, along with 14 alternates. The First XI selections are below:
Goalkeeper -- Troy Perkins, D.C. United
Defender - Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City Wizards
Defender -- Chris Albright, Los Angeles Galaxy
Defender -- Eddie Pope, Real Salt Lake
Midfielder -- Dwayne De Rosario, Houston Dynamo
Midfielder -- Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Midfielder -- Christian Gomez, D.C. United
Midfielder -- Clint Dempsey, New England Revolution
Midfielder -- Shalrie Joseph, New England Revolution
Forward -- Ante Razov, Chivas USA
Forward -- Jaime Moreno, D.C. United
