TORONTO – The MLS All-Stars defeated West Ham United, 3-2, in front of 20,844 fans at BMO field in Toronto, Ontario.
West Ham’s Dean Ashton put the visiting English club ahead in the 26th minute when he hammered home a half-volley from 12 yards out. Less than a minute later, Christian Gómez responded for the MLS All-Stars when his right-footed strike found side netting after a clever back-heeled through ball from Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
Blanco, who was named All-Star Game MVP, would add his name to the score sheet in the 43rd minute when he curled a shot into the upper-right corner of the net, giving the MLS All-Stars a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Ashton would strike again for West Ham as his in the 67th minute equalizer took a deflection and easily skipped past MLS All-Star goalie Matt Reis.
Just three minutes later, Dwayne De Rosario was brought down in the box by a slide tackle from West Ham captain Lucas Neill. De Rosario capitalized on the penalty and sealed the win for the MLS All-Stars.
In the first ever All-Star Game held in Canada, the MLS All-Stars extended their winning streak to five in a row against foreign competition.
MLS All-Star Game 2008: July 24, 2008
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
MLS All-Stars: 3 West Ham United: 2
MVP: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (MLS)
ARCHIVE:1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
