It’s official: All Stars to face West Ham
By ASN Staff • Apr 3rd, 2008 • Category: MLS NewsEnglish Premier League club West Ham United face the MLS All-Stars in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game at Toronto’s BMO Field on Thursday, July 24.
Founded in 1895, West Ham’s roster is highlighted by the captains of Sweden, Australia and Wales – Freddie Ljungberg, Lucas Neill and Craig Bellamy. The club also has several England national team players including Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer plus U.S. defender Jonathan Spector and Portugal forward Luis Boa Morte. The latter played for Fulham in the 2005 match that saw the MLS All-Stars deliver a 4-1 victory over the EPL club. The team currently sits in 10th place in the EPL with 44 points.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said his club “has a strong global fan base and we are working hard to increase our international exposure as well as help the game develop at grassroots level across North America.”
Last year, the MLS All-Stars defeated Scottish Premier League’s Celtic FC 2-0 on goals from New York Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel and FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja. In 2006, the MLS All-Stars defeated the then-two-time defending EPL champions Chelsea FC 1-0 on a goal by Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. In 2005, MLS All-Stars beat Fulham FC 4-1 at Columbus Crew Stadium and in 2003, downed storied Mexican club CD Guadalajara 3-1 at The Home Depot Center with Carlos Ruiz capturing MVP honors.
The 12 MLS All-Star games have offered fans a variety of formats. On six occasions All-Stars squads from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference have squared off. In 1998 the best players in the League faced each other in a USA vs. World format, while in 2002 the MLS All-Stars defeated the U.S. National Team 3-2 at RFK Stadium in a celebration of the team’s historic World Cup quarterfinal finish.
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[...] I’m done ranting now, but on a smaller note…it’s offcial, West Ham will be the MLS All-Star’s opponent this year, thank god this is the last year of [...]