Akpom's late goal gives Arsenal 2-1 win over MLS All-Stars

In the 11-year history of Major League Soccer’s current All-Star Game format of Best XI against top European top club, the league had managed to win more than it lost. Going into Thursday’s friendly against Premier League power Arsenal in the Bay Area, the MLS All-Stars had won seven of the 11 games including the last two midsummer exhibitions, 2-1 triumphs over Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

MLS will have to wait until next year to start a new winning streak. Its 2016 All-Star showcase at Avaya Stadium, home of the San Jose Earthquakes, was headed for a penalty shootout, but the Gunners got an 87th-minute goal from Chuba Akpom to continue their preseason preparation with a 2-1 victory.

A familiar face to U.S. men’s national team fans scored the game’s first goal in the 11th minute. Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell, coming off a breakthrough season for Arsenal, won a penalty after being clumsily clattered into by defender Laurent Ciman. Campbell used a tip-toeing walkup similar to Italy forward Simone Zaza’s epic miss in Euro 2016 but converted from the spot for a 1-0 lead.

Despite the early deficit, the MLS All-Stars managed to show off their skills,. In the eighth minute, Andrea Pirlo’s long, looping ball ahead found Giovani Dos Santos alone on goalkeeper Petr Cech, but Dos Santos opted to take a quick shot with his weaker right foot that Cech stopped with ease. Eight minutes later, Kaka beat his man along the goal line but had his shot blocked. That allowed Arsenal to immediately launch a counter that had Theo Walcott with the ball in a 2-v-2 opportunity. His left-footed shot from just outside the box was easily saved by goalkeeper Andre Blake.

New York City FC stars Pirlo and David Villa were two of the more influential MLS players, but both were substituted in the 32nd and 33rd minutes, respectively, due to a key home game against Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

The Gunners appeared headed to a 1-0 halftime lead, but an old nemesis struck just before the break.

Didier Drogba, who made life miserable for Arsenal center backs during his days at Chelsea, bulled his way to an equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time. Dos Santos played him into the area to set up Drogba’s initial shot which was saved by Cech, his former Chelsea teammate. A second attempt was blocked, but the Gunners couldn’t deny Drogba a third time as the Montreal Impact star slotted the ball into the far corner to bring the MLS All-Stars level at 1-1.

Local favorite Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes had a great chance to put the MLS All-Stars ahead in the 82nd minute, but his first-timed shot sailed over the crossbar. Arsenal would take advantage of that misfortune for the home side. And a classic Arsenal team goal won it.

Gedion Zelalem, hailed as the next big thing in American soccer when he worked his way into the Gunners’ senior team mix two years ago, displayed some nifty footwork in the box before laying the ball off to an overlapping Nacho Monreal. The fullback slipped the ball past two defenders and goalkeeper David Bingham to Akpom, who an easy tap-in for the game-winner.

Like other American sports leagues, MLS uses its All-Star Week to promote its sport and brand. The days leading up to the actual game are perfect for wining and dining current and potential corporate partners and sponsors. Such business hobnobbing will never cease.

But here’s one change MLS might consider: reverting back to an All-Star Game featuring its own players.

MLS has grown enough where it probably doesn’t need to invite the Manchester Uniteds and Chelseas of the world to play a made-for-TV friendly anymore. With talents like Sebastian Giovinco and Dos Santos, the league can stand on its own putting on an exhibition featuring MLS players, whether its East vs. West or USA vs. The World. If the MLS is truly focused on raising its profile among the competitive American sports landscape, promoting your own stars instead of the Premier League’s big names would be a bold step forward.

However, the league continues to struggle with TV ratings. And that’s the biggest reason why MLS will continue to give a European club top billing over its own stars when it comes to the league’s annual 90-minute friendly in late July.