Loons’ St. Clair named MVP as MLS wins All-Star Game 2-1 over Liga MX
If it's compelling and competitive soccer MLS executives wanted in a rematch of last year's All-Star Game in Los Angeles, that's what they got in their side's 2-1 victory over Mexico's Liga MX stars Wednesday at Allianz Field.
Blackhawk helicopters barely made their national-anthems appearance over the stadium when Los Angeles F.C. star Carlos Vela scored in the third minute.
Seattle's Raul Ruidiaz's penalty-kick goal in the 73rd minute made it 2-0 before Liga MX defender Kevin Alvarez's long strike in the 84th minute brought Mexico's first-division stars within a goal but no closer.
MLS' third goalkeeper of the game, New York City F.C. Sean Johnson, made a big save in the 90th minute to preserve the lead.
This time last year in Los Angeles, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw and MLS won it on penalty kicks (3-2).
It was dramatic enough for an all-star that MLS and Liga MX decided to do it again Wednesday on a glorious summer's night in St. Paul that featured those helicopters, a large remote-controlled loon that flew through the stadium before the game and a sellout crowd announced at 19,797.
"I knew the people would turn out," Minnesota United and MLS team coach Adrian Heath said in a second-half ESPN broadcast interview. "I'm so pleased for everybody connected with our club. It shows how far we've come in six years."
On Wednesday, goalkeepers Andre Blake from Philadelphia, Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United and Johnson saw action with St. Clair named game MVP.
Vela in that third minute scored the fastest goal for Major League Soccer against international competition in MLS all-star history.
Heath led the MLS team in his own Allianz Field because he is the hometown coach. That allowed him to choose 12 players for his 26-man roster and Heath included his own Emanuel Reynoso and St. Clair.
He started Reynoso in a three-man midfield with MLS leading scorer and fellow Argentine Sebastian Driussi and a player Heath long has admired, Columbus' Darlington Nagbe.
Heath insists Nagbe could have played for any Premier League team in England or big European club earlier in his career "when he was young and flying."
Up top, Heath started a superstar three-man front with L.A. Galaxy's Chicharito and Vela – both Mexicans representing MLS against their home country – alongside Seattle's Jordan Morris.
Reynoso wore uniform No. 16 rather than his Loons' No. 10 while New England's Carles Gil wore the 10.
Heath worked the sideline with dress shirt but no sport coat on the stadium's north end, opposite to the south sideline from which he always coaches the Loons. He coached Reynoso and most of his others starters for the first half, but gave Vela, Driussi and Blake the night off after the first 32 minutes.
St. Clair replaced Blake at that point in a game all players are limited to 45 minutes at the most.
"The hard part is asking them to come out after 30 minutes because they all want to stay on," Heath said told ESPN.
St. Clair came off the field in the 60th minute, replaced by New York City FC's Sean Johnson after he played nearly 30 scoreless minutes. He clapped his hands over his head toward the supporters in the stadium's north end and then to the entire crowd as he went to the bench and was greeted by Heath.
"We've all enjoyed it," Heath said. "Players have been an absolute credit to themselves and their clubs. It doesn't surprise me. That's the reason they're all stars. They're dedicated to the game and they have a competitive streak in them."
A Heath favorite, Columbis Crew's defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe went down in a heap after being tackled from behind that ESPN announcer Jon Champion termed "naughty" for such an exhibition.Nagbe tumbled, losing a shoe in the process before he writhed on grass. He stayed in the game.
St. Clair made a needed two-handed stop as the clock ticked away the first half and Liga MX outdid MLS on shots on goal 5-1.
