The MLS All-Stars defeated the Liga MX All-Stars 3-2 on penalty kicks on Wednesday evening at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
LAFC’s Diego Rossi nearly opened the scoring for MLS eight minutes in when he chipped goalkeeper Memo Ochoa, but Rossi’s shot was acrobatically cleared off the line.
Liga MX took the lead in the 20th minute when Uruguayan international Jonathan Rodríguez deftly corralled a cross before slotting home past Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
MLS equalized in the 53rd minute when LAFC center back Jesús David Murillo headed in a corner kick from his Black and Gold teammate Eduard Atuesta.
The match ended 1-1 and went to penalties where New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner made two saves and another shot went over the crossbar. Real Salt Lake’s Damir Kreilach and Sporting Kansas City’s Daniel Sallói opened the PK scoring for MLS before Atuesta had his attempt saved and Orlando City’s Nani missed wide.
MLS won in the bottom of the fifth frame when FC Dallas teenager Ricardo Pepi converted with a rocket of a shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar and went in.
SOUNDERS TAKEAWAYS
Starters galore
All six Seattle Sounders started on Wednesday, joining the 2006 D.C. United side as the joint-most in All-Star Game history. Raúl Ruidíaz, João Paulo, Alex Roldan, Yeimar and Nouhou started alongside team captain Cristian Roldan in LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley’s 4-3-3 formation. Ruidíaz, Yeimar and Nouhou all went 30 minutes before being replaced, while João Paulo and both Roldan brothers finished out the first half before exiting.
Roldans make history
Speaking of the Roldans, they became the first pair of brothers to compete in the same MLS All-Star match. Cristian started in defensive midfield next to João Paulo, while Alex played in a more traditional right fullback role as opposed to the wingback hybrid position that he has shined in so far this season.
Nouhou returns
Nouhou had been out since May 30 while recovering from an adductor injury and recently returned to the matchday roster in the Sounders’ 2-1 win at Columbus Crew SC last weekend. He did not feature in that match, though, so he earned his first half an hour of action in the All-Star Game and looked like his lively self that helped lead Seattle to an MLS-record unbeaten streak to start the season.
Back to MLS play
The Sounders’ All-Stars will return to Seattle ahead of a massive rivalry clash against the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field on Sunday (7:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS). The Sounders will look to extend their four-match winning streak in all competitions that included a 6-2 romp of Portland at Providence Park on Aug. 15.
