Additional 16 MLS All-Stars Available for Selection in 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game
Published on July 18, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Friday, July 18, 2003) - Major League Soccer unveiled the names of an additional group of 2003 MLS All-Stars, who will be available for selection by MLS All-Star Head Coach Bob Bradley and his MetroStars coaching staff in the case replacements are needed for the designated 18-man roster. The MLS All-Stars take on Mexico's CD Guadalajara (also known as Chivas) in the League's summer showcase on Saturday, Aug. 2 which will be televised live on ABC Sports at 3:30PM ET with the national radio broadcasts carried by Radio Unica and the Sports Byline USA Radio network.
This additional group of 16 players was next in line for selection in the same balloting which elected the 16-man squad announced on July 9 . The voting included (a) fans, (b) media, (c) players and (d) coaches and general managers with each representing 25 percent of the final tally. Voting was managed by J. Patton Sports Marketing Inc. as independent arbiter with ballots allowing for 16 selections: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and four forwards.
The Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution have the greatest representation of any club in this second group of All-Stars: Colorado Rapids (3 - Mark Chung, Pablo Mastroeni, John Spencer), New England Revolution (3 - Adin Brown, Brian Kamler, Carlos Llamosa), Chicago Fire (2 - Chris Armas, Zach Thornton), Kansas City Wizards (2 - Nick Garcia, Chris Klein), Los Angeles Galaxy (2 - Tyrone Marshall, Cobi Jones), Columbus Crew (1 - Brian McBride), Dallas Burn (1 - Jason Kreis), MetroStars (1 - Steve Jolley) and the San Jose Earthquakes (1 - Jeff Agoos). The two clubs not accounted for in the initial 16-man squad announced on July 9, the Rapids and Burn, are represented in this group. Also, Adin Brown, Nick Garcia, Tyrone Marshall and Brian Kamler were all named All-Stars for the first times in their career.
The 16 aforementioned players will not travel for the match against Chivas unless called upon as replacements by Bradley to join the previously named 18-man roster. The MetroStars Head Coach will in fact tab a player from the group (New England's Adin Brown or Chicago's Zach Thornton) to substitute former MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was transferred this week to England's Manchester United after finishing tops among netminders in All-Star balloting. Aside from the Howard replacement, any future injury replacements will also come from the second list of MLS All-Stars.
This year, for the first time in the history of MLS' midsummer showcase, a squad of MLS All-Stars will take on an international club. Last year's edition of the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game also featured a single MLS All-Star team which defeated the U.S. National Team, 3-2, at RFK Stadium. The game honored the historic feat of the U.S., which advanced to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals in Korea/Japan led by a large contingent of MLS players. Past All-Star formats have included East vs. West matchups ('96, '97, '99, '00, '01) and a game featuring USA vs. World Stars (1998) that was staged on the heels of the U.S. participation in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Based in Guadalajara, Chivas is one of Mexico's most popular clubs and commands a large following of supporters that spans the CONCACAF region. Founded in 1906, Chivas has always held true to its tradition of fielding only all-Mexican lineups as the team has captured 10 Mexican and a CONCACAF Champions Cup trophy in its storied history. Led by a host of Mexican National Team stars, including Omar Bravo, Oswaldo Sanchez and Ramon Morales, Chivas made a run for the championship in the recently concluded Mexican league campaign, suffering elimination in the second round of the playoffs. A frequent visitor to the United States, Chivas played four exhibition matches earlier this year, including playing before crowds of approximately 40,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum and Pacific Bell Park. Following a 0-0 tie (5-4 loss on PKs) this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum against River Plate, the team battles Argentina's Boca Juniors on Tuesday at the Estadio Jalisco in Mexico.
The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game offers four levels of ticket pricing, ranging from $35 to $65 for individual seats. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster (213-480-3232), online at www.lagalaxy.com, at The Home Depot Center box office and at the following ticket outlets: Robinsons May, Tower Records and Warehouse Records. For season ticket package and group sales opportunities fans can contact the Los Angeles Galaxy Ticket Office at 1-877-3GALAXY.
Major League Soccer Stories from July 18, 2003
- Additional 16 MLS All-Stars Available for Selection in 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game - MLS
- Pre-Game Report: MetroStars @ Burn - Red Bull New York
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