MLS Major League Soccer

Fire's Zach Thornton Added to Pepsi MLS All-Star Team's Final Roster

Published on July 25, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Friday, July 25, 2003) - Major League Soccer announced today that MLS All-Star Head Coach Bob Bradley has selected Chicago Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton as a replacement for ex-MetroStars 'keeper Tim Howard on the final 18-man roster for the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, to be played Saturday, August 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Thornton is in his eighth season in the League and will join the Los Angeles Galaxy's Kevin Hartman as one of two goalkeepers selected for the match against Mexico's CD Guadalajara (also known as Chivas). The match 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.

"Bob (Bradley) was my coach for five years here in Chicago and we had a good relationship," Thornton said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him and playing with him again."

Thornton, 29, was picked from an additional group of 16 All-Stars available for selection by Bradley in the case a replacement is necessary for any member of the 18-man gameday squad. The native of Baltimore, Maryland will be making his fifth All-Star appearance in an MLS career that has consistently seen him ranked as one of the League's top goalkeepers. This season Thornton has accumulated a record of 7-4-4 with a 1.30 goals against average and three shutouts. His play has been a key element in Chicago's success as the club has established itself as an MLS Cup contender through the first half of the season.

The selection of the Fire's goalkeeper was made necessary by the recent transfer of MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard to England's Manchester United, one of the world's most renowned clubs. One of the leading vote-getters for the 2003 Pepsi MLS All Star Game, Howard had also been named to the Pepsi Best XI the last two seasons. A regular call-up on the U.S. National Team, Howard posted a 37-36-11 record with a 1.46 goals against average and 15 shutouts in his 85-game MLS career. He leaves the MetroStars with the highest winning percentage of any goalkeeper in team history (50.6%).

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.

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.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 25, 2003


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