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MLS All-Star coach to be determined this weekend

July 1, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Friday, July 1, 2005) - With less than one month before the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, the coaching staff that will direct the MLS side against English Premier League club Fulham FC will be determined following the games of Week 14 which conclude on Monday night. Heading into the Independence Day weekend, head coach Colin Clarke has his FC Dallas side two points ahead of Steve Nicol's New England Revolution in a two-team race for the honor to lead the MLS All-Star team in the midsummer showcase on Saturday, July 30 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC Sports).

The coaching staff of the MLS All-Star team will be that of the team with the best record (most total points) in League play following games played on Monday, July 4. FC Dallas, currently in first place in the Western Conference with a 10-2-4 record for 33 points, can only be caught by the Eastern Conference leading New England Revolution (9-1-4, 31 points) for the best record in MLS following Week 14. The following are the scenarios that could determine the MLS All-Star coach:

Colin Clarke's staff coaches the All-Stars if:

-FC Dallas defeat the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 2 at the Cotton Bowl (8:30 p.m. ET).

-If FC Dallas and San Jose tie, and New England ties or loses against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, July 4th (10:00 p.m. ET).

Steve Nicol's staff coaches the All-Stars if:

-FC Dallas loses or ties against San Jose AND New England defeats Los Angeles.

Under MLS rules, the first tie breaker when points are even is head-to-head competition. Since New England and FC Dallas have not faced each other this season, the second tie-breaker of goal differential would be applied in the case that the teams are even on points. Going into the weekend, New England has a +15 goal differential and FC Dallas has a + 14 goal difference.

Under either scenario, the coach of the MLS All-Stars will be a veteran of the England top flight division as well as a veteran of the 1986 World Cup. Clarke, a former member of the Northern Ireland national team, played 361 game in England for Portsmouth, Southampton, and Queen's Park Rangers. Nicol, hailing from Scotland, made 467 appearances with Liverpool, winners of the 2005 EUFA Champion's League.

The 11 MLS All-Star starters will be announced on Wednesday, July 13 and the five substitutes and two Commissioner's picks will be announced on Thursday, July 14.

All 12 MLS teams are in action this weekend, with three games on Saturday, July 2 followed by three more on Monday, July 4. On Saturday, D.C. United travels to Columbus to take on the Crew, FC Dallas hosts San Jose, and the Chicago Fire head to California to face Chivas USA. Independence Day features the MetroStars at Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids welcoming the Kansas City Wizards, and the Galaxy hosting the Revolution.

Only one week remains for fans to vote on www.MLSnet.com for their favorite players to participate in the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. The following results indicate the leading vote-getters as of Friday, July 1. The results, shown as percentage of votes received in the respective positions, account for 25 percent of the final count which will determine the MLS starting XI to face Fulham FC on July 30th at Crew Stadium. The remaining 75 percent of the total will include votes from the media (25 percent), MLS Coaches and General Managers (25 percent) and players (25 percent). Online voting will end on Friday, July 8th.

Goalkeepers:

Matt Reis -Revolution - 15.94

Kevin Hartman - Galaxy - 12.17

Scott Garlick - FC Dallas - 11.23

DJ Countess - Real Salt Lake - 10.22

Forwards:

Eddie Johnson - FC Dallas - 23.03

Carlos Ruiz - FC Dallas - 19.61

Taylor Twellman - Revolution - 17.60

Pat Noonan - Revolution - 13.93

Jason Kreis - Real Salt Lake - 9.50

Brian Ching - Earthquakes - 9.37

Jaime Moreno - DC United - 8.05

Midfielders:

Landon Donovan - Galaxy - 39.31

Clint Dempsey - Revolution - 27.84

Freddy Adu - DC United - 21.44

Cobi Jones - Galaxy - 15.82

Ronnie O'Brien - FC Dallas - 15.16

Amado Guevara - MetroStars - 12.93

Clint Mathis - Real Salt Lake - 12.53

Eddie Gaven - MetroStars - 12.01

Steve Ralston - Revolution - 11.27

Guillermo Ramirez - Galaxy - 10.65

Defenders:

Eddie Pope - Real Salt Lake - 27.28

Frankie Hejduk - Columbus - 13.92

Chris Albright - Galaxy - 12.77

Greg Vanney - FC Dallas - 11.02

Mike Petke - Colorado - 10.03

Michael Parkhurst - Revolution - 9.65

Tyrone Marshall - Galaxy - 9.15

Jeff Agoos - MetroStars - 8.48

Jay Heaps - Revolution - 7.19

Chad Marshall - Columbus - 7.07

Brian Dunseth - Real Salt Lake - 7.06

Rusty Pierce - Real Salt Lake - 7.06

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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