MLS Major League Soccer

MLS All-Star Daily

Published on July 28, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Fans Urged to Arrive Early to Rio Tinto Stadium Wednesday

Tomorrow at Rio Tinto Stadium, the celebration starts early as fans can enjoy the All-Star Carnival beginning at 4:00 p.m. on the East side of the stadium. The free festival, presented by MLS and its partners, features interactive games for kids, contests run by Guinness Book of World Records, and entertainment for fans of all ages, autograph sessions, giveaways and prizes. RSL season ticket holders arriving early will receive limited-edition "Javi and Kyle" adidas t-shirts. The teams competing will take the field for warm ups at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and as the Utah National Guard presents the colors, U.S. Air Force Captain Jacque Ament will sing the national anthem, capped by a flyover by four U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets. Fans are also urged to arrive early to avoid traffic and concession lines so they can be in their seats when ESPN2 goes live from the stadium at 7:30 p.m. Prior to kickoff, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Everton FC Head of Football Operations David Harrison will greet the players from both teams.

Morales to Wear #77 in Support of Andy and Marcia Williams

Real Salt Lake midfielder and MLS All-Star Javier Morales will wear jersey number 77 in support of teammate Andy Williams, who wears that number for RSL. Williams, an original member of the club, is attending to his wife Marcia, who is suffering from a rare form of leukemia.

"Sometimes there are situations where you just don't know how to help, but you want to help so much," Morales said Monday through a translator. "This is just a way to show everyone that the team is with him and he is with us. It is the least I can do, and I hope it helps Andy and Marcia in this difficult time."

The courage of the Williams family has inspired many in the Salt Lake area to register with DKMS, the bone marrow donor registry. Their efforts have galvanized the Utah and MLS soccer communities in an effort to bring awareness to the ease and simplicity of the bone marrow match process.

At halftime of Wednesday's match, a special tribute to the Williams family will be made at Rio Tinto Stadium.

MLS All-Stars Starting Attack May Feature Blanco, Ljungberg, Montero and Casey

Although MLS All-Stars Coach Dominic Kinnear will make his final decisions on a starting lineup Wednesday, he tentatively plans to field a 3-4-3 alignment with four of the most productive players in the League this season leading the attack.

Colorado Rapids targetman Conor Casey will spearhead the attack and look to dish to crafty wingers Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Fredy Montero. Orchestrating the midfield will be Seattle Sounders FC's darting Swede, Freddie Ljungberg, flanked by Houston Dynamo creators Stuart Holden and Brad Davis. The MLS All-Stars front six have totaled 30 goals and 29 assists just past the halfway point of the season.

Anchoring the center could be Kyle Beckerman, making his first All-Star appearance in front of his own Real Salt Lake fans. The back line is likely to feature three imposing, athletic and skillful defenders - Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew) between Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire) and Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo). In goal will be U.S. national team great Kasey Keller, also of Sounders FC.

GAME-DAY ROSTER (18)

GOALKEEPERS - Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC); Zach Thornton (Chivas USA).

DEFENDERS - Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle Sounders FC), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire)

MIDFIELDERS - Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Will Johnson (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)

FORWARDS - Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

INACTIVE ROSTER (14)

GOALKEEPERS: Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo); Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy); DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew); Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards); MIDFIELDERS: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew); Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution); Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC); Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo); Paulo Nagamura (Chivas USA); Amado Guevara (Toronto FC); FORWARDS: Brian McBride (Chicago Fire); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)

* bold = First XI selection

MLSnet.com's ExtraTime to Air Live All-Star Game Pregame Show

MLSnet.com, the official Web site of Major League Soccer, will bring fans a live exclusive edition of ExtraTime featuring hosts Greg Lalas and Shep Messing from Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, July 29. ExtraTime will preview the MLS All-Star Game as the League's best take on Tim Howard and English Premier League side Everton FC in the 14th annual midsummer showcase. Lalas and Messing will provide analysis, live updates, exclusive interviews, an inside look at pregame warm-ups, and special guest appearances. The guests currently scheduled to appear during this special episode of ExtraTime include Commissioner Garber, ESPN commentators Allen Hopkins and Alexi Lalas, and All-Star Head Coach Dominic Kinnear. Find out important League information straight from Commissioner Garber, as he discusses the action packed "Summer of Soccer," the MLS owner's meeting, and of course the 2009 All-Star Game. In addition to interviews and other all-access material, Alexi Lalas will have a live episode of his hit mlsnet.com series "The Sitter," live on set. To top it all off, Greg Lalas and Messing will be the first to receive and announce the All-Star Game's starting lineup!

Matchday Weather Forecast for Sandy, Utah

Wednesday, July 29 - 7:30 p.m.

Sunny all day

High: 86 degrees

Low: 56 degrees

UV Index: 10 - very high

Predicted temperature at kickoff - 75 degrees

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 28, 2009


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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