MLS Major League Soccer

This Week in MLS: All-Star Voting Closes Tonight

Published on July 5, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


All-Star Voting Closes Tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET

Fan voting for the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans can vote online here or via text by sending the last name of a player on the fan ballot to 22442.

The All-Star First XI, as determined by the fans, will be announced July 10 during the ESPN broadcast of Portland vs. Seattle (4 p.m. ET). Selections made by All-Star Coach Hans Backe and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be announced on July 18.

Some fans of Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Philadelphia Union and the San Jose Earthquakes probably have tired thumbs, because in the past week, Matt Besler, Sean Franklin, Jack Jewsbury, Justin Mapp and Chris Wondolowski have all moved rapidly up the leader boards at their respective positions -- all on the strength of text votes received. Each text vote counts equally with each online vote for a player, and with roughly seven hours remaining, the race is on for the First XI.

Here are the current leaders:

Top 5 Goalkeepers

1. Kasey Keller (SEA)

2. Donovan Ricketts (LA)

3. Nick Rimando (RSL)

4. Faryd Mondragon (PHI)

5. Kevin Hartman (DAL)

Top 7 Defenders

1. Matt Besler (KC)

2. Omar Gonzalez (LA)

3. Sean Franklin (LA)

4. Rafa Marquez (NY)

5. Tim Ream (NY)

6. Danny Califf (PHI)

7. Jay DeMerit (VAN)

Top 7 Midfielders

1. David Beckham (LA)

2. Justin Mapp (PHI)

3. Jack Jewsbury (POR)

4. Dwayne De Rosario (DC)

5. Brek Shea (DAL)

6. Chris Pontius (DC)

7. Kyle Beckerman (RSL)

Top 5 Forwards

1. Chris Wondolowski (SJ)

2. Landon Donovan (LA)

3. Thierry Henry (NY)

4. Charlie Davies (DC)

5. Dominic Oduro (CHI)

Top 10 in Text Voting

1. Matt Besler (KC)

2. Chris Wondolowski (SJ)

3. Sean Franklin (LA)

4. Dominic Oduro (CHI)

5. Omar Gonzalez (LA)

6. Justin Mapp (PHI)

7. Chris Pontius (DC)

8. Brek Shea (DAL)

9. Geoff Cameron (HOU)

10. David Beckham (LA)

Quotables

"We've had some good results on the road this year, but I think this takes the cake so far. The crowd was amazing. It was a very difficult environment for us to play in."

-- Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes after the 2-1 win at the Portland Timbers

"I feel like I've been here all season after that game. You could tell that's what has been happening."

-- Newly acquired D.C. United defender Brandon McDonald after his first game with his new club

"That's for all the fans, not just the most vocal section, we all know that they're just as important whether they're in 103 or 108, it doesn't really matter. We all wanted to share that with them because we all know how important that support is. They work almost as hard as we do on the field. They're singing and dancing all game long so they deserve that just as much."

-- Toronto FC defender Dan Gargan to The Sun, after taking the Voyageurs Cup, emblematic of the Canadian Championship, to the southeast stands at BMO Field

"It was a weird game. It's not often that you start a game with one of your DPs on the bench, your third-string goalie and within a half-hour you have to take off one of your center backs."

-- Landon Donovan, after the LA Galaxy's scoreless draw with Seattle Sounders FC

Sweet Tweets

@FCBarcelona - June 28

US President @BarackObama compares himself to Lionel Messi http://bit.ly/j3WTXQ

@MWSportsWatch - June 28

Nearly 1m people watched Fox Soccer's broadcast of USA v Mexico on Saturday, more than double the channel's previous viewing record.

@RSLTribune (Michael C. Lewis) - June 30

Forgot to mention, #RSL's injured Javier Morales has progressed to walking on his own, albeit with a protective boot. Right on schedule.

@FarydMondragon - July 2

To be honest seeing all those flags and so many people on that upper level remind me the Champions League away games with Galatasaray!!!

@TimbersFC - July 3

Spain's national sports daily newspaper Marca talks about @darlingtonnagbe's goal. Compares it to Le Tissier: http://bit.ly/jAaZaW #RCTID

@AllenAHopkins - July 4

One of my all-time best 4th of July memories is watching Brazil and #USMNT from Palo Alto during the USA' 94 World Cup. #denimnevergetsold

According to the Elias Sports Bureau: Galaxy extend Independence Day streak

When the Rapids hosted their traditional Independence Day game on Sunday night rather than Monday, July 4, that left the LA Galaxy as the only MLS club to host a league match on the Fourth of July in every season since Major League Soccer launched in 1996. But the Galaxy's streak is the longest not just in MLS history, but in the history of all major U.S. pro sports leagues. It's never been equaled even in the 136 years of Major League Baseball.

MLB's longest streak was 12 straight seasons, set in the 19th century by the team we now call the Cubs (1887-1898). Chicago played those Fourth of July games at three different stadiums, including doubleheaders in each of those seasons except 1897. For the record, the Galaxy played their first seven July 4th games at the Rose Bowl, averaging 55,000-plus per game, before moving to the cozier Home Depot Center, where they have continued to fill the building (averaging more than 25,000 per game on July 4).

Week 17 match previews: July 6-10, 2011 (all times ET)

Wednesday, July 6

Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

- Sporting Kansas City extended their unbeaten streak to eight games in league play and 10 in all competitions with the 2-1 win at Portland.

- Omar Cummings made his first start since May 4 in the scoreless draw with Houston, but was without his usual running partner in Conor Casey, suspended for the game. Casey has scored in four of his last five appearances.

- In their first meeting of the season, May 28 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Ryan Smith's 75th-minute goal canceled out a first-half Conor Casey strike and the teams played to a 1-1 draw.

- Colorado has not won at Kansas City in league play since 2002. In their 10 games since, Kansas City has defeated the Rapids seven times (with three draws).

New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC, 8 p.m. (TSN)

- The Red Bulls concluded their four-game road swing with three draws and a loss, coming back for a late 2-2 tie at San Jose on Saturday evening.

- After calling on his teammates, Joel Lindpere scored both goals for the Red Bulls against the Quakes. Lindpere has now scored the last three goals for New York.

- Toronto FC won for the first time since May 7 in the midweek league win against Vancouver, then followed that with a third consecutive Canadian Championship title and place in the CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-1 win against Whitecaps FC, winning the final series 3-2 on aggregate.

- The Red Bulls won at BMO Field last year for the first time since 2007, a dominating 4-1 victory. New York has won the last three meetings in the all-time series, outscoring TFC 10-1 in that time.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Columbus Crew, 10 p.m. (TSN)

- Whitecaps FC have now dropped three straight games in all competitions after a lost week in Toronto, falling 1-0 to TFC in league play then 2-1 in the second leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship final.

- Camilo has scored the last two goals for Whitecaps FC, the last in league play, in the 2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City on June 25, and a direct free kick in the loss in the Canadian Championship final.

- The Crew saw a pair of veterans return in the Dallas match: Midfielder Robbie Rogers made his first appearance since May 28, while Danny O'Rourke made his first league outing of the season after offseason knee surgery.

- Emilio Renteria scored twice for the Crew in the first meeting between the teams, a 2-1 Crew win April 30 at Crew Stadium.

Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m.

- Nick LaBrocca has nearly equaled his career total in goals in 2011, after scoring his fourth of the year in the 1-1 tie with Chicago. In his first four MLS seasons (three with Colorado, one with Toronto FC), LaBrocca scored five goals.

- After going two games without a goal, San Jose and Steven Lenhart scored in the 2-2 tie Saturday with New York. Lenhart has scored all five of his goals this season over the last five games.

- Mariano Trujillo's goal in the 85th minute gave Chivas USA a 2-1 victory against San Jose in their first meeting this season, April 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium.

- Since their return to the league, the Quakes have defeated Chivas USA just once in eight meetings, that coming last year.

Saturday, July 9

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

- D.C. United have played to three consecutive draws, a second in a row allowing a late tying goal after Carlos Ruiz scored in the 85th minute to give Philadelphia a 2-2 tie at RFK Stadium.

- United have allowed eight goals in the final 15 minutes, the most in MLS this season.

- Thierry Henry scored two goals and set up another as the Red Bulls rolled to a 4-0 victory against United in their first meeting this season, April 21 at RFK Stadium.

- The Red Bulls were able to finish off their long road trip with a draw despite missing Luke Rodgers and Rafael Marquez to injury and Thierry Henry, a late scratch after coming down the flu. Even head coach Hans Backe was missing after undergoing surgery during the week.

Sporting Kansas City vs. Chivas USA, 7:30 p.m. (Galavision)

- Sporting Kansas City enter the week having not lost since the final game of a five-game losing skid, May 21 at Seattle. Sporting's unbeaten streak reached 10 games in all competitions in the 2-1 win at Portland.

- SKC's Graham Zusi was named MLS Player of the Month for June after recording his two goals and three assists on the season in a four-game span June 12-25.

- Chivas USA have come away from Kansas City with points on their last two trips including a 2-0 win last year, the club's first victory ever at KC.

- The teams opened the 2011 season against each other, Omar Bravo scoring twice and rookie C.J. Sapong adding another in a 3-2 Sporting win at The Home Depot Center on March 19.

Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m.

- Joao Plata scored his first MLS goal then set up a second as Toronto FC knocked off the Dynamo 2-1 at BMO Field on May 7 in their first meeting this season.

- Toronto FC kicked off the summer signing season with a splash, announcing the acquisition of two Designated Players, German international midfielder Torsten Frings and Dutch international forward Danny Koevermans. The duo will be available when the transfer window opens July 15.

- Still the league leader with nine assists, Houston's Brad Davis was able to overcome injury to play the first half vs. Colorado, the only Dynamo player to have started every game this season.

- TFC has recorded back-to-back victories against Houston after six games without a win vs. the Dynamo.

Colorado Rapids vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m.

- The Colorado Rapids have not won at Dick's Sporting Goods park since April 3, their home winless streak extended to six games in the scoreless draw with Houston on Sunday.

- Whitecaps FC playmaker Davide Chiumiento, second in MLS with seven assists, missed both games in Toronto after suffering a hamstring injury June 25. Terry Dunfield played in an attacking midfield role in the Canadian Championship final vs. TFC.

- The teams are meeting for the first time this season; they conclude the regular season against each other Oct. 22 in Vancouver.

Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, 9 p.m.

- Brek Shea scored for a fourth consecutive match in the 2-0 win against Columbus, pulling into a tie atop the MLS Golden Boot standings along with Charlie Davies (DC), Landon Donovan (LA) and Thierry Henry (NY).

- Alvaro Saborio scored a third goal in the last two games to help lead Real's comeback in their 3-3 draw Monday with the New England Revolution.

- The teams played to a scoreless draw May 22 at Pizza Hut Park, the first time Real Salt Lake have ever come away with a point on their travels to Dallas.

- The teams met in the Western Conference Semifinals a year ago, FC Dallas gaining a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium to win the series 3-2 on aggregate.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union, 10:30 p.m.

- The Quakes return to Buck Shaw Stadium after drawing the third-largest crowd in club history, and the largest for a non-doubleheader match, 41,028 at Stanford Stadium for the 2-2 tie with New York.

- In his third game back in the Union lineup after missing four matches to Guatemala national team duty, Carlos Ruiz scored for a second consecutive game to give Philadelphia a 2-2 draw at D.C. United.

- A Sebastien Le Toux penalty kick in the 76th minute gave Union a 1-0 victory on April 30 at PPL Park in the teams' first meeting this season.

- It was Philadelphia's first win against San Jose; in Union's inaugural season, the Quakes won in Philadelphia while the teams tied at Buck Shaw Stadium.

LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire, 10:30 p.m. (FOX Soccer)

- The Galaxy extended their undefeated streak to 11 games (5-0-6), longest in MLS this season, in the scoreless draw Monday with Seattle.

- Goalkeeper Brian Perk, making his MLS debut, stopped a Fredy Montero penalty kick in the 17th minute. He was just the second goalkeeper in league history to record the first save of his career on a penalty (also: Matt Napoleon, of Miami, vs. KC's Paul Rideout, Aug. 23, 1998).

- The Chicago Fire played to a 12th tie this season in their 1-1 result at Chivas USA, now just two away from the single-season MLS record, set by FC Dallas last season.

- A second-half goal from Omar Gonzalez gave the Galaxy a 2-1 victory against the Fire on April 17 at Toyota Park in the first meeting between the clubs.

Sunday, July 10

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

- The Timbers saw their winless streak extended to six games, losing for a third time in their last four outings at Jeld-Wen Field in the 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City.

- Rookie Darlington Nagbe scored a stunning goal for the first of his professional career, juggling the ball to himself twice before smashing a volley into the upper far corner of the net, a strike that was the No. 1 play from the weekend on ESPN's SportsCenter.

- Sounders FC saw their winning streak come to an end in the July 4 scoreless draw at the LA Galaxy, but still extended their league undefeated streak to seven games (4-0-3).

- The clubs renewed their rivalry that started all the way back in 1974 on May 14 at Qwest Field, a Mamadou Danso goal for the Timbers canceling out an Alvaro Fernandez tally in a 1-1 draw.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 5, 2011


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