2015 MLS All-Star Game explained
The 2015 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, the 20th annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game, took place on July 29, 2015 (9 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. local time) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, the home of the Colorado Rapids. The game was televised live on Fox Sports 1 and UniMás in the United States, and TSN and RDS in Canada.[1]
Kaká was named MVP.[2] Also, 2015 MLS Homegrown Game was played one day before this event.
Squads
MLS All-Stars
As of July 29, 2015
Notes:
2015 MLS All-Star Fan XI.[3]
Selected by All-Star coach Pablo Mastroeni of the Colorado Rapids.[4]
Selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber[5]
Injured or otherwise unable to play.
Replacement for player who is injured or otherwise unable to play.[6] [7] [8]
Selection controversy
The league commissioner Don Garber used his two picks to select two players who had never played a single minute in MLS at the time of selection in the two former England internationals Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard who had only officially joined the league on July 8. This provoked outrage from fans, the media and other players, the league eventually agreed to select two extra players to be given all-star bonuses.[9] [10] [11] [12]
The league's top scorer, Kei Kamara, was omitted from the Fan XI and responded by saying "It's simple as it goes: you're either a U.S. national team player or you're a DP to be on there. I'm neither one of those. If I get called up, I'll be lucky." The top 10 in the fan vote included 8 players who have represented the US national team alongside Kaká and David Villa with Nigerian international Obafemi Martins also being selected via virtual performances in FIFA 15.[13] [14]
Tottenham Hotspur
On July 27 Tottenham Hotspur announced a 25-man traveling squad for the MLS All-Star game:[15]
Notes:
Injured or unable to play.
Development Squad
Second Year Academy
Match
Details
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GK | 18 | | | | DF | 12 | | | | DF | 4 | | | | DF | 5 | | | | DF | 16 | | | | MF | 13 | | | | MF | 19 | | | | MF | 22 | Kaká (c) | | | MF | 30 | | | | FW | 7 | | | | FW | 2 | | | | Substitutes: | GK | 1 | | | | GK | 31 | | DF | 14 | | | | DF | 3 | | | | DF | 6 | | | | DF | 20 | | | | MF | 17 | | | | MF | 10 | | | | | MF | 9 | | | | MF | 11 | | | | MF | 8 | | | | FW | 23 | | | | FW | 21 | | | | | Manager: | Pablo Mastroeni | |
| | | width=25 | ! | width=25 | |
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GK | 13 | | | | DF | 33 | | | | DF | 5 | Jan Vertonghen (c) | | | DF | 4 | | | | DF | 2 | | | | MF | 42 | | | | MF | 15 | | | | MF | 22 | | | | MF | 23 | | | | MF | 19 | | | | FW | 18 | | | | Substitutes: | GK | 48 | | | | GK | 50 | Tom Glover | DF | 3 | | | | DF | 28 | | | | DF | 27 | | | | DF | 47 | | | | MF | 21 | | | | MF | 16 | | | | MF | 20 | | | | MF | 12 | | | | MF | 44 | | | | FW | 46 | | | | Manager: | Mauricio Pochettino | |
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MLS All-Star Game MVP: Kaká (MLS All-Stars) Assistant referees[16] Jeff Muschik Brian Dunn Fourth official
Sorin Stoica Fifth official
Michael Rottersman
| Match rules- 90 minutes.
- Unlimited substitutions.
- No extra time.
- Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
| |
Notes and References
- April 15, 2015 . EPL club Tottenham Hotspur announced as opponents for 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game . Major League Soccer . April 15, 2015.
- Web site: All-Star: The post-game celebration turned into a love fest for 2015 MVP Kaká. MLSsoccer.com.
- Web site: Newcomers David Villa, Kaka join US national team veterans on 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game Fan XI. July 13, 2015.
- Web site: Sebastian Giovinco, Kei Kamara among 22 players named to 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game roster. July 18, 2015. July 19, 2015. September 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150921022035/http://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2015/news/article/2015/07/18/sebastian-giovinco-kei-kamara-among-22-players-named-2015-att-mls-all-star-g. dead.
- Web site: Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard selected as Commissioner's picks for AT&T MLS All-Star Game. July 13, 2015.
- Web site: Dax McCarty replaces injured Frank Lampard as Commissioner's Pick for AT&T MLS All-Star Game. July 25, 2015.
- Web site: All-Star: Pablo Mastroeni makes five additions to roster as Keane, Gerrard, Bradley, Tierney withdraw. July 28, 2015.
- Web site: Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco ruled out of All-Star Game by injury, replaced by teammate Jozy Altidore. July 29, 2015.
- Web site: Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard selections for MLS All-Star Game 2015 make perfect sense. https://web.archive.org/web/20150718022649/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/usa/11739323/MLS-All-Star-Game-2015-Frank-Lampard-and-Steven-Gerrard-selections-make-perfect-sense.html. dead. July 18, 2015. July 14, 2015. Telegraph.co.uk.
- Web site: MLS players snipe at Gerrard, Lampard all-star picks - Sport. Jamaica Observer.
- Web site: The curious case of Gerrard, Lampard and the MLS All-Star Game. Back Page Football. July 15, 2015 .
- Web site: Commissioner makes joke of MLS All-Star Game by choosing Gerrard, Lampard. Mike DeCourcy. Sporting News.
- Web site: Lampard and Gerrard among MLS All-Star selections - ESPN FC. ESPNFC.com.
- Web site: MLS leading scorer Kei Kamara comments on Fan XI snub: "You're either a US player or a DP to be on there". MLSsoccer.com.
- Web site: MLS ALL-STARS MATCH SQUAD . tottenhamhotspur.com. July 27, 2015.
- Web site: All-Star: PRO assigns Ismail Elfath to referee Wednesday's AT&T MLS All-Star Game in Colorado. MLSsoccer.com. July 27, 2015.