MLS All-Star voting enters final week

While David Beckham continues to run away with the fan voting for the 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, a few other players are getting some late support entering the final week of fan voting.

Beckham and Landon Donovan, who have helped the Los Angeles Galaxy to the best record in the Western Conference, are the top two vote-getters, followed by Chicago Fire designated player Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

There's a significant drop to the fan's fourth overall choice, Toronto FC playmaker Amado Guevara, who is followed closely by Houston's Dwayne De Rosario, who scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory against Chelsea FC in the 2006 Sierra Mist All-Star Game.

Toronto FC's Maurice Edu has moved in front of Guillermo Barros Schelotto to round out the top five midfielders.

Donovan, who is the Golden Boot leader with 11 goals and six assists in 10 games, is the clear favorite among forwards, followed by TFC's Danny Dichio, Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls, the MVP of last year's All-Star Game, and former Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore. Toronto's Jeff Cunningham and Columbus Crew striker Alejandro Moreno are locked in a tight battle for fifth.

Frankie Hejduk is the clear favorite among defenders, while Toronto teammates Marvell Wynne and Jim Brennan are nose-to-nose for second. Kansas City's Jimmy Conrad is fourth, while Abel Xavier of the Galaxy is fifth, with TFC's Marco Velez and Tyrone Marshall and New England's Michael Parkhurst close behind.

Toronto fans have proven to be the most active in the voting, with TFC goalkeeper Greg Sutton well in front of Jon Busch of the Chicago Fire, New England's Matt Reis and William Hesmer of the Columbus Crew.

Fans can participate by visiting www.MLSnet.com and are able to cast up to 10 votes per day. The voting closes July 2. The online fan balloting will comprise one quarter of the All-Star First XI selections, with coaches and general managers (25 percent), players (25 percent) and media (25 percent) all getting a say in who is named to the First XI, which will consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.

Those selected will participate in the 13th annual MLS All-Star game and take on West Ham United of the English Premier League at BMO Field in Toronto, July 24 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised in the U.S. and Canada on ESPN2, Telefutura and CBC Sports.