TORONTO -- The final score wasn't what West Ham United was looking for at the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, but as far as the Premiership club was concerned, their performance in the 3-2 defeat was still positive.
"For everyone concerned it's been a success," said West Ham manager Alan Curbishley. "Some goals scored, [with more] chances put away it could've been a bit more of a scoreline, but I think everybody came away with something tonight."
The Hammers came closer than any opponent has to upending the MLS All-Stars in any of the five All-Star Games that have featured the MLS team against international opposition. West Ham were the first side to both gain a lead, and to score more than once against the All-Stars.
Both goals were courtesy of West Ham's leading scorer, Dean Ashton. The forward took a header from fellow striker Carlton Cole in the 26th minute and raced downfield before putting away a hard strike. After the MLS side responded with two goals of their own, Ashton equalized in the 67th minute on a shot from outside the penalty area that deflected off Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and into the net.
"The first goal was a good flick-on from Carlton Cole. I think it attracted a few defenders and left me with space and it was just a case of composing myself and hitting it where I wanted to hit it," Ashton said. "Obviously the second goal that was pretty lucky in terms of ... hitting the guy on the ear or wherever and going in but you know, I'll take them whenever."
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SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Ashton came away from the game impressed with the quality of the MLS side, which included his England national teammate David Beckham. Ashton exchanged jerseys with Toronto FC's Jim Brennan after the final whistle, and said he was taken by the enthusiasm of Brennan's hometown fans.
"I was quite surprised at just how good the support was. That could've been any ground in England, it was that strong," Ashton said. "If I was a Toronto player, I'd love to play in front of that every week.
"It's always great to play against great players such as David Beckham, but there's other great players out there. [All-Star Game MVP Cuauhtemoc] Blanco played for Mexico, and [there were] American internationals and Canadian internationals, so it was a real great game to play in. I was honored to play, I'll definitely keep this shirt for a long time."
The All-Star Game was an eye-opening experience for defender Joe Widdowson. The 19-year-old product of the West Ham academy has gotten the chance to start all three matches in West Ham's preseason thus far, thus matching his entire total of professional games played while on loan at Rotherham United last season. It was a long way from Rotherham United to playing 90 minutes matched up against English legend Beckham, an experience Widdowson said he would remember for the rest of his life.
"It's great to play against him ... he's just a top man, really," Widdowson said. "It was crazy. It's the most people I've ever played in front of. It was definitely the biggest game of my life. It was just really good, I enjoyed it."
The All-Star Game was the third of seven exhibition matches for West Ham in their preseason schedule, which also included a 3-1 friendly win against the Columbus Crew last Sunday. Curbishley said he was pleased his team got some solid work in and escaped with no injuries as the Hammers approach their Premier League opener August 16 against Wigan Athletic.
"We know we've got a heavy three weeks for us coming up, quite a few games. There's a progression for us to build up to the 16th," Curbishley said. "We're very grateful for Columbus to play us last week because we needed to play two ... because of the preseason situation.
"For me, I know the boys who have been on this trip, we're looking sharper than we did at perhaps this same time last year in preseason."
Curbishley said he believes his team's participation in this year's All-Star contest will only help to raise the North American profile of West Ham, and also will show Premiership fans how much talent there is in Major League Soccer.
"They showed that they can compete," Curbishley said. "That was the big thing. The reason for the game is for the MLS to show off ... their talent and they've done that."
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