Quakes stay fit, rout Honduras

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When you're scheduled to play an international friendly in the middle of the MLS regular season, the game plan is pretty simple.

"We wanted to score some goals and get a victory, and not have any injuries," San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said after watching his club do just that, beating the Honduras Olympic team 4-0 Tuesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Ned Grabavoy, Shea Salinas, Jovan Kirovski and Kei Kamara all got on the scoreboard for San Jose, who enjoyed its best offensive output since the team's rebirth this season.

"It's always good to score, but obviously it's a friendly, and (Honduras) wasn't the strongest team that we've faced this year," Yallop said. "But it's never easy finding the back of the net, and it was nice to have four different scorers. It might give us some confidence to feel a little more comfortable in front of goal."

The Earthquakes dominated the match from the start, scoring twice in each half while shutting down the Honduran attack.

"I think we played with a bit of confidence for a change. It's a friendly, but it shows that we can play decent football," Yallop said. "We've been a little bit edgy on everything lately, so it was nice to see (the Earthquakes) just go out there and play and perform."

The exhibition allowed the Earthquakes to field several players who've seen limited action so far this season, and also gave some who've been struggling a chance to shine.

"I thought Ned Grabavoy had a good game in the middle of the field," Yallop said. "He was playing free and moved the ball well. Ramiro (Corrales) played well the first half, and Shea (Salinas) had some moments. It was good to see Jovan (Kirovski) get his first or second 90 minutes in, too. There were some good performances out there."

Before the game, the Earthquakes introduced the just-signed Darren Huckerby and Francisco Lima to the press. They did not dress for the game, but should be ready, along with the newly acquired Scott Sealy, to see action when San Jose travels to Canada on Saturday to face Toronto FC.

"Maybe the players we've signed have moved some people a little bit, so that's good," Yallop said. "Competition for a place is always good on any team. And (these signings) are going to put some people under pressure, which is good.

(Huckerby, Lima, and Sealy) will all hopefully be available Saturday," Yallop said. "Like Darren (Huckerby) said, he's only trained once in two months, so it'd be a little tough for him to be thrown out there, but hopefully he can be on the bench. I don't want to force him into anything he's not quite comfortable with. The same with (Francisco) Lima. We'll see how he feels. Scott Sealy will probably be available, because he's played in MLS and he's fit and raring to go. but they might all get some time."

After traveling to Toronto Saturday, the Earthquakes finish out the season with nine home games in their remaining 13 matches as they attempt to climb back into the playoff picture after beginning the year with a 3-9-4 record. The events of Tuesday might just be a good start.

Hoops eye first league win since June

FRISCO, Texas -- It has been 14 days since FC Dallas last played a league match. That was on July 4 when a goal by Abe Thompson in stoppage time saved the day for the Hoops as they were able to salvage a point with a 1-1 draw against Kansas City. But FCD has not been victorious against an MLS foe since June 15, when they beat Chicago 1-0 at home.

On Saturday, Colorado pays its first visit of 2008 to Pizza Hut Park, a venue where the Rapids are 0-4-0 all-time. However, the two Western Conference sides met on June 1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the Rapids prevailed 2-1, ending a six-match winning streak by FCD that had dated back to 2004.

Colorado has failed to win on FCD's home field in each of the last 12 matches and has a 10-0-2 record in that span. The last time the Rapids won in north Texas was on March 25, 2000, when they prevailed 1-0 at the Cotton Bowl.

But FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman, who still is in search of his first league win, isn't about to take the Rapids lightly.

"I think they're an extremely fit team from training in the altitude all the time," he said. "They're an organized team and attack with a lot of different weapons. With them playing a 3-5-2, it's going to be a midfield war. This is a very important game for us because we've got them on our home field."

His players also realize what an important game this is shaping up to be.

"We've spoken a lot about it," said FCD center back Duilio Davino. "For us, we have to concentrate on taking it game-by-game. The Colorado game is what we have to concentrate on and what we have to come out and win."

Forward and leading scorer Kenny Cooper concurs. "They've got players like Pablo Mastroeni who I have a lot of respect for, Terry Cooke and Conor Casey up top," he said. "They have a lot of good players and are a team that we won't underestimate. They have a very good team. This is a good game for us and hopefully we can give Schellas (Hyndman) his first league win this weekend."

The Rapids' starting 11 features two players that Hyndman is very familiar with in midfielder Colin Clark and defender Ugo Ihemelu, both of whom played for him at SMU.

"I think it's going to be great to coach against them at a higher level," Hyndman said. "Colin (Clark) has really turned into a good player in the MLS. He's got a great engine, goes up and down the left flank and almost plays for two players. Ugo is a special player. He is probably one of the more athletic players in the league. It's hard to beat him one-on-one whether it's with a run or a dribble. But he may cough up a silly ball that we can jump on."

FCD is just 2-5-3 in their last 10 matches and has scored multiple goals just twice in that run of games. Under Hyndman, the Hoops are 0-1-2 but have gotten points in each of their last two league matches after dropping their first game with their new boss on June 21 at New York.

Despite his side's recent struggles, he is still clear about what he wants to see from his team on Saturday evening.

"We want to see a team playing together," Hyndman said. "What we're just trying to do now is put everybody on the same page. We need flank players getting forward, good work ethic, good crosses and our players to hold their shape a little bit better."

Carroll, Hesmer reunited in Columbus

COLUMBUS -- Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer was an Academic All-American at Wake Forest while earning a history degree, but somewhere along the way he must have taken a few public relations courses.

When Columbus coach Sigi Schmid called in the offseason and inquired about obtaining midfielder Brian Carroll in a trade, Hesmer was eager to praise his former college teammate.

"Sigi was looking for more of a consistent midfielder, a guy who is going to hold that hole and win balls. But not only win them, but find teammates out wide and move us quickly into the attack. Brian was a perfect addition for that," said Hesmer.

Schmid knew Hesmer wasn't just a friend pumping up Carroll.

"I've always liked Brian Carroll because he's steady," Schmid said. "There's not a lot of highs and lows in his game. If he has an off game it's still decent and when he has a great game it's better than decent. He doesn't have a lot of valleys in his game."

The Crew engineered a deal on Nov. 26 with San Jose for Carroll, who was claimed by the Earthquakes in the expansion draft from D.C. United. San Jose received Crew forward Kei Kamara.

"Kei was a good player but it was a humungous trade for our team in the sense of filling a need, especially since we were going to move Danny O'Rourke to center back," Hesmer said.

Actually, when Schmid had Hesmer on the phone he wanted to know what type of person Carroll is.

Uh, it's probably a good thing Hesmer -- a groomsman in Carroll's wedding -- didn't go into details about being roommates for two years on the Winston-Salem, N.C., campus.

"Animal House. That's actually what my mom nicknamed our college house -- me, BC and two other guys," said a grinning Hesmer. "It was a fun time. Every year we hosted one sorority for their initiation night so we'd get to be the only four honorary guys. That was always a good time to have 150 college girls in your house. Those days are behind us ... hopefully."

Carroll, who will be 27 on Sunday, turned pro a year earlier than Hesmer in 2003. Carroll played only U.S. Open Cup matches and friendlies for D.C. United his rookie season but started 26 matches in 2004 and all four playoff games when D.C. won MLS Cup. He also registered his first assist that season against the Crew on June 19.

He had two goals and 11 assists in 121 regular-season games for D.C. but was left unprotected after the 2007 season and was claimed by San Jose. Thus began his coast-to-coast-to-Midwest move -- all in 30 minutes from his living room.

Shortly after he was taken by San Jose he was informed of the trade.

"My agent did a pretty good job of finding out if that was going to happen, if there was a good possibility I would end up in Columbus," Carroll said. "When I found out I did get drafted by San Jose I thought I would be going to Columbus. It worked out. I'm in Columbus. It's great to be reunited (with Hesmer) and spend more time together, catch up on that year that I left school a year early."

As a defensive midfielder, Carroll does the dirty work that usually goes unnoticed. He's there to stop to the opposing attack from forming dangerous situations then acts as the conduit between the defenders and the offense when the ball is turned up field.

"You know every time out there you're going to get maximum work rate. He's a guy who covers a lot of ground and is intelligent," Schmid said. "He organizes us defensively. He's the one that's got to establish the line defensively. He gets the wide midfielders to tuck in at the right times. He orchestrates a lot of that out of the back and often times he's the first outlet out of the back with the defenders."

It's not surprising that Carroll does not often show up on the scoresheet: he has two assists and one shot on goal while playing all 1,440 minutes this season heading into Thursday's home match vs. Kansas City. Then again, he doesn't want to appear on a highlight reel when the other team scores.

"You look at Brian's position," Hesmer said. "I was telling him (Monday) on the golf course that the less he's mentioned the better. He should be getting All-Star consideration. No one is talking about him. He should get more credit. He deserves it but at the same time nobody is talking about him. That's great for him.

"Brian brings consistency. He brings the same performance every day. He's going to work his tail off every game. He's going to be in the right spot. He's a good communicator. He's smart. He knows the game really well. He's played for championship teams and he's played in the league for awhile. Guys who have been around the league are important."

The unassuming Carroll understands there is little glory in what he does and is fine with his role.

"When the team does well you don't really get recognized for that position but you know deep down that you had a good part to play in the team's success," he said. "I do relish the fact that when things are going well and we're winning everyone has an involvement in it, even the defensive midfielder. It's the name of the position. If you make a mistake it gets shown but if you do something well it doesn't really get seen."

Wells makes bid to remain starter in D.C.

WASHINGTON -- Just when things seemed to be clicking into place for D.C. United, a midsummer injury bug has stricken the playing roster and threatened the club's SuperLiga prospects. Three everyday starters and several reserves have been lost in recent weeks, limiting head coach Tom Soehn's options and increasing the workload on the tired legs of those left standing.

That situation was an unmistakable undercurrent of Saturday's 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara, in which Soehn looked down his bench in search of a spark for his trailing team and saw mostly rookies -- and most of them defenders, at that.

"We pretty much have 18 guys. Not many guys to choose from," admitted Soehn afterwards.

But one United mainstay isn't about to gripe over fatigue or fixture congestion, even though he's gone the distance in all the team's domestic and international cup matches, plus every league game save one.

"I'm pretty happy ... I'll never complain about playing games," said goalkeeper Zach Wells. "I didn't get a lot of chances to play in the last four years."

Despite undeniable potential, Wells made only 23 first-team appearances during that time, having spent most of his Major League Soccer career backing up veteran 'keepers: first Tony Meola in New York and, later, Pat Onstad in Houston.

Eager for a meaningful shot at a No. 1 role, he embraced an offseason trade to D.C., but soon found himself under the microscope when the team's brutal early-season form led to goals and losses galore. The goalkeeping battle club officials had envisioned between Wells and his Peruvian understudy, Jose Carvallo, failed to materialize and in recent weeks United have been perusing the international transfer market for a netminder capable of challenging for the starting spot.

Yet Wells, who approaches the game with a cerebral outlook that belies his mellow southern California upbringing, hardly seems unsettled by all that. In fact, he's produced his best performances of the season over that same period, with quality saves in United's recent league and U.S. Open Cup matches, including several big plays on one-on-one opportunities to help D.C. vanquish their unloved rivals from Chicago in last week's Open Cup quarterfinal.

On Saturday, a litany of clutch stops ensured that his team stayed in contention against Chivas until the very end, and he'll need to maintain that excellence if his undermanned squad is to haul itself back into the SuperLiga reckoning against Atlante on Wednesday night.

"You can't get caught up in it," said Wells of the speculation surrounding United's hunt for another goalkeeper. "You can enjoy it when you're playing, but you can't be worried about all the other stuff that's going around. Because I've been in situations before where they bring guys in and they don't pan out, they don't think they're as good as they thought they were going to be."

Virtually the entire United squad was guilty of underachievement at some point or another during the spring struggles that plunged the Black-and-Red into the Eastern Conference basement, but the unforgiving nature of his position meant that Wells' shortcomings were laid bare, both on the scoreboard and the stat sheet.

Even when D.C. reeled off a perfect 4-0 record in June, he was excoriated for a glaring fumble that gifted San Jose an easy goal on June 22 -- the Earthquakes' only goal of the month, actually -- prompting his teammates to vocalize their backing.

"As a defender, as a teammate, I think we all support Zach," said defender Gonzalo Martinez. "Everyone makes mistakes. ... But we believe in him, because he's a good goalkeeper."

While foreign signings like Martinez were expected to require some adjustment time, Wells' experience with the league probably raised hopes of a seamless adaptation despite the challenges of a new city, a new club and a new-look defense in front of him.

"I think it was just a matter of everyone finding their feet and figuring out where they fit in the system and understanding the system of playing," Wells said earlier this month. "And then as players, being able to see everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Now we're starting to complement each other a little bit."

Wells is all too familiar with the frustration and inactivity that is a backup goalkeeper's lot, and his recent displays suggest he's in no hurry to return to the bench. Whether or not United finds another competitor for his minutes, he's already begun to defend his turf.

"In the end you can only control what you can control, and I think as a defense and as a team we're playing better," he said. "I think I'm improving every game, so you can only leave it in the management's hands at that point."

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After Sunday night's victory against Santos Laguna, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol can see the SuperLiga semifinals in his future.

New England's victory, combined with CF Pachuca's 2-1 win against Chivas USA, sets up a top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium against the reigning SuperLiga champions.

Nicol figures that his team will advance to the next round with a victory and wants his team to string together a second consecutive victory to clinch a semifinal berth.P "It would be nice to win," Nicol said after his team defeated Santos Laguna on Sunday night. "If we did that, I think it'd be pretty safe that we'd go through but we take nothing for granted. Pachuca is a great team and plenty of history behind them."

Pachuca's storied history includes a victory in last season's SuperLiga, two CONCACAF Champions' Cup crowns and a victory in the Copa Sudamericana in 2006 -- the first team from outside South America to win a CONMEBOL event.

The Tuzos have altered their core a bit since those championship winning years with players like Andres Chitiva (Ciudad Juarez) and Juan Carlos Cacho (Pumas) moving to other Mexican clubs. Mainstays like coach Enrique Meza, captain Miguel Calero, Christian Gimenez and Gabriel Caballero remain and Bruno Marioni, once heavily linked with Houston and FC Dallas, joined this summer from Atlas.

The contest represents another stiff test for a Revolution side that has come through most of them this season.

"We know the broad Mexican style and I'm sure we'll see more of the same on Wednesday night [against Pachuca]," Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst said. "It will be another test. If we come away with another three points it'd be big. We'd be going out to Los Angeles knowing that we're already through."

Revs 'keeper Matt Reis said Pachuca will try to do many of the things Santos did in the first half before Juan Pablo Rodriguez was sent off for a stray elbow to Sainey Nyassi's head.

"They're going to play the same style," Reis said. "They'll be very good on the ball and very composed. They're going to try to play possession and pass the ball around us."

Who will play for the Revolution remains a question. Steve Ralston and Jeff Larentowicz are both questionable with quadriceps injuries after starting on Sunday night. Taylor Twellman missed Sunday's contest with a hip flexor strain that might keep him out again while Mauricio Castro's groin strain could also keep him out again.

The possible changes it make even more likely Nicol will continue with the 4-4-2 formation that brought his team success in the first half against Santos Laguna.

Tearful Reyna announces retirement

NEWARK, N.J. -- Choking back tears, Claudio Reyna formally announced his retirement from professional soccer Wednesday afternoon, ending a storied 14-year career for one of the most decorated players in U.S. history.

The New York Red Bulls captain, who made the announcement at St. Benedict's Prep, where he was the only two-time Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year ever, said he began contemplating retirement about six weeks ago, when he was sidelined with a herniated disc. It was just the latest in what was a long line of injuries for the technically gifted midfielder.

"You know when it's time to move on and call it a day and move on," Reyna said. "You just know. I guess to try to hang on or keep playing or look for another team, I never wanted to be that guy and be in that situation. ... There was not going to be any Brett Favre situations here or anything. I'm done."

Reyna, who turns 35 on Sunday, was a trailblazer in Europe, paving the way for dozens from the USA to play abroad. He was the first U.S. player to captain a European squad when he did so with Wolfsburg in Germany in 1998. Reyna, who would also captain Sunderland in the English Premier League, eventually earned the nickname "Captain America."

He was also the U.S. captain in two World Cup campaigns, helping lead the Americans to a stunning quarterfinal berth in 2002. Reyna, who scored eight goals internationally, has 112 caps, fourth all-time in U.S. history.

"Going over (to Europe) and starting to play when Americans were laughed at in soccer, to be honest, I have the memory of trying to get soccer going," Reyna said. "I think when I did what I did is something I'm very proud of." Six years ago, Reyna was in the crowd watching another former MetroStars and U.S. national team standout, Tab Ramos, announce his retirement in the same St. Benedict's room.

And on Wednesday Ramos was in the room, along with several members of the Reyna family, longtime St. Benedict's coach Rick Jacobs, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio and Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos among others.

"There was talk of possibly doing it in the city, (or) at Giants Stadium. It wouldn't be what this means to me personally," Reyna said, sitting on a large leather chair, alone on the dais. "It has a real special meaning to me -- this place, this school, and the people that are ironically still here, some past teammates that showed up today to support me. That kind of explains what this place is all about."

When he was at St. Benedict's, where he enjoyed a remarkable 65-0 record, Reyna said, he had very modest goals.

"All the playing is just a huge bonus," he said. "I grew up hoping I could get a scholarship and go to college."

He did that, going on to play for Bruce Arena at the University of Virginia, leading the Cavaliers to three consecutive NCAA championships from 1991 to 1993.

Reyna thanked many of those who were in the crowd, from former coaches and teammates to the media. But it was when Reyna mentioned his wife, former U.S. women's national team player Danielle Egan, as well as his three sons, Jack, Giovanni and Joe Michel, that the tears began to swell.

"Juan Carlos was right," Reyna said after having to take a moment to compose himself. "He told me I was going to cry and he was right. I lost the bet."

While Reyna's playing days are over, the Springfield, N.J., native will remain active in the game, serving as an ambassador for the New York Red Bulls.

"I'll be continuing with the New York Red Bulls in an ambassador role to help the first team, academy, in various other roles throughout the Red Bull organization here in the area and of course throughout the world," Reyna said.

Reyna also said he is interested in beginning a coaching career, much like many of his peers, citing Kansas City Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo.

"It's something I really want to do," Reyna said. "Some players retire when they stop playing and start coaching the next day; I never wanted to do that. There's a process behind that, and I'm going to start that process ... when the time is right."

Reyna came to Major League Soccer following a successful four-year stint at Manchester City, where he started 69 of the 77 games he played in. He became the Red Bulls' first designated player and was the first designated player to step on the field, when he started for New York in a scoreless draw at Columbus to open the 2007 season.

But Reyna played in just 27 games over his two seasons with the Red Bulls.

"There are so many reasons why I decided to stop, but simply I've just come to the conclusion that it's time, time to move on and to look back now that everything I achieved," Reyna said. "I'm very proud."

Dynamo open SuperLiga with rout

HOUSTON -- Last fall the Houston Dynamo and Mexican Primera Division side Atlante FC won championships within weeks of each other.

Ninety minutes after the two kicked off in their SuperLiga 2008 opener on Saturday night, there was little doubt as to which champion played the better game. The defending MLS champions scored a season-high four goals in a 4-0 lashing of the 2007 Apertura winners at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston.

Houston dominated the match from start to finish, scoring three goals in the first half and adding another in the second en route to their highest scoring output since winning 4-1 against FC Dallas in the first round of the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Dynamo will face CD Guadalajara Tuesday night in Houston in what is sure to be a tough match for both clubs. Chivas also won its Group A opener, defeating D.C. United 2-1 at RFK Stadium earlier on Saturday.

A late start due to a power failure that delayed the opening SuperLiga match in Washington, D.C., when CD Guadalajara defeated D.C. United 2-1, didn't affect the Dynamo coming out of the game. The Orange scored three goals in a nine-minute span -- the quickest three goals in club history -- as Dwayne De Rosario (20th minute), and Stuart Holden (21st and 28th minutes) beat Atlante 'keeper Federico Vilar.

Brian Mullan added another in the 54th minute for the Dynamo, who missed tying their club record for most goals scored ever by a single goal.

The Dynamo's two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year Pat Onstad enjoyed what was arguably his easiest night of the season as he faced zero shots on goal. Ernesto Pereyra Gabriel challenged the Dynamo in the eighth minute, but his free kick sailed wide and to the left.

In the 20th minute, De Rosario got things started when he beat Vilar after Davis set him up with a perfect cross from the left side. Davis pushed the ball forward and to his left a little bit before firing toward the cage. He found De Rosario who pushed the header just inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.

Exactly 92 seconds later, Holden made it 2-0 when he finished off a great pass from Geoff Cameron. De Rosario got things started for the Dynamo, who dominated possession after the ensuing kickoff. De Rosario then found a charging Cameron near the end line, who dished a perfect pass over to Holden, who beat a helpless Vilar from just outside the goal line.

Holden scored a highlight reel goal in the 29st minute when he deflected a perfect cross from team captain Wade Barrett with his right foot. Barrett saw Holden running toward the net and sent a quick pass to Holden who somehow got his foot in the right place just in time to deflect the shot into the goal. Stunned, Vilar picked the ball out of the net and watched as the Dynamo had its first three goal game of the season.

De Rosario was credited with an assist on that goal, before he and Javier Munoz Mustafa were ejected for violent conduct in the 44th minute.

Giancarlo Maldonado also had a good look on a free kick in first-half stoppage time, but he missed to the right in Atlante's only real threat until late in the match.

After the break, the Dynamo made it 4-0 on Mullan's first goal since June 21, 2007, which came in a 4-0 Houston win against Chivas USA at Robertson Stadium. Cameron started the play and set up his second goal of the night, racing forward on the right before sliding in a centering pass that Mullan pounded home.

Atlante, who will visit D.C. United on Tuesday in a must-win game for both to stay alive in SuperLiga, won the 2007 Apertura last December, defeating Pumas UNAM in the Mexican Primera Division final for the team's third championship. However, the title was the first for the team since moving from Mexico City to Cancun in August 2007.

Sealy trade gives K.C. options

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Technical director Peter Vermes and head coach Curt Onalfo of the Kansas City Wizards have always said they are constantly on the look to improve their team. Now they have more tools to do just that. Tools they would not have had in three months time.

The trade of 27-year-old Trinidad & Tobago international forward Scott Sealy to the San Jose Earthquakes for allocation money gives the team another international spot on its senior roster and three options for what they can do with the money acquired.

"Scott made it very clear he was not going to be coming back at the end of the season," Onalfo said, "and it was an offer we couldn't refuse."

Vermes said the Earthquakes had approached the Wizards some time back, but the deal was not something they were willing to do at the time. Now, Vermes said, the allocation money received in return makes a good business decision for the future.

"With allocation money, you can buy down a current player's salary who you are going to renegotiate with or do a new contract with," Vermes said. "You can buy a foreign player and use it for a transfer fee, a loan fee, or even part of his contract. Or you can [trade] it. We have all three of those options in mind right now, and we're going to continue to evaluate what's going to be the best use."

For a team that has struggled to consistently find the back of the opposition's net, despite their current four-game undefeated streak, the decision will need to be the right one. Averaging less than a goal a game isn't going to result in too many victories.

Even though the recent signing of one-time Wizards forward Josh Wolff to the club helped Vermes and Onalfo pull the trigger on trading Sealy, they are still not happy with their team's execution, thus more changes are on the way.

"Have we had some better performances here as of late? Sure. Could they be better? Should they be better? Absolutely. Could we do some things a little better? Yes. I still think we need to make some tweaks as we move forward. Only time and performances are going to tell that," Vermes said. "But we're on the verge of turning the corner here. I've said this all along, we constantly are going to be looking to improve this team."

With Wolff rejoining the side, a whole new set of options come about. Designated player Claudio Lopez, effective recently on the left side of midfield, could move up top to combine more often with Wolff. Or right midfielder Davy Arnaud could resume his past fruitful partnership with Wolff -- the two led Kansas City to a spot in the 2004 MLS Cup Final. Onalfo has given either possibility credence. The weeks to come in training and matches will determine the outcome.

"We're still not pleased with the amount of goals we're scoring and how dangerous we are," said Onalfo. "We're going to still be tinkering with ways for us to score more goals in the run of play."

The Wizards recent home wins against Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls and road draws against FC Dallas and Toronto FC and the subsequent move into a four-way tie for ninth in the overall MLS table from the basement are good signs, but they are not enough.

"Do we think we have a very solid nucleus of players here that can get the job done? Absolutely, 100 percent. But we also realize that there is a lot of hard work to be done for us to really get into the thick of things," said Vermes. "The recent points have brought us a lot closer to the mix of teams that are right there, so it gives us a fighting chance and gives us a little bit of confidence."

The international transfer window closes Aug. 15, yet MLS teams have until Sept. 16 to make roster moves within the league. Keep an eye on the Wizards -- moves on the field and off might be prominent in their future.

"We're happy with moving forward in the standings, but we want to be even better here," said Onalfo.

Three points huge for Chicago

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire were facing a most unfortunate result Saturday night. After outplaying Toronto FC for the entire first half, they found themselves in a 1-1 tie with 30 minutes to go in the second half. They then threw everything they could at Toronto goalkeeper Greg Sutton without getting the goal they needed.

Finally, with about one minute left in four minutes of scheduled stoppage time, midfielder John Thorrington stepped up and put a shot away from right in front of Sutton, slotting the ball between Sutton's legs for the game-winner and a 2-1 Fire win that ended a five-game winless streak.

The decision also moved the Fire out of their fourth-place tie with Toronto and into third place all alone in the Eastern Conference, ahead of D.C. United.

With the way things have gone for the Fire recently, between a 341-minute scoreless streak and then losing leads in their last two games, a draw Saturday would have been an expected outcome, despite the fact they outplayed Toronto for much of the game.

"We had a very good first half," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "In the second half they made two changes and that gave them a little push to start the second half. But I felt we got ourselves back into it again. It was a credit to our guys to push the game after they got the equalizer."

"That has been the story for us the last couple of games," Thorrington said. "We have been on top and deservedly so. We came into the locker room pleased with how we did. But any mistake we make the other team seems to score all of our chances. We are very relived with got three points we felt we deserved."

With defenders Dasan Robinson out due to injury and regular starter Bakary Soumare out due to accumulation of yellow cards, Hamlett gave Woodard his first start. Woolard has been a second half sub in four games this season. Defender Wilman Conde also received his fifth start ahead of veteran Diego Gutierrez.

Fire midfielder Logan Pause returned for his first game in three weeks after suffering a right hip labral tear.

Maintaining possession for all but a few seconds of the first five minutes, the Fire got on the board in the sixth minute when Chad Barrett found Chris Rolfe alone outside the penalty area. Rolfe took one dribble to center the ball, then fired a right-footed shot into the upper right corner above Toronto goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

The Fire dominated much of the opening 45 minutes, and then had a great chance in the 53rd minute, when Cuauhtemoc Blanco ended up with the ball, standing directly in front of Sutton when Segares sent a cross up and over the defense. But Blanco's soft touch hit the crossbar and settled on top of the net.

The lack of a second goal came back to haunt the Fire when Toronto tied the game in the 59th minute. Amado Guevera slotted the ball through three Fire defenders to Abdus Ibrahim, a 16-year-old midfielder making his first MLS appearance. Ibrahim was charging down the middle of the field into the box. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch came out but Ibrahim made a touch past him, then rolled the ball into the goal.

But after piling on the pressure late, Thorrington got the game-winner and the Fire finally had a win.

"I saw we were building up quite a bit of pressure and I saw (Cuauhtemoc) Blanco with the ball, and he played it right on my foot," Thorrington said. "I played it back to Justin (Mapp), and continued my run, and when I made my turn, the ball was bouncing over one of their players' heads, and I saw the 'keeper coming out. Thankfully I hit the target."

The ball had come from defender Daniel Woolard, and came in the end of a mind-numbing six-minute stretch in which the Fire put six shots at the goal, three of them on goal, and finally got the game-winner.

"The good thing is we are creating a lot of chances and they are going to go in eventually," Busch said. "I think you saw how determined we were tonight."

Crew not worried by Rogers' drought

COLUMBUS -- Columbus Crew second-year forward Robbie Rogers would rather take the sum of his season's work and not his current goalless streak in MLS play that has reached eight games.

Apparently so do the fans, media, coaches and general managers who voted him to the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game First XI this week.

"I'm a midfielder. I have five goals midway through the season. I'll take that in a year," said Rogers, who had three goals in 10 games as a rookie. "I haven't scored in the last few games but we've been playing pretty well. If we keep getting points I don't care."

Neither does his coach, who likes the way the former University of Maryland standout has created scoring chances for others with his speed and deft dribbling on the left flank.

"I'm not worried about him as long as he continues to play with a forward mind, continue to go at forwards and create things," said Schmid. "You look at the game against LA (June 21) where he draws a penalty kick and sets up the goal off the free kick. Those are as valuable as goals."

Schmid also noted that Rogers has scored in non-league matches, most recently Wednesday against Independiente of Argentina.

"He also had one against Salt Lake in an Open Cup game. In England they like to count all competitions so based upon that he's done all right," the coach said. "If he's a wide midfielder and he's getting somewhere between eight and 12 goals in a season it's going to be very good. We expect to get five more goals from him in the second half even if it's going to be shortened possibly a little bit if he's on the Olympic team."

The Crew start the second half of the season Saturday at Real Salt Lake, riding a 2-0-2 stretch in which they have scored 10 goals. They might have to do without Rogers for long periods if he is named next week to the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in China in August.

"I've put a lot of work into it. To represent my country in the Olympics would be an amazing feeling. We'll see how it goes," he said.

No one could accuse him of not being ready for the rigors of the tournament if he's selected.

While Crew forwards Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto are tied for the league lead in fouls suffered with 40, Rogers is not far behind at 36.

"At first I was getting frustrated but I've experienced that now and it's not affecting me as much. I try to prepare for it, too, if it does happen," Rogers said.

Some of the fouls are his own doing because his quickness forces defenders to grab at him from behind. Others are meant to send a message.

"Sometimes the teams are playing against him in a much more aggressive manner," Schmid said. "In the Chicago game he got fouled twice within 30 seconds so you've got to feel that's a little bit of an intimidation tactic.

"He responded well to that. He's been able to deal with tackles, continue to play. It hasn't taken away his appetite for the game. That's important. It's a sign of respect and as the other teams focus more and more on him it opens up space for other people."

Moreno, who leads the club with six goals, knows the value of having Rogers involved in the attack.

"If he gets fouls around the box in dangerous situations then it's useful for us. What's important for us is he's not getting contact around the middle of the field; that does nothing for us," Moreno said. "But if he is threatening and getting behind the defenders and forcing the defenders to make decisions around the box or in the box then it's going to put them in difficult situations.

"The more he does that to press the issue the better off he is and the better off we are as a team. When he's running in the box and forcing defenders to chase him and make decisions it frees up me and Guillermo. Even if he doesn't get a shot, even if he gets a cross off that extra step Guillermo or I might get could allow us to get the ball into the back of the net."

Still, the Crew need Rogers to score in MLS action again.

"It's also important that he is scoring goals because it also allows us another goal-scoring threat and allows for me and Guillermo to have more space and it really makes us a more dynamic team," Moreno said.

Rogers is trying. He is third in the league in shots (46) and tied for fourth with 24 shots on goal.

"He's doing OK. Goals come and go," said Moreno. "For a while it seemed like they were coming in spurts for him. It's a matter of continuing to do what he is doing and he will continue to get chances. A couple of games ago against Colorado if perhaps he made better decisions he scores a couple of goals, but if he continues to get in those situations I'm confident enough he'll score." He may get some chances Saturday because the Rice-Eccles Stadium artificial turf has no give. Rogers could use his speed to get on the end of some quick through balls out of the midfield. Salt Lake has used the field to its advantage for a 4-0-5 home record.

"It's a really tough field; fast, hard turf," he said. "They're used to it so it really benefits them. We got a tie there last year. We're sure hoping to be the first team to beat them there. We have to go in with the same attitude -- positive with a lot of energy."

For the second week in a row the Crew will be involved in match that does not include the head coach. On July 5, Crew assistant Robert Warzycha was in charge against Chicago while Schmid attended his daughter's wedding.

Saturday, Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis starts a two-game suspension for his comments about the officiating. Assistant Robin Fraser, who played for Schmid in Los Angeles before being trade to Columbus in 2004, will help guide the team.

"It's just like when Robert coached," Schmid said. "I'm sure Jason is setting the game plan and put everything in place. They're at home so he'll be there in the locker room all the way up to the game. He just can't shout out while the game is going on."

Revs start SuperLiga with win

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Revolution captured their first-ever SuperLiga game with a 1-0 victory against 10-man Santos Laguna on Sunday evening at Gillette Stadium.

Juan Pablo Rodriguez's elbow to Sainey Nyassi's head late in the first half gave the Revs a numerical advantage. It took until the 70th minute for Kheli Dube to give New England the lead on the scoreboard after Nyassi cut down the byeline and pulled his pass back for the Zimbabwean striker to tuck inside the far post.

The Revolution earned their win by pressing the tempo early and utilizing Nyassi's pace down the right side to unsettle the Mexican champions. The win marked the Revs' first competitive victory against a foreign opponent at Gillette Stadium and extended the team's unbeaten streak to five matches in all competitions.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol named a first-choice starting 11, but lost Taylor Twellman (hip flexor) and Mauricio Castro (groin) to injury. The injuries, and Santos' attacking fullbacks, meant the Revs lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Amaechi Igwe playing left back and Kheli Dube starting alongside Kenny Mansally at forward.

Santos Laguna selected a 4-4-2 formation designed to allow its fullbacks to surge up into the attack. Fernando Arce anchored the midfield, while veteran 'keeper Oswaldo Sanchez captained the side. Former Manchester City striker Matias Vuoso and Oribe Peralta comprised the strike force; Ecuadorian forward Christian Benitez was named among the substitutes.

The home side started on the front foot, perhaps catching the Mexican champions off guard with their pace on the flanks. Composed midfield passing at pace ruled in midfield as the Revs sought to dictate the tempo. Shalrie Joseph's blast over the bar, after a surging run from Steve Ralston, served to note New England's attacking intent.

Angel scores in first start since June

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Ninety minutes. Ninety minutes was what New York Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel wanted out of the match against the Kansas City Wizards. He got that and more.

Angel started for the first time since June 5, a span of five games, which also the last time he scored a goal. Angel scored the lone goal for the Red Bulls, but despite some intense pressure in the final minutes, they couldn't get a second as the Wizards claimed a 2-1 win.

"I feel a little better today," Angel said. "I'm just trying to get my match quickness back. It was good to get have ninety minutes under my belt."

Despite the loss, Angel's return, not only to the lineup, but also the scoresheet, is a positive foundation to build on for the club over the second half of the season, although the Red Bulls now sit in a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with the Wizards.

"I think it's good to see Juan is scoring," Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "For the first time in the whole season Juan looked like himself today. Hopefully that's a very positive sign also. With him in good form plus the new players we'll be in good form."

Angel powerfully headed home his third goal of the year in the 71st minute, off a Dane Richards cross from the right flanks. He was just waiting for an opportunity on the attacking end.

"To be honest, we had a lot of crosses today," Angel said. "I was just begging to get on the end of one of those."

Angel's goal set the stage for a wild final 20 minutes that nearly saw the Red Bulls get a late tying goal. Angel looked dangerous to the end, despite his continued recovery from a hamstring injury.

"I think we fought today. It was a pretty scrappy game towards the end," Angel said.

It came down to inches for the Red Bulls at the end. A rocket of a shot by John Wolyniec bounded off the post. A header from Dave van den Bergh just missed, flying over the crossbar after an acrobatic tip by goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. "I think they tried to just defend in their end and try to counterattack," said Osorio. "I was pleased with the effort."

Coming off the 4-0 loss in Colorado last weekend, the Red Bulls again fell behind quickly, as Jimmy Conrad put them in a hole when he headed home a corner after just 11 minutes. The pregame talk specifically mentioned defending on set pieces.

"Obviously the first goal was off a set piece," said midfielder Seth Stammler. "That's something we talked about before the game. You hate to get burned on something you were well aware of and had been cautioned right before the game."

A new beginning is now in the offing for the club with a number of new additions to the squad. A few bounces of the ball going the Red Bulls way would help too.

"I was just saying to the guys that it doesn't seem we're getting any breaks now," Osorio said. "At the moment, we don't get any breaks from the game itself. Hopefully, we'll get all those legs when we need them the most. I think it will turn around at some point."

United edged in SuperLiga opener

WASHINGTON -- D.C. United and CD Guadalajara resumed their budding rivalry in the 2008 SuperLiga opener on Saturday night and once again the two tradition-laden clubs did not disappoint, producing a robust encounter that was edged by the Mexican side's opportunistic finishing -- and good fortune -- for a 2-1 Chivas victory in front of a passionate throng at RFK Stadium.

Omar Arellano and Gonzalo Pineda scored on either side of halftime before Luciano Emilio snatched a goal back -- as United missed a potential equalizing penalty kick and also hit the post twice.

The home side, missing injured Argentineans Marcelo Gallardo and Gonzalo Peralta, ran out a hybrid starting lineup featuring erstwhile reserves Rod Dyachenko and Craig Thompson in midfield, while Marc Burch took over Peralta's center back spot after performing well there during U.S. Open Cup action.

After chesting the ball down to his feet at the top of the D.C. penalty box, Chivas frontrunner Sergio Santana tested Zach Wells with a low right-footed drive in the fourth minute, but the United goalkeeper dropped to his right to make the save. Seconds later, a nice passing combination allowed Dyachenko to play Jaime Moreno into the Chivas box, only for the Bolivian to be denied by a last-ditch slide tackle. Eight minutes in, Moreno's gorgeous pass into space set up Emilio with a one-on-one against Jonny Magallon and the Brazilian made space with a hesitation move before lashing a left-footed shot past netminder Luis Ernesto Michel at the near post, only to watch the drive clang off the woodwork.

With their attacking-minded 3-4-3 alignment, the Mexicans were surging forward at every opportunity, even when it left space behind them -- and United looked willing to play their game, though it before long it got them into trouble, as Chivas caught them on a quick counterattack to grab a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

United had pushed well into their attacking end when the ball popped loose near the center circle, and Devon McTavish's premature slide tackle on Arellano allowed the Chivas forward to combine with Ramon Morales, leaving Clyde Simms behind the play as Arellano sprinted forward to latch on to his captain's return pass.

Another D.C. defender made a questionable decision as Bryan Namoff left his feet too early in his attempt to cut out the pass, leaving Arellano to walk in alone on Wells -- and the former CF Pachuca man coolly finished the chance, cutting past the United 'keeper and stroking home from a tight angle to give his team an early advantage.

The Guadalajara club's system thrives on the turnovers created by constant pressure on the opponent's rearguard, and on this occasion that approach had created something out of virtually nothing thanks to quick passing and intelligent movement off the ball.

Though the visitors continued to threaten as the half wore on, D.C. boss Tom Soehn decided to move McTavish alongside Simms in an effort to win more of the midfield battles, leaving Burch at the center of a three-man back line. Meanwhile, up top, Dyachenko had effectively ceded the playmaking duties to Moreno and pushed into a striker's role.

But the Russian-born 24-year-old would not get much of a chance to prove himself there as Soehn pulled him off at halftime in favor of the fleet-footed Francis Doe. On the other side, Chivas sat back in a surprisingly defensive posture for the second half, perhaps in recognizance of their MLS counterparts' superior fitness at this stage of the season.

Fred's gesticulating along the D.C. left hinted at United's growing urgency, and in the 56th minute the creative Brazilian combined with Moreno to begin a long string of passes that led to another great chance for the Black-and-Red.

A switch of play to the right side saw Emilio receiving the ball at the top of the Chivas box with his back to goal, and his flick to McTavish took a fortuitous deflection behind Magallon and sat up ideally for the West Virginia University graduate. But he, too, was denied by the post as his shot beat Michel but clipped off the inside of the upright, leaving a stunned McTavish holding his head.

Barely a minute later, Santana took an outlet pass at midfield and, seeing a moment of confusion between Burch and McTavish, surged past them with a burst of pace and aimed a shot for the top corner. Wells was ready with a sharp reaction save, though, parrying the effort away with his right paw.

The crowd's cheers turned to jeers just shy of the hour mark, however, as most of RFK's floodlights suddenly shut off, leaving the field in semi-darkness and forcing a 19-minute delay as the old stadium's lighting system powered back up again.

The match took on a more cagey tone when play resumed, though Chivas were too cagey for Costa Rican referee Walter Quesada's liking in the 67th minute. Santana looked to have picked Martinez's pocket at the top of the box, nipping in to steal possession and rip a thunderous finish past Wells -- but the 28-year-old had used his hand to win the ball and was swiftly carded by the man in the middle.

More controversy erupted in the 69th minute when the Mexican giants doubled their lead after a questionable foul was called on Simms when Arellano toppled over his leg some 25 yards out from the United goal. On the ensuing set piece, Gonzalo Pineda stepped up to whip a curling, dipping left-footed blast over the wall and into the net, with Wells unable to fling his right hand up to get a touch in time.

The Red-and-White fans in attendance went wild, but their MLS hosts responded with a superb solo effort from Emilio in the 76th minute. With his side probing around the Chivas box, the Brazilian muscled his way into position on Jose Antonio Olvera and took a pass from Namoff, then adeptly spun past his mark and stroked a shot between Michel's legs to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The contest took another intriguing turn within moments as Emilio used his strength to get the better of Olvera again, prompting the Chivas defender to tug him down as he ran onto Moreno's angled pass into the box. Quesada immediately pointed to the spot as the United fans took their turn to cheer, confident in the knowledge that all-time MLS scoring leader Jaime Moreno would step up to bury the penalty kick as usual.

But Michel guessed correctly, shuffling to his left to palm Moreno's bid away from the net and shock the RFK faithful, preserving Chivas' precarious lead and sparking chants of "portero!" from his team's partisans.

United would dominate possession in the final minutes, throwing everything they had at Michel's goal, but his Chivas teammates persevered despite tired legs and escaped with a 2-1 victory to maintain their advantage in the cross-border rivalry.

RSL to host 2009 MLS All-Star game

SALT LAKE CITY -- Real Salt Lake will have a chance to break in their new soccer stadium in style a season from now.

Major League Soccer president Mark Abbott announced on Wednesday that RSL will play host to the 2009 MLS All-Star Game in its soon to be completed stadium in Sandy. It will be the 14th all-star game for the league and its first in Utah.

A host of dignitaries were on hand for the announcement, including Real owner Dave Checketts and Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.

For RSL and its supporters, hosting an MLS All-Star Game so quickly seems like a perfect cherry to top the often-turbulent efforts to fund and construct the stadium.

Huntsman, an ardent supporter in getting RSL public funds for its stadium early on, sees an event like this raising Utah's profile across the sporting landscape.

"From a sports promotion standpoint, this is another step up in proving the point we are in fact a world-class destination," Huntsman said.

Checketts had lobbied to host an all-star game since RSL began MLS play in 2005. A deciding factor in finally landing the bid, besides the new stadium, was the extensive fan support RSL has enjoyed in Utah.

"We chose to have the game here for a number of reasons," Abbott said. "One is the tremendously strong fan base that is in the Salt Lake area and in Utah. We've seen that in the years we've had the team here and we wanted to reward that fan base by having one of our jewel events in this community."

Jeff Robins, president of the Utah Sports Commission, estimates that hosting the MLS All-Star game will be worth $2 million to 4 million in economic impact alone for the state and pull in another $2 million in media value.

As the league has done for the past several seasons, the 2009 All-Star Game will match a team composed of the top MLS players against an elite international club. Which club will travel to Utah is still undetermined and an agreement will likely not be finalized until sometime early next year.

Checketts told reporters after the press conference that Real Madrid is a possibility for the MLS All-Star game based on their long-standing relationship with RSL. It isn't a sure thing, however, given that the club pulled out of an exhibition match originally scheduled for August 9 at Rice-Eccles Stadium earlier this summer.

A demanding schedule could make bringing Real Madrid to Utah in 2009 a long shot at best.

"That would be the first choice," Checketts said. "Those guys are so hard (to bring in). Their schedule and the things they do, that's going to be tough. It's a big wish."

Checketts is confident that the new stadium will prove a nice asset for RSL as it negotiates to bring higher profile international clubs to Utah for exhibition matches in the future.

"The one problem we have consistently at Rice-Eccles is people don't want to play on turf," Checketts said. "We'll have an easier time getting friendlies and getting big clubs here."

The All-Star Game will be broadcast on ESPN and Univision when it is held in either late July or early August next year. Soccer fans in nearly 100 countries are expected to tune in for the match when it is held.

MLS announces All-Star game First XI

Hoping to extend Major League Soccer's unbeaten run in All-Star games, MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis announced the First XI for this year's competition, which will feature the best of MLS against English Premier League side West Ham United at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto on July 24.

"The league's pride is at stake," Gazidis said at the announcement, which was made in Toronto. "We see that in the way that our players approach this game. It's not approached simply as an opportunity to have fun. They want to win this game. It's been an important part of developing our U.S. player pool."

Making up the First XI, who were voted on by fans, players, coaches/general managers and the media are six players with all-star game experience and five first-year players, including Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, who was the leading vote-getter among the fans, players and media. He was second only to teammate Landon Donovan in the overall vote.

Donovan, who is the MLS leading scorer with 11 goals, will be making his seventh MLS All-Star Game appearance.

"It's going to be sweet. I can't wait. I can't remember being this excited for an all-star game," Donovan said in a taped video response played after the selection. "A good team we're playing against, a very good team and I'm hoping, knock on wood. ... I want to play this year and I want to play with some of these guys around the league I watch and analyze."

The New England Revolution, which has a league-best 10-4-3 record, has the most First XI picks, with goalkeeper Matt Reis, defender Michael Parkhurst and midfielder Shalrie Joseph selected.

Reis, who has a 1.18 goals against average and five clean sheets, is making his fourth consecutive MLS All-Star Game appearance. It will be the third for Parkhurst, who was the MLS Defender of the Year in 2007.

The 24-year-old, who was the leading overall vote-getter among defenders, also scored one of the greatest goals of 2007 at BMO Field when he caught Toronto FC goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos off his line and lofted a shot from before the halfway line.

Joseph, who has again been selected as the top defensive midfielder in MLS by his peers, was selected for his fifth consecutive All-Star Game. After Beckham, the Grenadian international out of Brooklyn, N.Y. received the second most votes from coaches/general managers.

The Columbus Crew, who currently sit in the second place in the Eastern Conference, had two players selected. Veteran right back Frankie Hejduk, who was the fans' leading vote-getter among defenders, was selected for his sixth All-Star Game in his eighth MLS season while midfielder Robbie Rogers, the youngest player selected at age 21, will get his first taste of the MLS All-Star Game.

"Toronto's an amazing place to play," said Rogers, who is second on Columbus with five goals. "It's always sold out. I played there during the [FIFA Under-20] World Cup and there were some great crowds. Playing there is always a joy."

Chicago Fire star Cuauhtémoc Blanco will also be making his first All-Star Game appearance. The former Mexican international, who was fourth overall in the voting, has four goals and is among the league leaders with seven assists.

Rounding out the defenders is another veteran as Jimmy Conrad, who is a big reason why Kansas City has league-best six shutouts, has been selected for the fifth consecutive year. The U.S. international has also matched his season-high with three goals.

Chivas USA's lone selection in the First XI is Sacha Kljestan, a rising star on the U.S. national team. In his third MLS season, the creative midfielder has a team-high five goals and will be making his first MLS All-Star Game appearance.

Joining Donovan up front is FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who has bounced back from a broken leg in 2007 to score eight goals, good for fourth in MLS this season. This will be Cooper's first MLS All-Star Game.

The First XI is a diverse mix featuring three players who have captained their national teams in Beckham (England), Blanco (Mexico) and Joseph (Grenada) and ranges in age from 21 (Rogers) to 35 (Blanco).

The First XI is not necessarily the starting XI. That decision will be made by New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol, who will coach the MLS All-Stars for a second consecutive year. Nicol will choose from a pool that consists of the First XI, five players of his choosing and two selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. That announcement will be made July 15.

Among the players bidding to be selected are D.C. United forward Luciano Emilio, who is tied for second in the league with 10 goals and was the third favorite forward among the voters, Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch, who has the best goals against average (0.93) in the league, Fire teammates Gonzalo Segares and Bakary Soumare, who were runners-up among defenders and a host of creative midfielders, including Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario from Houston, New England veteran Steve Ralston, Argentinean Guillermo Schelotto from Columbus and Toronto FC's Maurice Edu.