TFC: Reds panned by fans in all-star voting

Toronto FC’s disappointing league season has been reflected in the fan vote for the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI.

The online fan choice for first 11 players for the Aug. 1 all-star game in Atlanta against Italian champion Juventus does not feature any TFC players. The hometown vote appears to have won the day with six players from leagueleading Atlanta United (10-3-4) chosen.

Defending MLS champion Toronto (4-8-3) stands 19th after Sunday’s 2-1 loss at New York City FC.

The six Atlanta players chosen are goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defenders Michael Parkhurst, midfielders Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco and Darlington Nagbe and forward Josef Martinez.

Los Angeles Galaxy star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic also makes the team, as do Graham Zusi of Sporting Kansas City and Portland’s Diego Valeri. Sweden’s Ibrahimovic has seven goals and three assists in 11 games since entering the league this season.

The Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps also were shut out. Former Impact defender Laurent Ciman, now with expansion Los Angeles FC, gets in.

Toronto star Sebastian Giovinco finished in the top five in the EA Challenge.

The rest of the MLS all-star game-day roster will be chosen by Atlanta coach Gerardo (Tata) Martino with two commissioner’s picks. Giovinco could well get the nod given his status in the league and former ties to Juventus. Martino will select the final starting 11.

Toronto captain Michael Bradley was part of the All-Star Fan XI last year while Giovinco made the initial 11 list through the EA Challenge.

Toronto’s Jozy Altidore and Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti also made the 2017 final all-star roster. Giovinco was part of the 2016 Fan XI along with Montreal’s Ciman and Didier Drogba while Vancouver’s Kendall Waston was a coach’s pick.

Bradley, a Fan XI selection, and Giovinco, a coach’s pick, did not play in the 2015 all-star game due to injury.