MLS tops Liga MX in penalty shootout before sellout crowd
The crescendo to a key moment for North American soccer lasted as long as it could Wednesday night, when Mexico’s Liga MX joined forces with Major League Soccer, the top tier in American and Canadian soccer, for the 25th MLS All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Scheduled for the Banc of California Stadium last year, the match, tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, went to a penalty shootout that the MLS grabbed, 3-2.
Coming off stellar play for the United States during its CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph over Mexico, New England goalkeeper Matt Turner earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award by once again
shutting down America’s southern neighbors.
“It was just enjoying myself out there,” Turner said. “And I always say relax and enjoy the penalty kick shootouts. Luckily I was able to guess the right way a couple times.”
Turner denied Rogelio Funes Mori with a kick save on a low shot up the middle, and stopped Salvador Reyes with a low dive to his left. Sandwiched between there misses, Erik Lira also skied his attempt over the crossbar.
“I went over to Matt and said it’s your time to shine,” said Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake. “He went out there and made some big saves.”
Damir Kreilach and Daniel Salloi scored for MLS, offsetting misses by Eduard Atuesta and Nani, to give 18-year-old FC Dallas attacker Ricardo Pepi the chance he was looking for. Pepi sealed the win for MLS with a shot that clanged off the underside of the crossbar against Tigres UANL goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
“I was confident,” Pepi said. “I felt like everything was set up for me to win the game for the team.”
The crowd pleasing match exceeded expectations and put the focus where players and coaches hoped it would be when they first assembled in person on Monday.
Wedged into a crucial stretch of the MLS season, when qualifying for the playoffs is foremost on players’ minds, the four-day All-Star extravaganza felt more like an homage to American corporate visibility than a showcase for the game itself. Then it started.
The MLS starting lineup included six Seattle Sounders, the most from one club in the event’s history. In that group the Roldan brothers, Cristian and Alex, became the first siblings to feature together.
A late change by MLS head coach Bob Bradley put Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi on the field at kickoff. The Uruguayan forward very nearly put MLS ahead on his home field when he chipped Club America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the eighth minute.
All-Star games aren’t necessarily associated with defending, but Ochoa’s teammate with America, Jorge Sanchez, stretched out to save the ball off the goal line in the match’s first thrilling moment.
Led by defending Liga MX champion manager Juan Reynoso from Cruz Azul, the visitors produced their share of highlights and delighted partisans on both sides.
In the 20th minute, Sanchez made himself a factor yet again when the defender drilled a bending cross to Cruz Azul’s Jonathan Rodriguez.
The man responsible for Liga MX’s victory during Tuesday All-Star Skills Challenge chested the ball down and hit a skidding ball off Banc of California’s patchy turf past Orlando SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Near the half-hour mark, both teams made multiple substitutions, which continued throughout the match, leading to a stretch of near chances as the opening half wound down.
A poor pass at the back by Liga MIX gifted New England forward Gustavo Bou a free chance at Alfredo Talavera after the Pumas goalkeeper replaced Ochoa, but the first-time MLS All-Star was betrayed by a poor touch.
The following minute Liga MX was stymied by Andre Blake, of the Philadelphia Union, who had come on for Gallese.
The three-time All-Star snatched the ball off the foot of Cruz Azul forward Santiago Jimenez to keep MLS within striking distance.
The competitive spirit on the field pumped life into the sellout crowd of 22,118.
“I think both teams came with the idea that they wanted to play football and make it a good game all around,” Bradley said.
Hosted by Bradley’s club, the North End of Banc of California Stadium featured LAFC’s independent supporter group, The 3252, whose passion was rewarded early in the second half when two of their own combined to level the score.
A corner kick from Colombian midfielder Eduard Atuesta found his countryman, center back Jesus Murillo above the Liga MX defense. Murillo hammered home the equalizer at the near post in the 53rd minute.
As action on the field intensified, Villareal issued three yellow cards in the final 20 minutes.
“It’s a hard-fought second half,” Atlanta United FC defender Miles Robinson said. “I feel like the guys put a lot into the game.”