NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2008) MLS -- Major League Soccer today announced seven more selections to the 18-player roster including the Canadian National Team trio of Jim Brennan (Toronto FC), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo) and Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo). The 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game between the MLS All-Stars and West Ham United takes place on July 24, 2008 at BMO Field in Toronto (Live on ESPNat 7pm ET).
In addition to the All-Star First XI announced last week, New England Revolution Coach Steve Nicol selected five All-Stars and MLS Commissioner Don Garber selected two. The five players selected by Nicol were (in alphabetical order): Juan Pablo Ángel (forward, New York Red Bulls), Jim Brennan (defender, Toronto FC), Christian Gomez (midfielder, Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (midfielder, Colorado Rapids) and Pat Onstad (goalkeeper, Houston Dynamo).
Commissioner Garber selected Edson Buddle (forward, Los Angeles Galaxy) and Dwayne De Rosario (midfielder, Houston Dynamo) as the two “Commissioner’s picks.” Buddle was traded to the Galaxy, his fourth team in three years, midway through last season and was slowed by injuries. This season he has already matched his career high of 11 goals, tying him for first in MLS with teammate and All-Star First XI member Landon Donovan. De Rosario, a Toronto-area native and a regular for Canada’s national team, has led the Houston Dynamo to the past two MLS Cup Championships. Last year he became the first player to win the MLS Cup MVP award twice. This is his third consecutive All-Star Game selection. In 2006 he scored the lone goal when the MLS All-Stars defeated Chelsea FC at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, IL.
Nicol earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by virtue of leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games played on June 29 (Week 14). If players are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Nicol will select alternates.
MLS All-Star Roster
Goalkeeper: Pat Onstad& (Houston Dynamo), Matt Reis* (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Jim Brennan& (Toronto FC), Jimmy Conrad* (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk* (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution)
Midfielders: David Beckham* (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtémoc Blanco* (Chicago Fire), Dwayne De Rosario+ (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez& (Colorado Rapids), Shalrie Joseph* (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan* (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni& (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers* (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Juan Pablo Angel& (forward, New York Red Bulls), Edson Buddle+ (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kenny Cooper* (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan* (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Courtesy of MLS Communications
