Here's a stat I didn't expect...MLS with 12 shots and five on goal. Man U with 5 and 2 in the same categories. 46 - Looks like a lot of empty seats, so perhaps not the 70k as promised in the beginning. The other two subs for MLS were David Ferrera and Nick Rimando. Jeff Larentowicz is in as well, which will allow Joseph to get forward in the attack. Larentowicz isn't nearly the passer that Joseph is, but is quite possibly every bit the defender. 48 - Early free kick for MLS, Ferreira looks for a cross which bounces all about the 18 yard box. Larentowicz ends up with it out wide and his low cross is cleared. 49 - Another free kick in nearly the same spot finds Marshall who rockets a header in, but right into the awaiting hands of VDS.
I'm a bit slow on the switch here, but Omar Gonzalez is another USMNT hopeful to keep an eye on. He's 21, stands 6'5" and won an NCAA championship with Maryland. He got his first touch while shoving Macheda off the ball in the 18 yard box. Its early yet in the first half, but MLS have controled the first 6 minutes of the second half. 52 - Giggs is off to a mild applause. Darron Gibson takes his place.
53 - Johnny Evans just lost possession to Morales who was set up for a break on goal and Evans just kicked his feet out from under him. Lucky to just get a yellow there. Free kick in the same spot that Ferreira took the other two from. Its cleared out for a throw for MLS.
MLS are in a 4-4-1-1 now. Pearce, Olave, Gonzalez, Alston from left to right in defense, Convey, Larentowicz, Joseph, Morales in midfield, then Ferreira is in behind Ching. Morales and Ferreira are switching freely. 57 - Fabio goes out with a cramp. MLS need to take advantage of this, but are just missing out on their chances.
59 - Should have been another dangerous free kick for MLS. Morales was dribbling at the defense near the top of the 18 and got tangled with Rafael coming in from behind. 60 - VDS looking like an English keeper there. Omar Gonzalez floats the ball in from way out and VDS looked like he was never really sure where it was. 61 - Rafael blows past Pearce in a counter attack, then stops on a dime, cuts back, but sends a weak shot right into Rimando for an easy save. Good stuff by the young Brazilian there. 62 - The crowd is a buzz as Wilman Conde comes in for MLS...or it could be that Javier Hernandez is entering for Man U and he'll take the place of Nani. Danny Welbeck enters for Macheda. Conde for Marshall and Moreno for Morales. Moreno is one of the legends of MLS and him as one of the commissioner's selections is a recognition for that, more than a deserved honor. 64 - After all of that stuff, there's a free kick sent in from the right side by Ferreira and Ching gets on the end of it and heads it right in. Terrific ball from Ferreira as VDS didn't have any shot at all. Ching gets a pretty good pop from the crowd, which is good to see, and somewhat unexpected.
65 - First chance for Hernandez comes after a throw in and floats to the middle to no one in particular. 67 - Second touch for Hernandez comes off a great cross to the back post by Cleverly. Rimando makes a kick save, but didn't really seem to know much about it. 68 - Cleverly's corner looked like a typical MLS corner as it just keep floating into a thoroughly harmless position before landing near no one.
69 - Ching in a defensive midfield position sends a slow ball back to Conde that causes all sorts of problems for MLS. Hernandez gets on the ball and Conde has no choice but to take him down. Conde gets a yellow, Man U get a dangerous free kick straight away about 23 away from goal. 70 - Cleverly and Gibson over it and Gibson bends it around the wall and right into the upper left corner. No chance for Rimando, 3-1 Manchester United.
72 - Fabio cramps up again. Paul Scholes is coming in for Fabio. I'd presume O'Shea would be moving back into defense with Scholes joining the midfield. 73 - Tom Cleverly makes it 4-1 for Man U. Cleverly was played in by Gibson and Fletcher. Cleverly flips it up and over Conde and finishes under the on-charging Rimando. 74 - Landon Donovan enters for Heath Pearce and gets a pretty big ovation. It started as loud as Hernandez's, but didn't last as long. DeRosario also enters for Joseph. Nice applause from the Dynamo fans in the crowd as DeRo starred there for many years.
79 - Here's a fun fact. Landon Donovan is making his 10th all-star appearance at age 28 and is now the youngest 10 time all-star in the history of the major American sports, surpassing Wayne Gretzky for that honor.
84 - Hernandez makes it 5-1. Hernandez beats the offside trap and takes a long ball over the top then chips it over the on-coming Rimando. Some suspicion that he was off-side there.
Interesting googly-eyed shots of Sir Bobby Charlton in a luxury box and Ryan Giggs on the bench after the goal by Chicarito.
88 - Cleverly nearly scored a sixth after being played in by Danny Welbeck. Strong save there from Rimando. Quickly down the other end where the ball is played in low at the top of the six for Brad Davis. A strong shot sends VDS sprawling to his right for a save. Good save on a good build up by MLS.
90 - DeRosario gets on a pass from Ching and puts his first chance right through the legs of Wes Brown and then sends a strong shot past VDS. 5-2 MLS...comeback coming?
90+1 - Brad Davis free kick gets through and smashes the inside of the left post. Davis is as good on free kicks as any US player I have seen. And just for the record, MLS uses the jabulani ball with no noteable problems. Guys who were good a free kicks before the jabulani are still good at them. 90+2 - Davis with another threatening shot on goal, but VDS makes the save.
Game over. Not a great show by MLS as the team were previously undefeated in all-star matches. Not so much anymore.
To the shock of no one, Macheda wins the All-Star MVP award and then fumbles through an interview with Rob Stone. Lots of fumbling through of interviews when Rob Stone is involved...regardless of how well the other guys involved speaks English.
Random note here, Cicharito ended up with Wilman Conde's jersey in a post game exchange, but still had his on. Probably not smart to try to get the shirt of the guy who is making his Man U debut and punctuated it with a goal.
Don Garber is out for the trophy presentation. Ryan Giggs some somewhat underwhelmed at having to carry what appears to be a large, unattractive hunk of metal. Garber mentions that this was the fourth largest attendance for an American all-star game. Random close up for Fabio and Rafael. Twins are creepy.
Am looking over the ESPN live chat with Leander Schaerlaeckens. Seems like the Dutchman is a bit of a douche bag. He's picking the questions and decided to take "Are there any young forward prospects for the US for 2014?" Rather than give a solid answer, mentioning guys like Omar Salgado, Jack McInerney, Justin Bruan, or other less established guys he makes a smart ass comment roughly to the effect of "Um...how about Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies who are 20 and 23 respectively. Those guys are worth a mention." This begs the question, if you are picking what questions you answer and its down to the last question, why would you pick one that you're going to give a smart-ass comment to?
