Result of the Thursday July 24, 2008--2008 Pepsi MLS All Star Game between the MLS All Stars and West Ham United (England) played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:00pm.

MLS All Stars (black socks and shirts, blue shorts, white names and numbers)

...................1 Matt Reis
2 Frankie Hejduk...25 Pablo Mastroeni...12 Jimmy Conrad (cpt)...13 Jonathan Bornstein
23 David Beckham...5 Christian Gomez...21 Sharlrie Joseph...8 Juan Toja
.............70 Cuahtemoc Blanco...33 Kenny Cooper

Subs:...18 Pat Onstad (gk)...7 Steve Ralston (mid)...9 Juan Pablo Angel (fwd)...10 Landon Donovan (fwd)...11 Jim Brennan (def)...14 Dwayne DeRosario (mid)...17 Edson Buddle (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Steve Nicol

West Ham United (all sky blue, white names and numbers)

...................1 Robert Green
2 Lucas Neill (cpt)...5 Anton Ferdinand...27 Calum Davenport...40 Joe Widdowson
20 Julien Faubert...17 Hayden Mullins...8 Scott Parker...11 Matthew Etherington
.............12 Carlton Cole...9 Dean Ashton

Subs:...23 James Walker (gk)...13 Luis Boa Morte (mid)...22 Tony Stokes (fwd)...28 Kyle Reid (fwd)...31 Jack Collison (mid)...46 Junior Stanislas (mid)...-- James Walker (??)
team officials:...manager Alan Curbishley

Game officials:...referee Mauricio Navarro...referee's assistants Hector Vergara and Greg Barkey...fourth official Mark Geiger...(neon orange shirts, black shorts and shirts)

Before the game former Canadian national player and current broadcaster Craig Forrest was given an honour. The announcer said the English and US national anthems would be played. That started a chorus of booing especially for the American anthem as fans thought that the Canadian national anthem wouldn't be played. I was there well before the game and saw the RCMP Mounties come down the stairs so I knew something was up. Yep. The Canadian anthem was sang after. A simple announcement before the game that there would be three anthems played could have avoided the booing situation.

1st Half:...game starts 7:29pm...MLS defend south end on this hot and humid evening with a bright sun in the north west.
3 min...MLS Bornstein heads ball back to goalie to break up WHU rush.
4 min...WHU Etherington pushes pass to WHE Cole who's blocked off ball by defender when he tries to cross from 10 yards on left and ball bounces for throw-in.
5 min...MLS Beckham cross from right end line has WHU Ferdinand head away.
6 min...WHU Ashton has play whistled down as he pushes over MLS Hejduk in MLS box as both running for ball.
7 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from right has two defenders head ball away and MLS Hejduk flubs 25 yard shot up middle.
8 min...WHU Cole shot from 10 yards on right has MLS Mastroeni slide over to deflect wide right of net.
9 min...WHU Faubert cornerkick from right has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players. WHU Faubert gets ball back and shot from 15 yards has defender head wide right of net.
10 min...WHU Faubert from right has defender head away upfield.
10 min...MLS Cooper 30 yard roller from left as he cuts to middle of field is just wide left of net with goalie guarding post.
12 min...MLS Bornstein pushes ball too far forward and rolls it over left end line before getting in cross.
13 min...MLS Hejduk holds WHU Etherington from getting shot and MLS Hejduk wins freekick on edge of box for being pushed.
14 min...WHU Etherington rolls 25 yard shot up middle wide right.
15 min...MLS Hejduk given forward pass to right side but can't keep ball from rolling over end line.
17 min...MLS Gomez pops chip over defender. MLS Cooper turns and his spin kick is wide right from 10 yards on left as WHU Widdowson pulls him over.
18 min...MLS Cooper near left cornerflag crosses ball that deflects off WHU Ferdinand for cornerkick.
19 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from left has ball popped up on left on header in box and goalie catches it on right post.
22 min...WHU Ashton 35 yard blast up middle is well over net.
22 min...MLS Blanco dekes defender on left edge of box and crosses in and WHU defender heads ball away on right.
23 min...WHU Cole runs in on left and passes over to WHU Ashton who's one step behind pass and ball crossed in by WHU Faubert on right end line but headed away by defender.
23 min...WHU Etherington rolls 25 yard ball up middle but too far ahead for WHU forwards and over right end line for goalkick.
25 min...MLS Blanco 35 yard shot from right is well wide left.
25 min...WHU Dean Ashton GOAL...Goalie Robert Green goalkick has WHU Carlton Cole at center line flick header to charging Ashton at 35 yards on through ball up middle and 20 yard shot is low and into low left corner of net beyond goalie Matt Reis.
26 min...MLS Christian Gomez GOAL...MLS David Beckham rolls pass to MLS Cuauhtemoc Blanco who backheels at 25 yards and Gomez runs up right and sends low 15 yard shot that has diving goalie 5 yards get hand to but but pushes it just inside left post.
30 min...MLS Beckham gets back into MLS box to break up WHU rolled pass.
31 min...MLS Beckham 25 yard shot deflects off defender for cornerkick.
31 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from right has defender deflect ball for cornerkick on right.
31 min...MLS Beckham's cornerkick from right is short and has Gomez shank 20 yard shot straight up and well wide right of net for goalkick.
32 min...WHU Etherington 35 yard freekick from left has WHU Cole on right head 15 yard pop up to goalie.
32 min...MLS Blanco cross from 30 yards on left has MLS Cooper get header wide right sliding feet first from 5 yards and reaching back for ball that was slightly behind him as he tangles with WHU Widdowson.
33 min...WHU Mullins chips through ball from 30 yards but over end line wide right for cornerkick too far for WHU Cole.
36 min...WHU Widdowson head away MLS Beckham cross into box from right.
38 min...MLS Blanco tripped by WHU Parker as he cuts towards center and wins freekick at WHU 25 yard line.
39 min...MLS Beckham bends 25 yard freekick but WHU Davenport ducks and clears ball with header on left post.
39 min...MLS Beckham 35 yard blast is wide right after WHU partial clearance.
42 min...MLS Bornstein gets pass on left and cuts diagonally towards net. His rolling cross from near left end line has MLS Toja checked off ball by defender at WHU 8 yards.
42 min...MLS Cuauhtenoc Blanco GOAL...Blanco gets pass at 18 yards from MLS Toja and cuts around WHU Parker and shoots 12 yarder from left that bends into top right corner of net.
44 min...MLS Joseph pops header back to goalie to relieve WHU pressure on cross from left.
45 min...MLS Blanco wins freekick at WHU 22 yards on left when WHU defender pushes him after MLS Beckham's cross from 35 yards on right.
45 min...MLS Beckham freekick from left 35 yards on left has ball hit WHU Parker.
45 min...WHU YELLOW card...Parker earns this for being too close to the ball on the last freekick.
46 min...MLS Beckham freekick from left from 35 yards has defender in box head away on right. Ball eventually passes back to MLS Beckham on left and his cross from 25 yards on left has WHU Widdowson head away from near right post for cornerkick but whistle blown before the restart.
46 min...half ends 8:15pm.

Halftime Entertainment:...The English hip hop/R&B artist Estelle sings a few songs including her hit "American Boy". She was actually singing on a stage in the parking lot outside the stadium. We were able to watch her on the stadium scoreboard. She had also sang a few songs before the game started.
The groundscrew came out and watered down the field with hoses. I'm not sure why that was done for field turf.

2nd Half:...starts 8:33pm.
halftime subs:...WHU Boa Morte replaces Etherington.
...............MLS Donovan replaces Blanco.
...............MLS Angel replaces Cooper.
47 min...MLS Toja wins cornerkick when he crosses along left end line that's tipped by WHU Faubert.
47 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from left has defender head away. MLS Beckham gets ball passed to him and he crosses from 25 yards on left that WHU Cole kicks air ball clearance that goes out for throw-in on left.
48 min...MLS Beckham long cross from near center line on left has MLS Angel called for offside on edge of WHU box.
51 min...MLS YELLOW card...Bornstein earns it as he tugs WHU Faubert's arm on edge of MLS box.
52 min...WHU Morte freekick from 20 yards on right squeezes shot that's deflected to wall and goalie catches as he dives forward.
53 min...MLS Donovan 20 yard shot on left is deflected on pop up off WHU Parker for goalie to catch.
54 min...MLS Bornstein run on left crosses through box from 25 yards just a step ahead of two MLS players although lunging WHU Davenport almost connects for own goal at 2 yards.
55 min...MLS Angel on right side of box rolls cross over from 10 yards and defender clears.
55 min...MLS YELLOW card...Hejduk for tackle on WHU Mullins at WHU 30 yards.
57 min...MLS Hejduk chips in ball from 40 yards and defender steps forward to head away and prevent MLS forwards from getting to ball.
57 min...WHU Boa Morte rush down middle and WHU Faubert gets pass and 25 yard blast from right has goalie push ball wide right of post for cornerkick.
57 min...WHU Faubert cornerkick from right has MLS defender head ball out of box. WHU Faubert gets back to ball and crosses in from 40 yards on right sideline. WHU Ashton one-touch scissor kick from 12 yards has goalie bat away but play was flagged down offside.
58 min...MLS sub...DeRosario replaces Toja.
...........MLS sub...Brennan replaces Gomez.
59 min...MLS Beckham blasts 20 yarder just wide of top left corner of net after MLS Bornstein cross from left.
60 min...WHU Cole eludes defenders and blasts 18 yarder roller wide right.
61 min...WHU Boa Morte on left rolls centering cross and WHU Cole blast from 18 yards on left is batted down and caught by goalie.
62 min...MLS Beckham 28 yard freekick from left has ball just drop wide left of top left corner of net.
63 min...MLS player on left sideline blasts low shot from 40 yards that bounces to goalie.
64 min...WHU sub...Collison replaces Mullins.
65 min...MLS Beckham cross from 25 yards on right has goalie leap over own defender to punch ball out of box.
65 min...MLS Hejduk cross from near right end line is into box and defender blocks and clears.
66 min...WHU Dean Ashton GOAL...WHU Luis Boa Morte on rush on left rolls centering cross to Ashton whose 30 yard blast deflects off head of MLS Jimmy Conrad and drops into left side of net with goalie on right.
67 min...MLS player's cross on rush along left sideline has MLS forward leap to deflect 15 yarder over net on deflection.
68 min...MLS DeRosario on rush into WHU box for through ball from MLS Angel is tripped up by sliding WHU Neill and referee signals a Penalty kick.
69 min...MLS Dwayne DeRosario GOAL...DeRosario blasts Penalty kick off lower underside of bar and pinballs down and back off crossbar and into net as goalie dives right.
70 min...MLS sub...Onstad replaces Reis in goal.
70 min...MLS DeRosario pass to MLS Angel who blasts 12 yard shot from left into top of net just under bar but called back offside.
71 min...MLS Beckham cross from right has WHU flying goalie palm ball across box and WHU Faubert shank clearance behind end line on left for cornerkick.
71 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from left has MLS Joseph head 10 yarder that knocks off defender for cornerkick.
71 min...WHU Cole injured on play.
72 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from right has WHU defender head ball away.
73 min...MLS DeRosario 40 yard ball in center has MLS Bornstein at 20 yards on left cross is through box.
74 min...MLS DeRosario passes along left end line upfield to MLS Donovan rush and cross from 15 yards that is just a step ahead of MLS Bornstein.
75 min...WHU sub...Stanislas replaces Faubert.
76 min...MLS Angel turns and shoots 22 yard shot that's low and just wide right.
77 min...MLS Brennan cross in from left sideline from 30 yards has ball just over MLS Angel at WHU 10 yards and defender heads away.
78 min...MLS Beckham pass from 40 yards on right is centered to MLS DeRosario and he rushes up middle but checked on edge of box.
79 min...WHU sub...Reid replaces Ashton.
79 min...WHU Neill 60 yard freekick from right has WHU player head 25 yarder from left to goalie.
80 min...WHU Cole rolls ball forward up middle from 35 yards but MLS Conrad bumps WHU Morte off ball at 20 yards.
81 min...MLS Donavan at 40 yards passes to left sideline for MLS Brennan and he passes to MLS DeRosario whose 25 yard shot hits own player on edge of box.
81 min...MLS YELLOW card...Conrad for hip check on WHU Boa Morte at WHU 40 yards on left.
83 min...MLS Angel pushes cross tap over to MLS Donovan who pushes ball along edge of WHU box and defender clears ball.
83 min...WHU Parker rolls 30 yard pass but rolls past WHU player on edge of the box and through to goalie.
85 min...MLS Mastroeni and WHU Parker injured at MLS 25 yards as they crash together and referee calls WHU freekick. Mastroeni needs trainer.
85 min...WHU Reid 22 yard freekick up middle and hit's MLS player wall. WHU Reid gets rebound back to him and pops up chip that WHU heads forward and WHU Morte flying header from 6 yards on right has goalie catch.
85 min...WHU Morte was injured on right with kick to face by MLS Conrad on that header.
87 min...MLS sub...Ralston replaces Hejduk.
...........MLS sub...Buddle replaces Bornstein.
89 min...MLS Beckham in center circle passes right for charging MLS Ralston who crosses from 25 yards to edge of box and defender clears away.
89 min...WHU players have end to end rush and WHU Parker on run up middle passes left to WHU Boa Morte whose sliding 10 yard kick is high and wide right of net.
90 min...WHU sub...Stokes replaces Cole.
92 min...MLS Beckham fakes blasting shot on 40 yard freekick and MLS DeRosario blasts shot that's deflected in WHU wall and over to diving goalie who pushes ball wide right of net for cornerkick.
92 min...MLS Beckham cornerkick from right has ball bounce through players in box and ball cleared.
94 min...game ends 9:22pm.

Final Score:..........MLS All Stars..........3.........West Ham United.........2..........

Awards were presented after the game. MLS Commissioner Don Garber first thanked West Ham United that the fans of Toronto. MLS captain Jimmy Conrad was presented with the MLS trophy. The MVP was MLS Cuauhtemoc Blanco who had a goal and an assist in the first half.

This game is the most exciting I've seen this year in all the leagues I follow. It was certainly played at the highest level. I couldn't write fast enough and had to fill in my report by playing the game back on television.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

West Ham United vs. MLS All-Stars 
July 24, 2008 -- BMO Field 

Scoring Summary: 
WHU -- Dean Ashton 1 (Carlton Cole 1) 26
MLS -- Christian Gomez 1 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1, David Beckham 1) 27
MLS -- Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1 (Juan Toja ) 43
WHU -- Dean Ashton 2 (Luis Boa Morte ) 67
MLS -- Dwayne De Rosario 1 (penalty kick) 69

West Ham United -- Robert Green, Lucas Neill, Calum Davenport, Anton Ferdinand, Joe Widdowson, 
Julien Faubert (Junior Stanislas 75), Hayden Mullins (Jack Collison 65), Scott Parker, 
Matthew Etherington (Luis Boa Morte 46), Dean Ashton (Kyel Reid 80), Carlton Cole (Tony Stokes 91+), 

Substitutes Not Used: Jordan Spence, James Walker

MLS All-Stars -- Matt Reis (Pat Onstad 70), Jonathan Bornstein (Edson Buddle 88), 
Frankie Hejduk (Steve Ralston 88), Jimmy Conrad, Pablo Mastroeni, David Beckham, 
Christian Gomez (Jim Brennan 59), Shalrie Joseph, Juan Toja (Dwayne De Rosario 59), 
Kenny Cooper (Juan Pablo Angel 46), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Landon Donovan 46).

Substitutes Not Used: 

 MLS All-Stars West Ham United 
total shots: 11 (David Beckham 3,
 Kenny Cooper 3)  12 (Carlton Cole 4)  
shots on goal: 4 (Dwayne De Rosario 2)  7 (3 tied with 2)  
fouls: 17 (Frankie Hejduk 4)  15 (Scott Parker 4)  
offsides: 4 (Juan Pablo Angel 2)  2 (Dean Ashton 1,
 Carlton Cole 1)  
corner kicks: 7 (David Beckham 7)  3 (Julien Faubert 3)  
saves: 5 (Matt Reis 4)  1 (Robert Green 1)  

Misconduct Summary: 
WHU -- Scott Parker (caution; Delaying a Restart) 46+
MLS -- Jonathan Bornstein (caution; Pushing, Holding) 52
MLS -- Frankie Hejduk (caution; Reckless Foul) 56
MLS -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Reckless Foul) 82

referee: Mauricio Navarro
Referee's Assistants: Hector Vergara; Greg Barkey
4th official: Mark Geiger
time of game: 1:53
attendance: 20,844
weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 72 degrees

All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial

Fan Fest in parking lot. The sign offered an autograph by an MLS player....hey it's Toronto FC's Tyler Rosenlund.

David Beckham warming up. This is the first time Toronto has seen him play in a game since he signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy as he'd missed both league games in the last two years.

West Ham starters

All Stars starters

All Stars kick off to start game

West Ham rush

West Ham kick off to start second half

Beckham freekick

Dwane DeRosario takes penalty kick.

Players applaud fans after the game.

back to Toronto FC menu

.

.