2021 MLS All-Star Game
| Target All-Star Los Angeles '21 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 2021 Major League Soccer season | ||||||
| |||||||
| MLS All-Stars won 3–2 onpenalties | |||||||
| Date | August 25, 2021 | ||||||
| Venue | Banc of California Stadium,Los Angeles,California | ||||||
| Most Valuable Player | Matt Turner (MLS All-Stars) | ||||||
| Referee | Armando Villarreal(United States) | ||||||
| Attendance | 21,000 | ||||||
The2021 Major League Soccer All-Star Gamewas the 25th edition of the annualMajor League Soccer All-Star Game,an exhibitionsoccermatch in the United States. The game, featuring the MLS All-Stars taking on theLiga MXAll-Stars, was played atBanc of California StadiuminLos Angeles,California.[1]
The game was originally scheduled to take place on July 29, 2020, during the2020 season,but was postponed on May 19, 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.The game was televised domestically onFox Sports 1andUnivisionin the United States, and onTSNandTVA Sportsin Canada.
The MLS All-Stars won the match 3–2 onpenaltiesafter the 90 minute-match ended in a 1–1 tie.
Match planning
[edit]TheMajor League Soccer All-Star Gameoriginally fielded two all-star teams from the Western and Eastern conferences. Other competition formats pitted an all-star team against various opponents, including theUnited States men's national soccer teamand clubs from Mexico and Europe.[2]An exhibition between the MLS All-Stars and an all-star team fromLiga MX,the top flight of Mexican soccer, was proposed in the mid-2010s as part of a closer relationship between the leagues.[3]Officials from MLS and Liga MX announced a new partnership in March 2018, including new club competitions like theCampeones CupandLeagues Cup,and a commitment for a shared all-star game.[4][5]Liga MX presidentEnrique Bonillaattended the2018 MLS All-Star GameinAtlantawith MLS commissionerDon Garber,where they continued discussions for the match, including a potential venue in the Los Angeles area.[6]
On November 20, 2019, MLS officially announced that the 2020 All-Star Game would be played against the Liga MX All-Stars atBanc of California Stadium,the home ofLos Angeles FC.It is the first to be played against an all-star team from another league.[7]LAFC head coachBob Bradleywas selected as the manager of the MLS All-Star team.[7]It is the first MLS All-Star Game to be played in the Los Angeles area since2003,which was hosted by theLA Galaxyat the Home Depot Center, now known asDignity Health Sports Park.[7][2]
On May 19, 2020, MLS announced that the All-Star Game would be canceled alongside the2020 Leagues Cupand2020 Campeones Cupdue to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[8]The league later announced that the All-Star Game would be rescheduled for the 2021 season in Los Angeles, with the MLS All-Stars against the Liga MX All-Stars.[9]The league announced on June 9, 2021, that the All-Star Game against Liga MX would be played on August 25 at Banc of California Stadium.[10]
Squads
[edit]MLS All-Stars
[edit]The MLS All-Star squad was announced on August 4, 2021.Carlos VelaandJavier Hernándezwithdrew due to injury. New England playersCarles GilandTajon Buchananwithdrew as well as Minnesota United midfielderEmanuel Reynoso.Rodolfo Pizarro,George Bello,andSebastian Lletgetwere added as replacements.[11]
Six members of the starting XI were selected fromSeattle Sounders FC,tying the record set byD.C. Unitedin2006.BrothersCristian RoldanandAlex Roldanalso became the first brothers to play for the All-Star team.[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
- Manager:
Bob Bradley(Los Angeles FC)
Liga MX All-Stars
[edit]The Liga MX All-Star squad was announced on July 19, 2021.Nahuel GuzmánandJorge Sánchezwere called up as replacements forJosé de Jesús CoronaandFernando Navarrowho withdrew due to injury.[13]On August 23, the final squad was announced with 10 new players added.[14]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
- Manager:
Juan Reynoso(Cruz Azul)
Skills Challenge
[edit]The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was played on August 24 at Banc of California Park between eight players from each team in five events. The Liga MX All-Stars defeated the MLS All-Stars in the competition by a score of 26–25, with the tiebreaker scored by Cruz Azul forwardJonathan Rodríguezin the Crossbar Challenge.[15][16]
Broadcasting
[edit]The All-Star Game and Skills Challenge were both broadcast in the United States onFox Sports 1in English andTUDNin Spanish, as well asTSNandTVA Sportsin Canada.[17]Fox Sports broadcast the match in4K HDRand also deployed several special slow-motion cameras for the match, as well as askycam.[18]The Fox Sports broadcast averaged 175,000 viewers, setting a record low for the event's English broadcasts, while the TUDN broadcast averaged 1.4 million and peaked at 1.6 million—the second-most for a Spanish broadcast of the match.[19][20]
Match
[edit]MLS All-Stars | 1–1 |  Liga MX All-Stars |
|---|---|---|
Murillo 53' |
Report | Rodríguez20' |
| Penalties | ||
| 3–2 | ||
       MLS All-Stars
|
 Liga MX All-Stars
|
Match rules
[edit]- Unlimited substitutions
- Penalty shoot-outif tied at full time; no extra time[21]
References
[edit]- ^"Banc of California to host 2021 MLS All-Star Game".Los Angeles Times.June 8, 2021.RetrievedJune 9,2021.
- ^abBaxter, Kevin (November 18, 2019)."MLS All-Stars will play top Liga MX players next summer at Banc of California Stadium".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Marshall, Tom (January 4, 2017)."Chivas in finals and an All-Star game with MLS cap Liga MX wish list for 2017".ESPN.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Parker, Graham (March 15, 2018)."The MLS-Liga MX partnership could alter soccer's North American trajectory".The Guardian.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Creditor, Avi (March 13, 2018)."MLS, Liga MX Join Forces for Campeones Cup, Future All-Star Game".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^McIntyre, Doug (November 20, 2019)."MLS, Liga MX will square off in 2020 All-Star game in Los Angeles".Yahoo! Sports.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^abc"MLS vs. Liga MX: 2020 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target heads to LA".Major League Soccer.November 20, 2019.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^"Major League Soccer Provides Updates on All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup"(Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020.RetrievedMay 19,2020.
- ^Harris, Jack (May 19, 2020)."MLS cancels All-Star game scheduled to be held in Los Angeles".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 19,2020.
- ^Bonagura, Kyle (June 9, 2021)."MLS-Liga MX All-Star Game planned for Aug. 25 at LAFC's Banc of California Stadium".ESPN.RetrievedJune 9,2021.
- ^"Updated 2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster".MLSsoccer.com.Major League Soccer. August 4, 2021.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
- ^"MLS All-Stars lineup: Roldan brothers make history among 6 Sounders starters vs. Liga MX".MLSsoccer.com.August 25, 2021.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^Quiroga, Antonio (July 28, 2021)."Liga MX llama a Nahuel y Jorge Sánchez al All-Star Game por jugadores lesionados"[Liga MX calls up Nauhel and Jorge Sánchez to the All-Star Game for injured players] (in Spanish). TUDN.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^"Updated Liga MX 2021 MLS All-Star Game Roster".MLSsoccer.com.Major League Soccer. July 19, 2021.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
- ^Baxter, Kevin (August 24, 2021)."MLS All-Star skills competition is not quite a classic, but it's a start".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^Bogert, Tom (August 24, 2021)."Liga MX All-Stars defeat MLS in 2021 All-Star Skills Challenge pres. by AT&T 5G".MLSsoccer.com.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^"5 things to know about the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target".MLSsoccer.com.August 23, 2021.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^Hernandez, Kristian (August 24, 2021)."MLS All-Star Game 2021: Fox Sports Spotlights League's Summer Jewel With 4K HDR, Pitchside Megalodon".Sports Video Group.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^Shea, Bill (August 27, 2021)."MLS All-Star Game generated wildly different TV viewerships in English and Spanish".The Athletic.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^Williams, Bob (August 27, 2021)."MLS All-Star Game generates mixed domestic ratings success".Sports Business.RetrievedAugust 27,2021.
- ^"The complete beginner's guide to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game".MLSsoccer.com.April 11, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 2,2019.