MLS All-Star Game

MLS All-Stars defeat LIGA MX All-Stars, 2-1, in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target

SAINT PAUL, MINN. (Wednesday, August 10, 2022) – The MLS All-Stars defeated the LIGA MX All-Stars 2-1 in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target at Allianz Field in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening. Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was named the MVP of the game in the first All-Star appearance of his career. MLS goal scorers included LAFC’s Carlos Vela – his first in an MLS All-Star Game – and a penalty-kick score from Seattle’s Raúl Ruidíaz , while LIGA MX’s lone goal was scored by Kevin Álvarez in the 84th minute.

2022 MLS ALL-STAR GAME presented by TARGET – GAME NOTES

1 2 T

MLS All-Stars 1 1 2

LIGA MX All-Stars 0 1 1

Attendance: 19,797 (sellout)

Scoring Summary:

MLS – Vela (Palacios), 3’

MLS – Ruidíaz (PK), 73’

LMX – Álvarez (Vega), 84’

MLS is now 9-5-4 vs. international competition in the MLS All-Star Game. This was the third time facing a team from Mexico and the third victory. The two previous matchups were 1-1 vs. Liga MX All-Stars (MLS 3-2 pen) in Los Angeles, Calif. and a 3-1 victory vs. CD Guadalajara in 2003, in Carson, Calif.

Major League Soccer has won consecutive MLS All-Star Games for the first time since 2014-15.

MLS scored multiple goals in an MLS All-Star Game for the first time since 2015, when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur, 2-1. It was the first time MLS had scored in both halves of an All-Star Game since 2012 versus Chelsea FC.

Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United FC was named the MLS All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, after making four saves during his 30 minutes of action. He is the third goalkeeper to be named MVP of an MLS All-Star Game, joining the New England Revolution’s Matt Turner in 2021 and Tim Howard for Everton FC in 2009. St. Clair is the first Canadian player to win the MVP award since Dwayne De Rosario for Houston Dynamo FC in 2006. The Canadian international joined Josef Martínez (Atlanta United FC in 2018) as the only players since 2013 to be named MVP of the MLS All-Star Game in their home stadium.

Carlos Vela opened the scoring in the third minute after scoring on a header with the assist from his LAFC teammate Diego Palacios . Vela’s goal was the fastest for Major League Soccer against international competition in MLS All-Star Game history. The last player to score a faster goal in an MLS All-Star Game was Federico Macheda for Manchester United (first minute) in 2010). Additionally, All Stars from LAFC scored and assisted on consecutive goals in the All-Star Game (Jesús Murillo from Eduard Atuesta in 2021 and Vela and Palacios today).

Seattle Sounders FC forward Raúl Ruidíaz scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, becoming the second Sounder to score in an MLS All-Star Game (Eddie Johnson in 2012). Ruidíaz became the first MLS player to score a penalty kick goal since Orlando City SC’s Kaká in 2015.

The Columbus Crew’s Darlington Nagbe led the team with 35 completed passes and seven possession wins. He also earned three fouls, tied for the most in the match.

By appearing in tonight’s game, Philadelphia Union defender Jakob Glesnes became the first Norwegian player to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. Additionally, the LA Galaxy’s Julián Araujo was the first player born in the 21st century to start an All-Star Game for MLS.

Julián Araujo, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Carlos Vela all started for MLS, making the first time three players from a single country other than the U.S. have been named in the starting XI of an MLS All-Star team

The Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake became the second non-American player to start multiple All-Star Games for Major League Soccer, joining Jorge Campos.

The match attracted a sellout crowd of 19,797 to Allianz Field.