1996: Two times the fun
A doubleheader filled Giants Stadium to capacity (78,416) in the inaugural MLS All-Star Game. The East All-Stars defeated the West, 3-2. In the second game, Brazil defeated a team of world all-stars, 2-1. Tampa Bay’s Carlos Valderrama had two assists in the MLS game and teammate Steve Pittman beat two defenders to score the winning goal with two minutes left in the game.
1997: Pouring it on
The East scored five second-half goals to win 5-4. Los Angeles goalkeeper Jorge Campos, who entered the game as a substitute field player, scored just before halftime for the West, but in the second half he got shelled in goal. Brian McBride scored the game-winner in the 88th minute in a steady rain.
1998: U.S. tops world
The MLS USA team took a 4-0 halftime lead on the way to a 6-1 victory over the MLS world team. Brian McBride had a goal and two assists for the winners.
1999: West’s first win
The West took a 4-1 halftime lead, saw the East come back to tie it and then scored two more goals to notch a win for Rapids coach Glenn Myernick – the first win for the West. Three of the West’s first-half goals came in a six-minute spurt.
2000: Quick striker
Tampa Bay’s Mamadou Diallo came on after halftime and left the game after 22 minutes with a back strain, but not before scoring two goals and an assist to lift the East to a 9-4 victory. Cobi Jones assisted on three goals for the West.
2001: Hometown hero
Playing in front of his hometown fans in San Jose, Landon Donovan scored the only MLS All-Star Game hat trick in the first 18 minutes – adding yet another goal in second-half injury time. Rapids defender Marcelo Balboa assisted on two of his goals. The 6-6 verdict was the only all-star draw.
2002: Second-half attack
After a scoreless first half, the U.S. national team fell 3-2 to MLS all-stars. A lightning storm forced a 58-minute first-half interruption. New England midfielder Steve Ralston scored the game-winner in the 81st minute.
2003: Preki history
Kansas City midfielder Preki made history, becoming the first man to start in eight All-Star Games, and the MLS all-stars defeated CD Guadalajara (Chivas) of the Mexican League 3-1.
2004: Amado’s day
New York’s Amado Guevara of Honduras scored twice in three minutes and set up another score to lead the East to a 3-2 win. Guevara assisted on Alecko Eskandarian’s game-winning goal in the 74th minute.
2005: Cunningham a hit
Colorado’s Jeff Cunningham came off the bench to score two goals in the last five minutes as MLS all-stars beat Fulham of the English Premier League, 4-1.
2006: First shutout
MLS all-stars defeated Chelsea, the reigning champions of the English Premier League, 1-0. Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who played the second half, pumped his fists walking off the field after securing the first shutout in All-Star Game history. Houston’s Dwayne De Rosario scored the game’s only goal in the 70th minute.
RECORDS
All-Star Game MVPs
1996 Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay
1997 Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay
1998 Brian McBride, Columbus
1999 Preki, Kansas City
2000 Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay
2001 Landon Donovan, San Jose
2002 Marco Etcheverry, DC United
2003 Carlos Ruiz, Los Angeles
2004 Amado Guevara, New York
2005 Taylor Twellman, New England
2006 Dwayne De Rosario, Houston
Most all-star selections
11 Eddie Pope, Salt Lake
9 Jeff Agoos, New York
9 Cobi Jones, Los Angeles
8 Pablo Mastroeni, Rapids
8 Brian McBride, Columbus
8 Preki, Kansas City
NOTE: Agoos and Preki are retired. McBride plays in the English Premier League for Fulham.
Most all-star goals
5 Landon Donovan, Los Angeles
5 Brian McBride, Columbus
4 Cobi Jones, Los Angeles
4 Preki, Kansas City
3 Mamadou Diallo, New York
3 Jason Kreis, Salt Lake
3 Ante Razov, Chivas USA
Most all-star points
18 Brian McBride, Columbus
15 Cobi Jones, Los Angeles
14 Preki, Kansas City
14 Landon Donovan, Los Angeles
12 Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay/Rapids
