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Howard stymies All-Stars in Utah
Random thoughts and ideas from the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, which finished tied 1-1. Everton defeated the All-Stars on penalty kicks, as goalkeeper Tim Howard rose to the occasion. Everton won the PK stage 4-3 in six rounds, as Howard made three saves.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Howard. He made seven saves in regulation time, and he made three saves in the final penalty-kick phase. If it weren’t for him, Rapids striker Conor Casey would’ve collected the winning goal on a header in the first half. Howard won the MVP trophy, fittingly.
MLS PLAYER OF THE GAME: Call me a homer (d’oh!), but Casey was the best player on the losing side. He set up the MLS goal by winning the ball in the Everton penalty area and centering to Stuart Holden. His clinical first-half header forced Howard into making the save of the game. He set up the play in which Landon Donovan banked the ball off the post in the second half (and THAT should’ve been the winning goal; thanks, Landycakes). He nearly scored in the final seconds on a corner kick, volleying a ball on goal that Howard would not have stopped; unfortunately for the MLS side, a defender used both his feet to maintain the 1-1 score. After the game, with Everton leading the PK round 3-2 and the pressure on, Casey buried his attempt in the lower corner. Howard had guessed correctly, diving to his left, but Casey used world-class touch to slot the ball inside the post, slightly out of Howard’s reach.
MLS PLAYER OF THE GAME WHO DOESN’T PLAY FOR THE RAPIDS: Despite making the gaffe that led to Louis Saha’s early goal for Everton, Houston’s Stuart Holden had a strong game. Was he trying extra hard to make up for the error? Probably. But he pushed forward with the most electricity and really lit a fire under the team when he had the ball. Freddie Ljungberg was full of energy and fight. Brad Davis scored the MLS goal. Seattle keeper Kasey Keller was almost Howard’s equal in the penalty kicks. I would have to go with Holden.
UGH: I enjoy listening to JP Dellacamera call a game, but every time Donovan got the ball, he switched into worship mode. As if every time Donovan touched la pelota, time stood still and sparks flew from the light standards, like Roy Hobbs in “The Natural” or Lionel Messi in those adidas commercials. C’mon. He could be the most talented American soccer player every, but calm down, JP!
BEST ALL-STAR GAME HAIRCUT SINCE CARLOS VALDERRAMA: Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has one crazy fro. And, ironically, his ‘do gave way to the the second-wackiest haircut on the pitch, that of Brazil’s Jo. There should be a special trophy for that. The bronze clippers, maybe.
ZIPPERS AND ALL: Did Major League Soccer buy those jerseys at the Tour de France garage sale? I can’t decide if I like them or not. They had the crest of the player’s MLS club on the sleeve, which was a nice touch. They were black and blue (and I’m a sucker for black and blue). Maybe I did like them. And it was interesting that Donovan was one of the few players who traded his jersey with an Everton player after the match.
SPENNY ALERT! When former Rapids goalkeeper Zach Thornton got hurt early in the second half, ESPN commentator John Harkes suggested that the MLS side should use Houston assistant coach John Spencer if it runs short of players. And Spenny got on camera a few times late in the game. We here at ColoradoSoccerNow.com (OK, me) can’t get enough Spenny.
I suppose responses are more interesting if I disagree, but can’t do it.
Casey was good and his teammates knew it — they were looking for him all night. Considering Columbus coming in this Sunday, I wouldn’t have been upset if he were pulled at half though…
On Dellacamera re: Donovan, thank god Altidore wasn’t playing or we’d have that weird, squirm inducing, man/father crush that Harkes has on him. I like Altidore, but…yikes.
Finally, I kinda like the Side Show Bob haircuts (to maintain the Simpson’s thread).
and then there were the fans who shaved their heads and painted them like soccer balls. does that count as a hairdo?
I think so. Especially since they went old school with the ball design and didn’t try to imitate come clothing-company-marketing-department’s idea of a ball…
when i was a kid, i spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to draw a soccer ball. i finally nailed it. now all the soccer balls look like they were designed with kaleidoscopes and spirographs (goin’ old-school with the spirograph reference!). look at the ball used in the confederations cup …
The keepers played really well.
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