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No Rapids in All-Star XI
Major League Soccer announced it’s All-Star First XI on Sunday, and no Colorado Rapids made the cut.
A 12th All-Star, the winner of the AT&T Text Voting, was revealed on Sunday on MLSsoccer.com.
On July 27, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., the MLS All-Stars will face the defending English Premier League champions Manchester United in the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game (live on ESPN2, Galavision, and TSN at 6:30 p.m.).
The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from combined fan voting on three platforms – online at MLSsoccer.com, via text message, and via Twitter. The online and text voting ballot consisted of six players from each club, as chosen by a panel of media members. A 4-3-3 formation was selected for this year’s First XI because the third-ranked forward received more than twice as many votes as the fourth-place midfielder.
2011 MLS All-Star First XI
Goalkeeper: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounder FC)
Defenders: Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Forwards: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
AT&T Text Voting Winner: Defender: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Fan participation in All-Star voting increased by 53 percent this year compared to 2010, according to the league. The MLS All-Star First XI includes three of the top four goal scorers through July 8 – Thierry Henry, Landon Donovan and Brek Shea, who combined have netted 25 goals in the first half of the season. Donovan’s selection ties him with Eddie Pope for the most All-Star nods in MLS history – each have 11.
Besler received 30 percent of all text votes submitted between June 8 and July 5 and he received nearly three times as many text votes as the next closest player.
The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. MLS All-Star coach Hans Backe will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Backe will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars.
Two selections by MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be announced July 16. The complete game day roster will be announced on July 18. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a total of 32 players will be named All-Stars. After the game day roster, the remaining players receiving the All-Star honor will come from voting among MLS players and be announced July 25.
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