Carlos Vela of LAFC scored on the first chance of the game for either side and the Major League Soccer All-Stars pushed on to a 2-1 victory over the Liga MX All-Stars in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game hosted by Minnesota United in Saint Paul, Minn.
The Seattle Sounders’ Raul Ruidiaz added what proved to be the game-winning goal on a penalty kick earned by New England Revolution attacker Carles Gil.
The MLS victory marked the second in as many games against a team from their neighboring league in Mexico. The MLS All-Stars won last year’s contest on penalty kicks after the game finished in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes.
Pachuca defender Kevin Alvarez scored the lone goal for Liga MX, which arguably had more of the play after going behind. The visiting squad led 20-7 in overall shots and 7-2 in efforts on target.
Three MLS goalkeepers combined to make six stops, with hometown Minnesota goalie Dayne St. Clair leading the way with four saves. St. Clair was named the All-Star Game MVP.
The opening goal came in the third minute when Vela linked up with LAFC teammate Diego Palacios, who cut back to evade a defender and dribbled toward the left edge of the penalty area.
Palacios then curled in a cross, and Vela met it with a header past Atlas goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
St. Clair was the second of the three MLS goalkeepers to play and made his best save shortly before halftime on Juan Dinenno’s header.
Santos attacker Bryan Angulo was first to the rebound, but he saw his attempt blocked by a defender out for a corner.
Ruidiaz made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute, three minutes after Gil was taken down by Tigres UANL defender Jesus Angulo.
The Sounders’ leading goal scorer over the last five seasons immediately stepped to the spot despite not serving as his team’s primary penalty taker. He only has one penalty kick goal during the 2022 season.
Alvarez’s ferocious late strike from outside the penalty had plenty of pace to beat New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson. But the visitors couldn’t find an equalizer.
–Field Level Media
