Blanco sparks victory
He teams with DeRosario to bring down West Ham
TORONTO - Chicago midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored one goal and helped set up another, and Houston midfielder Dwayne DeRosario snapped a tie with a penalty kick to give the MLS All-Stars a 3-2 victory over English Premier League team West Ham United, 3-2, last night.
The All-Stars are unbeaten in five years against foreign opponents. Blanco was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player.
Forward Dean Ashton scored both goals for West Ham, which beat MLS's Columbus Crew, 3-1, in an exhibition match Sunday that was marred by a halftime brawl between more than 100 fans.
Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham played the entire game and earned an assist in his first MLS All-Star appearance. Beckham came close to scoring in the 40th minute, but his low free kick was headed away by West Ham defender Calum Davenport.
West Ham opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Carlton Cole's header sent Ashton in alone on goal. Ashton, who made his international debut for England last month, coolly fired a low shot past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis and into the bottom corner.
The lead was shortlived, as Beckham and Blanco teamed up to help the MLS All-Stars tie it one minute later. Blanco's clever back heel on Beckham's pass from midfield sent Colorado midfielder Christian Gomez into the 18-yard box, and he scored with a low shot under West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.
Blanco put the All-Stars in front, 2-1, with a brilliant goal just before halftime. Dallas midfielder Juan Toja slid a short pass to Blanco, who eluded Scott Parker and curled a shot into a far corner, beyond Green's outstretched arms.
Ashton tied it at 2-all in the 68th minute when his long shot deflected off Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad and past Reis.
The Revolution's Shalrie Joseph was a starter along with Reis, and teammate Steve Ralston entered in the 88th minute.
MLS will add two expansion teams for the 2011 season, boosting membership to 18. MLS, which currently has 14 teams, has already announced expansion teams for Seattle, beginning in 2009, and Philadelphia in 2010.
Commissioner Don Garber provided updates on prospective expansion cities. Those being considered include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team for New York, Ottawa, Portland, Ore., St. Louis, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
