Guevara, Gaven, Pope to start All-Star
soccer4ever
event, the starting teams for the Eastern and Western Conference teams
in the 2004 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game will certainly have the feel
of last year's MLS Cup.
Both the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes and finalist Chicago
Fire have five players on the respective rosters for this year's
midsummer showcase, set to be played Sat., July 31 at RFK Stadium in
Washington, D.C. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., and the match will be
televised live on ABC Sports.
Leading the way for the West is Earthquakes midfielder Landon Donovan,
who was the leading vote-getter in fan balloting, as well as at the top
of the list in balloting of the league's coaches and general managers
and of the U.S. soccer media. This will be Donovan's fourth All-Star
Game.
Joining him is Earthquakes teammate Jeff Agoos, the only player in
league history selected to all nine MLS All-Star Games. Agoos played in
the first five while with D.C. United, and has been selected the last
four years while with San Jose. The San Jose contingent is rounded out
with goalkeeper Pat Onstad, midfielder Richard Mulrooney and striker
Brian Ching.
The five players selected from the Chicago Fire are led by midfielder
DaMarcus Beasley, who was second to Donovan in the fan balloting and is
also making his fourth All-Star appearance as the two continue their
star-crossed career paths. Beasley will be joined by Fire teammates
Henry Ring (goalkeeper), defender Jim Curtin, midfielder Chris Armas
and forward Damani Ralph.
One team in each conference - the MetroStars in the East and Los
Angeles Galaxy in the West - has contributed three players each.
Defender Eddie Pope, in his seventh All-Star Game, will lead the
MetroStars contingent as the leading vote-getter in balloting among the
MLS players while also tied with Donovan in balloting by the coaches
and GMs and the media. Pope will be joined by 17-year-old midfielder
Eddie Gaven, who becomes the youngest player ever selected to start an
MLS All-Star Game. The MetroStars trio is completed with midfielder
Amado Guevara.
