MLS All-Stars 2 Bayern Munich 1

The MLS All-Star game is one of the biggest parts of the US soccer calendar, as it’s a chance to see all of the boys who have done the damage in the league combine. The team usually does pretty well in these matches, and coming up against European titan Bayern Munich was always going to be a solid challenge – perhaps beyond the All-Stars. After all, this is a Bayern side that has won a domestic double last year and a treble the season before. They know how to win, and they know how to win in style.

Lively Enough Fashion

The game started off in lively enough fashion, with some good chances and play shown by both sides. One thing was apparent from the start, though, the All-Stars really wanted to win this game. Bayern weren’t at the same competitive mindset as the All-Stars and it put the Bavarians under considerable pressure at the start. With some of the top names in the MLS taking part like Thierry Hery, Diego Valeri, Erick Torres and Landon Donovan, it’s hard to pick what the “best” XI possible was, but even with so much talent to choose from the side played with a tactical cohesion that you would expect to see.

With Portland manager Porter leading the team in Oregon, there was a distinct home feel about some of the players with the likes of Will Johnson and Valeri being important members of the team. The first goal of the game came courtesy of a quite stupendous volley from Robert Lewandowski, the new front man of this outstanding Bayern side. His volley from outside the area simply needs to be seen to be believed – it was THAT good!

The All-Stars had played well until that Lewandowski sucker punch, but the All-Stars found themselves back in the game quite quickly with the Golden Boot leader took down a stunning long pass from Bobby Boswell following a nice interchange from Torres, and skelped the ball first-time with his left into the top corner. Tom Starke, the Bayern keeper, got nowhere near the ball. Despite the intensely competitive nature of the game, this was one for legends.

Henry, a real legend in the MLS already, came close to scoring a ridiculous volley from 25 yards. He also set up Obafemi Martins who just couldn’t connect with a great through ball. The likes of DeAndre Yedlin and Michael Bradley showed up well, augmenting the forwards of Cahill and Dempsey at different occasions. In one opportunity, a stunning ball from Yedlin was just out of the reach of the international duo.

Young Hojbgjerg of Bayern came close with a nice little chip from close range, but Rimando had it dealt with in the All-Star goal. Rimando then kept out Julian Green, through on goal shortly after coming on for Bayern.

Landon Donovan Stepped Up

With plenty of changes at half-time, the game kind of petered out until Landon Donovan stepped up. The old MLS legend was put through in the 70^th, and made a fool of Rafinha and slotted past Manuel Neuer, who came on for the second half. This type of play was typical Donovan, and it gave the MLS All-Stars the victory they felt they deserved on a night they had to work especially hard for it.

Image © Portland Timbers.