The 2002 Major League Soccer All-Star Game was the 7th edition of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, played on August 3, 2002 at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match was contested by the MLS All-Stars team and the United States on the invitation of MLS, who looked to capitalize on their success at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Bruce Arena assembled a roster of the national team's most prominent domestic players in the last decade in place of the European-based players from the 2002 World Cup roster to rest them; then-San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop formed an All-Star team of the top talent among the league's remaining players.
The match Summary
Despite bad weather leading to a rain delay in the first half, the game saw a flurry of goals toward its conclusion. U.S. standout and San Jose Earthquakes' forward Landon Donovan opened the scoring for the national team, while the Dallas Burn's Jason Kreis responded with the equalizer in the following minute.
D.C. United midfielder and MVP Marco Etcheverry gave the All-Stars the lead with help from fellow Bolivian Joselito Vaca. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Cobi Jones tied the game on a Brian McBride cross, but the New England Revolution's Steve Ralston scored late in the second half to give MLS the All-Star Game win.
Details
GK 18 Tim Howard DF3 Ryan Suarez DF12 Mike Petke DF4 Carlos Bocanegra MF14 Steve Ralston MF8 Richard Mulrooney MF 10 Carlos Valderrama(c) MF21 Dema Kovalenko MF20 Mark Chung FW33 Taylor Twellman FW15 Carlos Ruiz Substitutes:GK 1 Joe Cannon DF 24 Wade Barrett MF Chris Klein MF Joselito Vaca MF11 Marco Etcheverry FW 7 Ariel Graziani FW 9 Jason Kreis Manager: Frank Yallop |valign="top"| |valign="top" width="50%"| GK1 Tony Meola DF23 Eddie Pope DF16 Carlos Llamosa DF12 Jeff Agoos MF13 Cobi Jones(c)MF10 Brian MaisonneuveDF25 Pablo MastroeniMF 9 Preki MF7 DaMarcus BeasleyFW 21 Landon DonovanFW 20 Brian McBrideSubstitutes: GK18 Juergen Sommer DF 22 Alexi Lalas DF Mike Burns MF 19 Chris Henderson MF Chad Deering MF John HarkesFW Josh WolffManager: Bruce Arena
MLS All-Star MVP: Marco Etcheverry (MLS All-Stars)
Assistant referees: Nathan Clement Craig Lowry Fourth official:Match rules 90 minutes. Unlimited substitutions. No extra time. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
References
External links USATODAY.com - Game to showcase MLS', USA's strides MLS All-Star 2002 match report