MLS All Star Game 2010 Showcase for Manchester United

The MLS All Star Game 2010 was a big event for soccer. In the MLS All Star Game 2010, the game was not limited to the MLS All-Stars. Instead of facing each other, Major League Soccer's best took on the most famous team in the world, Manchester United. Thanks to the famed team's appearance, the event was played to capacity in Houston's Reliant Stadium. But for those who went to the MLS All Star Game 2010 for Manchester United, those fans were rewarded with a 5-2 United win.

Most all-star events are defined by high scoring and no defense. Of course, things are different in soccer, in which one goal often decides any game. However, the MLS All Star Game 2010 resembled the free-for-all in other midseason classics, as the scoring got started right away.

Twenty seconds in, Manchester United jumped in front with a goal from Federico Macheda. Not only that, Macheda scored again in the 12th minute to put MLS in a big hole. Yet, things settled down by the second half, as United kept a 2-0 lead most of the way.

As it turned out, the MLS All Star Game 2010 both started with a scoring flurry and ended with one as well. The All-Stars got within 2-1 in the 64th minute on a Brian Ching goal, yet United responded right back with three straight goals in 20 minutes.

This format for the MLS All Star Game 2010 was nothing new. The league's best have faced premier league clubs the last few years, and had been successfully. Their first loss to a premier club was last year, when Everton FC won in a shootout, after a 1-1 tie.

This year's MLS All Star Game was much bigger, since the league got Manchester United to take part. United is the world's most well known soccer club, making last night's event a sold-out match, with 70,000+ in Houston. They saw an early and late show from the famed English team, while the MLS was reduced to a supporting role.

Nevertheless, the MLS All Star Game 2010 was the latest big soccer occasion for America this year. After the big success of the World Cup, and the high interest from America, Major League Soccer is trying to get some extra buzz out of it. Yet the league still remains a minor one in the U.S., and was not the big draw last night.

Now the league will head for the second half of their season, while Manchester United has a month left until their Premier League schedule gets under way.

Sources

Houston Chronicle- "Like Man against boys"

Salt Lake Tribune- "MLS All Stars get totally outmanned"