After Orlando was first unveiled as the venue for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game back in September 2018, the showpiece event is now only days away with the MLS All-Stars taking on Atlético Madrid at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City UK will be in attendance as Orlando City SC head coach James O’Connor leads Major League Soccer’s finest talents as they take on the might of Diego Simeone’s Spanish giants, Los Rojiblancos.
With the annual exhibition match heading to The City Beautiful for the second time, it’s a fabulous opportunity for Orlando and Orlando City SC to remind everybody just how passionate we are about the beautiful game.
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The MLS All-Star Game was first conceived back in 1996, the same year Major League Soccer enjoyed its inaugural campaign with the concept drawing inspiration from the all-star game format used by other North American sports leagues.
While modern-day audiences are used to seeing a select MLS XI take on top calibre opposition from Europe such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus, this wasn’t always the case.
Indeed, MLS All-Stars have only been facing European opposition since 2005 with a variety of adaptations preceding the annual exhibition match’s current format.
Between 1996 to 1997, 1999 to 2001 plus in 2004, the best talent from Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference faced off against the best from the Western Conference.
In the 1998 MLS All-Star Game that travelled to Orlando’s Citrus Bowl – the former home of Orlando City SC – a team of United States all-stars named ‘MLS USA’ won 6-1 against a team of international MLS all-stars named ‘MLS World’.
Between 2002 and 2003, MLS All-Stars played ‘guest’ opposition, facing the United States men’s national team itself in 2002 before Mexican giants Guadalajara in 2003.
As for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, Atlético Madrid are taking part in the event for the first ever time after fierce city rivals Real Madrid contested the 2017 MLS All-Star Game at Soldier Field, Chicago.
In the case of a tie after full-time, the MLS All-Star Game doesn’t require a 30-minute extra time period but advances to a penalty shoot-out straight away.
MLS All-Star Game stats – 2005/18
Major League Soccer’s best have done the league proud down the years with the MLS All-Stars achieving a highly respectable SEVEN victories from FOURTEEN games against European opposition.
In fact, everything is tied up right now with European opposition also tallying SEVEN victories since the MLS All Star Game switched to its current format in 2005.
The exhibition match’s current champions are Italian giants Juventus who overcame MLS All-Stars 3-5 on penalties (1-1 A.E.T) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game.
MLS All-Stars 1 (3) Juventus 1 (5) – Highlights – August 1, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
In the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, things were all tied up at the full-time whistle with first-half goals struck by Andrea Favilli and Josef Martínez.
With New York Red Bulls’ all-time leading goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips the only player to miss in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Juventus ran out 3-5 victors with superior composure from 12 yards.
A year prior, the 2017 MLS All-Star Game also reached penalties after goals from Real Madrid’s Borja Mayoral and Orlando City SCs very own Dom Dwyer made it 1-1 at full-time.
With Dwyer equalising for MLS All-Stars in the 87th minute, the City forward’s feel good factor didn’t last long with Dom Dwyer and Giovani Dos Santos missing in the penalty shootout (2-4) as Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo successfully converted their spot kicks.
MLS All-Stars 1 (2) Real Madrid 1 (4) – Highlights – August 2, 2017 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Major League Soccer is known the world over for its entertaining, attacking style of play.
With so much firepower on show in MLS All-Star Games, we’ve gotten used to both teams scoring in this showpiece event.
Both teams have scored in the last SEVEN MLS All-Star Games with the 2012 MLS All-Star Game probably being the pick of the bunch for entertainment.
With English giants Chelsea heading to Talen Energy Stadium (then named PPL Park) in Philadelphia to take on Major League Soccer’s best, the MLS All-Stars pegged back a 1-2 lead for the Blues in fantastic style.
With Chris Pontius equalising in the 73rd minute, former Fulham and Cardiff City forward Eddie Johnson struck a stoppage time winner to cap a noteworthy comeback.
MLS All-Stars 3 Chelsea 2 – Highlights – July 25, 2012 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
MLS All-Stars have only ever faced Spanish opposition once before and that was Real Madrid in the aforementioned 2018 MLS All-Star Game.
Major League Soccer’s best have actually faced English opposition more than any other European nation with fixtures against Fulham (2005), Chelsea (2006, 2012), West Ham United (2008), Everton (2009), Manchester United (2010, 2011), Tottenham (2015) and Arsenal (2016).
Only four-and-a-half years old in Major League Soccer, Orlando City SC can be extremely proud of boasting at least one MLS All-Star Game selection in the last five rosters.
With Yoshimar Yotún being the Lions’ sole representative in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, Nani is the only City player in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game squad.
Prior to this, Kaká and Dom Dwyer were team-mates in 2017 with the Brazilian icon also making up squads that faced North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal in 2015 and 2016. Cyle Larin also faced the Gunners in 2016.
Kaká actually opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 2015 MLS All-Star Game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Colorado as the MLS All-Stars defeated Spurs 2-1.
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MLS All-Stars versus Atlético Madrid will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Mix in the early hours of Thursday morning (01:00 GMT).
Don’t forget, Orlando City UK is attending the game live so you can look forward to plenty of pre-game, in-game and post-game social media content direct from Central Florida.
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GOOD NEWS 🙌🏽 | @SkySports Main Event, @SkyFootball & @SkySports Mix are ALL showing LIVE coverage of the 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ #MLSAllStar Game in the early hours of August 1. 😁📺
Don’t forget, we’ll bring you plenty of pre-game, in-game & post-game footage direct from Florida! 🎥👍🏽
🇺🇸🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/kp3wk00AHh
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 26, 2019