What Does MLS Victory Mean?

Filed in archive US Soccer on August 7, 2006

image: mlsnet.com

It doesn't mean Chelsea are suddenly rubbish. It doesn't mean MLS is suddenly the best league in the world. But the MLS All-Stars 1-0 win over Chelsea does show some progress for the league..

12 months ago the All-Stars went to the Bernabéu and received a nasty 5-0 hammering from Real Madrid. Chelsea weren't really match fit, but they didn't want to lose and put some serious effort into (vainly) chasing MLS' one goal lead.

MLS were missing some big names (Donovan, Dempsey etc) but there were enough players keen to step up. Dwayne De Rosario (pictured) looked like the playmaker Landon Donovan is supposed to be, and his excellent first touch and shot from outside the area was the difference between the teams. Jimmy Conrad went toe to toe with Didier Drogba and emerged unscathed, while Eddie Robinson made a great sliding goal-line clearance at 0-0. Ricardo Clark looked both energetic and composed in midfield, with plenty of tackles and smart passes. Nate Jaqua looked surprisingly dangerous up front, though Freddy Adu brought back memories of 2003, being knocked off the ball a little too easily.

Chelsea won't lose any sleep about the result, especially since the PR aspect of the tour seemed to go well, but MLS and American soccer will gratefully take this little morale booster.

To see some video of the game, click here.