COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Brazilian superstar Kaká spoke about how he dreamed of playing in an All-Star Game and he came to play on Wednesday night.
The Orlando City SC Designated Player registered a goal and assist and took MVP honors as he captained the MLS All-Stars to a 2-1 win against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game in front of a sold-out Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The MLS All-Stars got off to a flying start and then scored two goals in a span of four first-half minutes. Kaká, who pranced around the midfield to masterfully orchestrate the MLS attack, converted a penalty kick (20th minute) after an inexplicable Nacer Chadli handball on a corner kick. Then Kaka turned provider, serving up a hard cross to David Villa, who redirected it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead by minute 23.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane had the best chances for Spurs, but he was twice denied by stunning, point-blank Nick Rimando reflex saves (22nd and 34th minutes). However, there was nothing the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper could do on Kane’s vicious 37th minute blast from the top of the box in front of backpedaling defender Omar Gonzalez to cut Spurs’ deficit to 2-1.
MLS All-Star head coach Pablo Mastroeni sent an entirely new 11 on the field for the second half and without the magic of Kaká, the MLS attack suffered as Tottenham assumed the initiative although with few clear ideas.
Chadli, seemingly looking to make up for his first-half hand ball offense, attempted shots in the 54th and 62nd minutes, but missed wide left with both. He would come out of the match along with six other Spurs teammates in the 63rd minute, as US international DeAndre Yedlin also entered to an ovation.
The All-Stars did have a couple of moments of second-half inspiration, but FC Dallas forwardFabian Castillo couldn’t latch on to a 70th minute Kei Kamara cross and then eight minutes later Castillo darted into the box only for his close-range shot to be cleared for a corner.
When Kane took his bow in the 77th minute, Spurs lost any threat of scoring and MLS second-half goalkeeper David Ousted snuffed out a few tame shots as the All-Stars held on to win 2-1.
The MLS players return to their clubs ahead of a full slate of MLS weekend matches as all 20 clubs take the field between August 1-2.
As for Spurs, they head to Germany for the preseason Audi Cup next week and a match against Real Madrid (August 4) before opening their English Premier League season at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Saturday, August 8.
MLS All-Stars (1st Half, 4-4-2 left to right): Nick Rimando - DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Tony Beltran — Gyasi Zardes, Dax McCarty, Kaka, Graham Zusi — David Villa, Clint Dempsey
MLS All-Stars (2nd Half, 4-4-2 left to right): David Ousted - Waylon Francis, Laurent Ciman, Chad Marshall, Drew Moor - Benny Feilhaber, Sam Cronin (77’ Jozy Altidore), Juninho, Ethan Finlay - Kei Kamara, Fabian Castillo
Tottenham Hotspur (1st Half, 4-2-3-1 left to right): Michel Vorm - Ben Davies, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Kyle Walker - Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier - Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele - Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur (2nd Half, 4-2-3-1 left to right): Michel Vorm - Ben Davies, Kevin Wimmer, Toby Alderweireld, Kieran Trippier - Dele Alli, Eric Dier - Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Thomas Carroll - Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur (2nd half 63’, 4-2-3-1 left to right): Luke McGee - Danny Rose, Kevin Wimmer, Federico Fazio, Kieran Trippier - Dele Alli, Harry Winks - Josh Onomah, Thomas Carroll, DeAndre Yedlin - Harry Kane (77’ Shaq Coulthirst)
Armchair Analyst: MLS All-Stars top Tottenham Hotspur as Kaká shines brightest
Remember last year, when Thierry Henry decided he'd be the best player on the field for 45 minutes against Bayern Munich? That's what Kaká did tonight in the MLS All-Stars' 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The captain was brilliant, and Nick Rimando (who should've taken the PK!) was brilliant in goal, and that was enough for the win.
Here are a few other takeaways:
1. Keep Moving
Ok, you probably think I'm going to focus on the goal or the assist. But those things are big and glaring and obvious, and it's easy to see what went right and what went wrong. Plus it's still just a friendly – no use harping too much on the score.
I want to focus on a small, individual duel and how Kaká gave a young Englishman a valuable lesson.
Dier is No. 15 in blue, and you can see he's drawn to the middle as Kaka checks to the ball, and is slightly late reading the play. Even so, the moment is still salvageable defensively
It becomes "holy crap guys bail me out!" when, after Kaká's backheel, Dier doesn't realize the Brazilian legend is about to roll into space. Instead of staying with that run, Dier spins to his left and goes in pursuit of the ball.
That gives Clint Dempsey the lane to play the return pass, and puts Kaká in a perfect position to go at a scrambling backline. To Spurs' credit, they scrambled well and didn't allow a goal here.
But Dier, if he's going to complete his transition from central defense to defensive midfield, will have to handle that sort of combination play better. Sort of like how Dax McCarty does HERE. Notice how he stays with Dempsey's run instead of going toward Obafemi Martins to challenge directly for the ball? Dier needs to watch that clip.
Speaking of Dax...
2. Six Deep
The nice thing about the All-Star game is that you get to do stuff like put Kaká, Dempsey, David Villa, Gyasi Zardes and Graham Zusi into the same attack. The not-so-nice thing is that doing so can and will leave whoever the defensive midfielder happens to be on an island.
Last year that job fell to Seattle's Ozzie Alonso, who handled it with aplomb and made friends throughout Bavaria with his gentle play. This year, in the first half, it was McCarty's job, and he was stellar.
He completed 26 of his 28 passes, had two tackles, three recoveries and three interceptions. You know how I said in the preview that Spurs, when in possession, want to combine up the middle with clever runs and misdirects?
That's how the game played out, but they had zero luck with it.
Billy's overshooting the mark by a little bit there (Khedira's really, really good, and more of a box-to-box player these days), but the sentiment isn't off at all. I can name a dozen La Liga sides (and one very local national team) that McCarty could start for. He's elevated his reading of combination play in and around the area beyond and All-Star level, and it needs to be recognized.
3. Give 'em Hell Harry
True story: This is actually pretty good defense from Omar Gonzalez:
He pushed Kane to a tougher angle than he wanted, and laid off just enough to encourage the shot from 22 yards rather than commit and get beat on the blow-by. Kane just happened to unleash a world-class strike that no 'keeper in the history of the game would have saved.
Kane has a lot of gifts, but his Cyle Larin-esque hair-trigger shot is what will elevate him beyond other similarly well-rounded strikers. If you can get your shot off before the defender realizes he needs to close you down, or before the goalkeeper gets his feet set and can read your placement, then you will give yourself a greater window of opportunity to score goals.
The real Ronaldo was the master at this. Watch how many times the 'keeper gets wrong-footed on this highlight reel.
Kane's not going to be that good, of course. But he'll still be elite, and that's the reason Spurs once again have the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid trying to steal their candy
All-Star: DeAndre Yedlin unconcerned about uncertain Tottenham future – "I'm feeling comfortable"
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – DeAndre Yedlin’s club future may be up in the air, but he was finally able to get some minutes for Tottenham Hotspur under his belt when he took the field on Wednesday evening in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game.
The 22-year-old, fresh off a tough Gold Cup campaign with the United States, entered the game as a 64th-minute substitute, playing right wing and helping link a few Tottenham attacks down that side of the field. Yedlin was on the winning side in last season's midsummer showcase, but it wasn’t to be for Spurs on this night, first-half goals from Kaka and David Villa making the difference.
“It was good to get back into the team and get some minutes under my belt,” Yedlin told reporters. “Obviously not the result we wanted, but we knew it was going to be a challenge and I think we learned a lot.”
The match also saw Yedlin face one of his old teams, so to speak – he suited up for the All-Stars as a Seattle Sounder in both 2013 and 2014. He said the experience of going up against some of his old friends and colleagues was “more fun than weird or anything,” and noted that he had a chance to catch up with the whole team after the match – especially United States national team teammates Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey.
Yedlin has been the subject of speculation regarding a loan move to a club where he could potentially get more playing time this season. He has played 11 Premier League minutes since joining Tottenham in January 2015, though he did start both of the team’s games in their May postseason tour of Asia and claimed the supporters’ Man of the Match award in a 1-0 win over Sydney FC.
“We need to see him and speak with him and maybe he stays with us the next season, maybe no,” Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino said in his postgame press conference. “He was in the Gold Cup and he met us here in Denver. He needs time to show his quality and we’ll decide in the next few weeks.”
For his part, Yedlin is taking the uncertainty over his immediate future in stride.
“I’m feeling comfortable wherever I go. Whether it be with Tottenham, whether that be a loan, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “That’s one of the things you have to deal with as a pro. Wherever I’ll go, I’ll give it my best effort.”
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