ORLANDO, FL. – After a week of MLS All-Star activities in Orlando that all led up to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game and none of it disappointed. Whether it was the Homegrown game played against the Chivas U-20 team and going into penalties or the Skills Challenge that came down to a last-second crossbar hit from Luís Naní.
The game itself started off slow, both teams being sporadic in their possession and not getting much going attacking either way. The first real chance coming in the 26th minute from the English legend, D.C United player, Wazza, Wayne Rooney. In Rooney-esque fashion, he ran onto a ball rolling out to him outside the 18-yard box and smashed it right over the crossbar of Atletico de Madrid keeper Adán. Not but a minute later Atletí would return fire with Carlos Isaac taking a shot but it wouldn’t result in anything but a goal kick for the All-Stars.
The game seemed to keep the slow pace until that exchange of shots just not in the right way for the All-Stars. Atleti would start pouring the pressure on the backline of the MLS team. Multiple corners would be conceded by the All-Stars before halftime and eventually, something would have to give. That came in the 43’, Marcos Llorente would slot the ball past Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake off of a world-class assist from Atleti forward Riquelme. Referee Drew Fischer would blow his whistle for halftime and both teams would head into their respective locker rooms.
Coming out of the break, LAFC’s Diego Rossi almost put the All Stars on the board within two minutes of the beginning of the second half. He took a volley at the far post off of a Nicolas Lodeiro cross but the would go just wide into the side netting of the goal. Not but eight minutes later Seattle Sounders player, Nico Lodeiro would be involved in another opportunity to score. This time being on the shooting side of a Mark-Anthony Kaye pass towards the goal. His shot would end up being fired straight at Adán and going out for a corner. In the 56’, Atletí Head Coach, Diego Simeone, would make the choice to have a full rotation of substitutes come into the game. The players that came in looked like they could be a potential starting 11 for Atletí with the likes of Diego Costa, Jan Oblak, new signings Kieran Trippier and João Felíx.
When these players came on the game turned dramatically in Atletíco’s favor. 19-year-old João Felíx’s first touch came just a minute later and was a shot on goal saved by keeper Nick Rimando. The pressure kept coming and Atletí decided to put the game away in the 82’. Felíx would take a shot from 20 yards out and put it in the top right corner of the net. The massive transfer fee of €130 million seems to be paying off so far as he would also assist striker Diego Costa on the third and final goal of the game.
Atletico Madrid continues their preseason tour as they head to Mexico to play Atletico De San Luis and the MLS All-Stars head back to their individual clubs to focus on their remaining games and where they stand in the playoff race.
Written by Zach Bartkus
