Talk about an inconvenient conflict! Toronto FC’s Dwayne De Rosario was selected to the MLS All-Star First XI for the All-Star Game July 29 against Everton in Sandy, Utah, but he’ll be unavailable because of his club’s CONCACAF Champions League preliminary match against the Puerto Rico Islanders the same day.
Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was narrowly beaten out by De Rosario in the voting for the fifth and final midfield spot, will take De Rosario’s spot on the team.
Blanco will join teammate Wilman Conde, giving the Fire two representatives on the All-Star team. Seattle Sounders FC, the Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo also have two players on the roster.
This is Blanco’s second consecutive All-Star Game selection. He starred in the 2008 All-Star Game in Toronto, scoring a brilliant goal and providing an assist on a Christian Gomez goal in the MLS All-Stars 3-2 victory over West Ham United.