(Sports Network) - Major League Soccer announced the league's All-Star First XI on Monday. The selected players will compete in the MLS All- Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah vs. Everton FC of the English Premier League on July 29.

Reigning league MVP and this season's leading scorer, Columbus Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, a nine-time all-star, highlight the list that includes seven first-time all- star selections. Also, seven different nations are represented on the 11- player list.

The First XI - consisting of one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards - received the most votes at their respective positions from fans, players, media, and coaches/general managers. Schelotto led all players in combined voting, followed by Donovan and forward Conor Casey.

Next Monday, Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, who earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points-per-game average through league games on June 28, will select five more players before two Commissioner's selections complete the 18-man game-day roster.

The inactive, or alternate roster, will be announced at a later date.

Below are the First XI selections:

Goalkeeper (1): Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)*.

Defenders (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo)*, Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire)*, Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)*.

Midfielders (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo)*, Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)*, Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew).

Forwards (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)*, Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).

* Denotes first selection to the MLS All-Star Team.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend