All-Stars too strong for Hammers
by Alex Livie, 25 July 2008
Dean Ashton bagged two goals but his efforts were in vain as West Ham were beaten 3-2 by MLS All-Stars in Toronto.
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The prestigious encounter was live on Setanta Sports and the hordes who packed into the BMO Field in Toronto were not disappointed as they were treated to five goals and some quality football.
Ashton opened up the game with the opener on 25 minutes, but it only served to sting the All-Stars into life as Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a goal and created another for Christian Gomez before the interval.
Ashton levelled the scores against the run of play in the second half but a penalty from Dwayne de Rosario handed victory to the All-Stars.
The opening 25 minutes were decidedly cagey, with the only chance of note falling to Kenny Cooper who collected a fine flick from Gomez but shot wide when he could arguably have gone down to win a penalty.
Ashton is still to convince in a West Ham shirt but he served notice of better to come when firing The Hammers ahead on 26 minutes. The goal was simplicity itself as the All-Stars were exposed by a long ball which found its way to Ashton who steadied himself before slamming a shot beyond Matt Reis.
The Toronto fans were just returning to their seats when the All-Stars levelled, with the impressive Gomez latching onto a cheeky back-heel from Blanco before firing beyond Robert Green.
The All-Stars have a fantastic record in this fixture and Blanco took the game by the scruff of the neck. The Mexican divides opinion and there is no doubt he is carrying a pound or two more than a professional footballer should, but he still oozes class.
Blanco found Cooper with a great cross which the forward nodded wide, but shortly before half-time he handed his side the lead.
The brain is still as sharp as ever and he showed a trick which left Scott Parker on the deck before curling an exquisite shot beyond Green.
The trip to America is a means to an end for West Ham, but there were positives to take from the game. Julian Faubert’s first season in England was wrecked by injury, but he served notice of his quality at the start of the second half with a stinging shot which was saved by Reis and a fantastic cross for Ashton who saw a powerful volley pushed away.
David Beckham is the star turn in MLS and he was involved in the majority of the All-Stars’ good work. He ignited the crowd every time he touched the ball and went close to getting his name on the scoresheet on a couple of occasions in the second half – volleying inches wide from the edge of the box and hitting the side netting with a free kick.
The All-Stars were guilty of not taking their chances and paid the price on 68 minutes as Ashton’s 20-yard drive took two deflections on its way beyond Reis.
The Hammers were level for a matter of seconds, though, as De Rosario slammed home from the penalty spot having been felled in the box by Lucas Neill.
Juan Pablo Angel was particularly lively in the second half and he had a goal disallowed but West Ham should have levelled at the death.
Parker drove at the heart of the defence and teed up Boa Morte but he fired across the face of goal as the All-Stars held on for victory.