Seattle fans sounding out for a familiar First XI
Sounders FC players make up nine of 11 top vote-getters
Currently, Sounders FC players make up nine of the 11 top vote-getters, up one from a week ago. The only two non-Seattle players on the squad are Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne DeRosario, who is just in front of Columbus Crew star Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Seattle's Brad Evans as the fifth and final midfielder on the fans' First XI.
Veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who is second in MLS with a 0.60 goals against average and has yet to lose in eight appearances, remains the overall leader in total votes, while midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is second, followed by teammates Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Steve Zakuani and Sebastien Le Toux.
Donovan, who is tied for the league-high with six goals, is ninth in the overall voting, and leads Seattle's Nate Jaqua and Brian McBride, in the forwards race, but he is followed closely by Sounders FC defender James Riley, who has an edge on Columbus veteran Frankie Hejduk in the race for the third defender on the fans' First XI.
Seattle fans, just because you have stuffed the ballot box with such vigor that nine of the First XI are Sounders FC players doesn't mean those players will be in the actual starting XI. That decision will be made by the coaching staff of the MLS All-Stars. The current top 11 vote-getters also do not factor in the balloting from the other three voting bodies (media, players and coaches/GMs).
While Seattle fans clearly don't need a reminder, supporters of the other 14 teams can also vote for the All-Star First XI online by selecting one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. Fans can vote up to 10 times per day. The online fan balloting program, which concludes on July 6, will comprise 25 percent of the total vote for the All-Star First XI, with coaches and general managers, players and media each holding 25 percent of the vote.
Those selected will participate in the 14th annual MLS All-Star Game and take on Everton of the English Premier League at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on July 29 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised in the U.S. on ESPN2 and Telefutura.
This is the sixth consecutive year the best in MLS takes on a high-profile international opponent. Last year, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Christian Gomez and Dwayne De Rosario scored in a 3-2 win against West Ham United of the English Premier League at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto.
The MLS All-Stars have also defeated Mexican club CD Guadalajara, English opponents Fulham and Chelsea and Scottish Premier League standouts Celtic FC.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com
