04-29-2016, 03:51 AM
PORTLAND, Oregon - The MLS All-Star game was an entertaining affair on Wednesday night at Providence Park in Portland, as the hosts staged a second half comeback to defeat Bayern Munich by a score of 2-1. Fabio Borini Liverpool Jersey . Goals from the New York Red Bulls Bradley Wright-Phillips and the Los Angeles Galaxys Landon Donovan saw the All-Stars overcome a wonderful Robert Lewandowski first half volley for the Germans. Purists are critical of the All-Star game; they believe that a mid-season fixture can only result in fatigue for the players at best, or injury and a lengthy spell on the sidelines at worst. Yet the game was played at a surprisingly lively pace, as Bayern showed their class early on. Regarded as one of the best club teams in world football, Bayern were excellent in the opening 45 minutes. Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri pulled the strings for Bayern in a central attacking midfield role, while the duo of Lewandowski and the ageless Claudio Pizarro caused havoc with their movement up front. That Bayern were only up 1-0 at the break was down to some desperate defending and heroic goalkeeping from the All-Stars. Wholesale changes at the half for the hosts made the second half a sight to behold. Wright-Phillips, the leading goalscorer in MLS right now, hammered a strike past Tom Starke in the Bayern goal to bring the All-Stars level in the 51st minute before 14-time All-Star Donovan scored the games winner in the 70th minute, latching on to a Diego Valeri cross before calmly beating substitute – and German World Cup winner – Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal. The game even had a bit of bite to it in the second half, as Osvaldo Alonso and Canadian international Will Johnson made their presence felt in midfield, putting in the requisite crunching tackles that we have come to expect from both players. Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola was not a happy man at the final whistle – in part because of the rough treatment his star players came in for in the second half but also, Im sure, because he simply hates losing, regardless of the "friendliness" of the competition. It was a highly entertaining match in front of a raucous crowd – if youve never been to watch a game in Portland, put it on your bucket list because you wont regret it – but it would be foolish to draw any sweeping conclusions about the state of the game in North America from one result. Pre-season training is for players to find their form and fitness, and Bayern Munichs objective in this game was entirely different to the All-Stars. A glance at the Bayern bench in the first half showed just what a stunning wealth of talent Guardiola has at his disposal. World Cup winners like Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm and Mario Götze all entered the match in the second half for a short appearance, as did Dutch star Arjen Robben. Their brief cameos delighted the sellout crowd more than they did anything to rescue Bayern from defeat. The All-Stars looked a reasonably cohesive bunch – something that cannot always be said for such squads. Far too often, players in such games look like they have only just met, which is often the truth. Credit has to go to All-Star head coach Caleb Porter for scrambling together a simple, yet effective, game plan on such short notice. For the purists, dont expect this game (or the midseason "friendly" that is popular with MLS clubs) to go away any time soon. MLS is still in its infancy as a league, and the general consensus is that such games are growing the awareness of MLS around the world. My advice to you is to do what Luke Wileman and I did on Wednesday night – sit back, enjoy the ride and marvel at the talents of some world-class players on display. Rony Lopes Jersey . Leave it to hitting friendly Coors Field to snap him right out of it. Leave it to this park to get the entire Arizona lineup revved up. Joel Campbell Jersey . PAUL, Minn.SAN FRANCISCO -- Rene Rivera remembers his last home run, three years ago next month at Oakland for the Minnesota Twins. His latest will certainly be memorable, too, and did plenty to give San Diegos inconsistent offence a boost. Rivera hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth to follow his two-run double for a career-high five RBIs, single handedly backing Tyson Ross in the Padres 6-4 victory against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. "Sooner or later our hittings going to come around," Rivera said. "We needed this one. Its a good feeling. Its good for the team." Ross (3-3) did just enough over 5 1-3 innings to beat the Giants for the second time in 11 days, allowing eight hits and four runs with four strikeouts and two walks. After Michael Morse put San Francisco ahead on two-run single in the fourth, Rivera answered with his first homer of the year. He hadnt driven in a run all season before Monday, and the five RBIs were most by a Padres player at 15-year-old AT&T Park. "We needed a game like that from one of our guys," manager Bud Black said. "Its been a long time coming. Weve had a hard time scoring runs in bunches." Brandon Hicks homered for the second straight day, following his walkoff a day earlier against Cleveland with a leadoff shot in the fifth. Hunter Pence hit an RBI triple in the fourth. First base umpire Angel Hernandez had two calls overturned by replay. Giants manager Bruce Bochy came out in the third to request a review after Hernandez called Xavier Nady safe on a close play at first. The umpiring crew overturned the call in 1 minute, 31 seconds. Hernandez was involved in another overturn in the fourth when Black requested a review. Ross was ruled thrown out by third baseman Pablo Sandoval. In 1:18, the call was overturned and Sandoval was charged with an error. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (2-3) walked a season-high four, and his four earned runs matched his most of 2014. He didnt pitch into the sixth for the third time in his six starts and lost three straight outings for tthe first time since Aug. Calum Chambers Arsenal Jersey. 25-Sept. 5, 2012. The Giants had won seven straight home games against the Padres started by the lefty. "I think its fair to say hes made a few more mistakes than were accustomed to," Bochy said. "A strange night. We just couldnt get it done." Ross, born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, faced the minimum through three -- helped by double plays in the first and second then two strikeouts in the third. The right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in his April 18 win against San Francisco at Petco Park as San Diego took two of three from its division rival. "Its always nice to come back home and get a win," Ross said. "The defence was great tonight and got me out of a couple jams, and the offence came to play." Alexi Amarista drove in an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Huston Street, San Diegos fourth reliever, then finished for his 10th save in as many tries and 35 of 36 dating to last May. He lowered his ERA to 0.82. NOTES: A moment of silence and a video tribute were held before the game for Hall of Fame Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who died in January at 89. Another moment of silence was held for victims of the ferry disaster in South Korea as the Giants celebrated Korean Heritage Night. ... San Diego OF Seth Smith missed his third straight start as he nurses a strained groin sustained Thursday night against the Nationals. He could return this series. ... Chase Headley, out since April 25 with a strained right calf, is improving and took some swings in the indoor cage. ... Padres INF/OF Tommy Medica was recalled from Triple-A El Paso three days after being optioned and flying from Washington, D.C., to Sacramento. "Thats the Schwarzenegger special, Sacramento to D.C.," Black said of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Medica couldnt get off the plane in time Monday morning to avoid a trip to Los Angeles then a second flight back to San Francisco. He took the roster spot of INF Jedd Gyorko, who went on the paternity leave list. 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