Bayern Munich got the first laugh, but the Major League Soccer All-Stars laughed last, as MLS defeated the five-time champions of Europe 2-1 Wednesday night at Providence Park in Portland. New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the game-tying goal and MLS All-Star Game MVP Landon Donovan scored the game-winner to improve MLS' record in the current All-Star Game format to 6-3-1.
All four Sporting Kansas City All-Stars featured in Wednesday's match. Defenders Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin as well as winger Graham Zusi started the match and played 45 minutes. It was the third MLS All-Star Game appearance for each player.
The three Sporting KC All-Stars put in a tidy first-half shift, exiting the match with Bayern Munich ahead 1-0 after Robert Lewandowski's audacious 8th-minute strike past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer made his MLS All-Star debut in the 71st minute when he replaced LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. The substitution came less than a minute after Donovan put MLS ahead 2-1. The 14-time All-Star controlled a pin-point cross from Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri, fought off a Bayern Munich defender and placed his shot past German national team goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Dwyer nearly extended the lead for MLS, but his left-footed strike in the 87th minute, sailed into the side netting.
All four Sporting KC players will now turn their focus to League play as Sporting KC prepares for this weekend's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. Sunday's match will kick off at 7 p.m. CT and can be seen on KMCI-TV as well as across the Midwest on SKCTV.
