Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi started and played 45 minutes on Tuesday in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, contributing to a first-half shutout for the MLS All-Stars in a penalty shootout defeat to Real Madrid at sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago.
Making his fifth All-Star Game appearance since 2012, Zusi was part of a heralded starting lineup that included three World Cup winners — Kaka, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Villa — as well as Toronto FC trio Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco. The Sporting Kansas City right back put in a solid shift throughout the first period, helping limit the Spanish giants to just two shots on goal before exiting at halftime.
The reigning UEFA Champions League and Spanish La Liga winners broke through near the hour mark when a pair of 20-year-olds combined on the edge of the box. Dani Ceballos’ decadent through ball was calmly curled inside the far right post by Borja Mayoral to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead.
The All-Stars responded in the 87th minute when Dom Dwyer nodded home after Dax McCarty’s initial header off a Diego Valeri cross struck the woodwork. The late equalizer forced a penalty-kick shootout that immediately proceeded regulation time.
Penalty kick misses from Dwyer and Giovani dos Santos proved decisive as Real Madrid claimed a 4-2 victory in the shootout and moved the MLS All-Stars’ record to 7-4-2 all-time against European opposition.
Zusi will now return to Kansas City and be available for Sporting KC’s next game against expansion side Atlanta United FC, set for 7 p.m. CT Sunday at Children's Mercy Park. Tickets for the marquee interconference clash are on sale at SeatGeek.com as Atlanta's league-leading offense goes up against a Sporting KC team that occupies first place in the Western Conference and hasn't lost at home in 20 straight MLS matches.
