Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
The next big stars in Major League Soccer will be on display in Portland next month.
MLS announced that they’ve selected 20 Homegrown players to take part in the inaugural Homegrown Game, which will take place on Aug. 4 in Portland during the MLS All Star Game festivities. The Homegrown team will face the Portland Timbers U23s and will be coached by former Metrostars coach and USA assistant Alfonso Mondelo, who is currently MLS director of player programs.
The 20-man squad features U.S. Men’s National Team right back DeAndre Yedlin, key MLS starters Wil Trapp, Shane O’Neill, and Gyasi Zardes, as well as Rookie of the Year candidate Harry Shipp. Twelve MLS clubs are represented in the squad, with half of them contributing at least two players.
The match, which will kick off at 10 p.m. ET, will be streamed live on WatchESPN and MLSSoccer.com, and tickets are free to fans on a first come, first serve basis. Fans can secure tickets by clicking here.
Here’s a look at the MLS Homegrown Team Squad:
2014 MLS HOMEGROWN GAME SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew)
DEFENDERS: Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Karl W. Ouimette (Montreal Impact), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Steven Evans (Portland Timbers), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Chris Ritter (Chicago Fire), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
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What do you think of this squad? Excited to see some of the next best stars in MLS play at the All Star Game? Do you feel that anyone missed out?
Share your thoughts below.