This date in MLS history, July 31: Metros' Guevara leads East over West

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Recent 'MLS history' bits

• July 27: In 2003, D.C. United nets stoppage-time hat trick
• July 24: In 2004, 10-men San Jose Earthquakes roster posts stoppage-time comeback
• July 23: In 2007, SuperLiga officially launches

In 2004, N.Y./N.J. MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara scored two goals and assisted another as he led the Eastern Conference to a 3-2 win over the West in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game at RFK Stadium.

Ever since this game, the league adopted the MLS vs. international format. But the original plan in '04 was to face Real Madrid.

Instead, the day was touted as a celebration of some of the game's past (particularly because it was the 10-year anniversary of the U.S.-hosted FIFA World Cup), present and future stars. Before the All-Star Game, a Legends match took place, a 2-all draw between the MLS World and MLS USA.

Back to the main event, Guevara's two tallies gave the East a 2-0 lead, with a 20th-minute goal and a 22nd-minute penalty kick.

The San Jose Earthquakes' Brian Ching netted a goal for the West in the 43rd minute to gain some bit of momentum heading into halftime.

D.C. United's Alecko Eskandarian pushed the East's lead to two again in the 74th minute. The Dallas Burn's Jason Kreis scored in the 89th minute for the West, but it was too little, too late.

The West had the shooting edge over the East: 17-16 shots, 8-6 shots on goal.

RFK was a fitting location for the 2004 festivities. D.C. rookie Freddy Adu, at the age of 15, was a second-half substitution for United teammate Jaime Moreno.

Adu was MLS Commissioner Don Garber's pick. And since then Garber has always contributed some selections to the MLS All-Star Game. At least he did not choose David Beckham for the recent 2009 festivities.

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Charlie Corr is a freelance sports writer based in Chicago. In addition to his Major League Soccer duties, he is the Chicago Sports Examiner and the creator of a Chicago-based soccer Web site, SlideTackles.net.

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