In 1999, Kansas City Wizards midfielder Preki scored two first-half goals and assisted another as he led the Western Conference All-Stars past the East, 6-4, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. He was named the game's MVP.
This game was a return to the East vs. West format used during the first two All-Star Games in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, it was divided between MLS USA vs. MLS World. Preki became the only player to record a point in all four of the MLS All-Star Games.
Chicago Fire forward Roman Kosecki had a goal and assisted both of Preki's tallies.
The East had a 12-9 shots on goal advantage, with the East's Joe-Max Moore putting five shots on net, winding up with a PK goal in the 62nd minute.
Moore's strike was the start of three unanswered goals to tie the score at 4-all in the 83rd minute. But San Jose Clash defender Mauricio Wright gave the West a lead 1 minute later, and Clash forward Ronald Cerritos netted another in the 89th.
At the time, the attendance of 23,227 (some reports had 23,277) was the smallest crowd in MLS All-Star Game history. Several games since have drawn fewer fans, and not a single crowd has come remotely close to the July 14, 1996, debut of the MLS All-Star Game at Giants Stadium (78,416).
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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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