TORONTO -- Just making it to the Major League Soccer All-Star Game was a "nightmare" for Dwayne DeRosario. Once he arrived, it turned into a night he'll never forget.
The Houston midfielder scored a tiebreaking penalty, Chicago midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco had one goal and helped set up another, and the MLS All-Stars posted a 3-2 victory over English Premier League team West Ham United on Thursday.
"A game like this in my hometown, I can't ask for anything more, especially to have an opportunity to have an impact in the game," said DeRosario, who grew up in suburban Toronto. "For me, it's a dream come true."
It's the second time in three years that DeRosario has scored the winning goal in the MLS All-Star Game; his second-half strike helped the MLS beat English club Chelsea 1-0 in 2006.
DeRosario and Houston teammate and fellow Canadian Pat Onstad didn't arrive in Toronto until early Thursday morning. The Dynamo had to play a makeup game in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, and rain forced a 3-hour delay and a finish after midnight. The pair caught an early morning flight to Toronto, but were delayed another 90 minutes at the airport.
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| David Beckham collects an assist in his first All-Star Game. (Getty Images) |
Blanco was chosen as the game's most valuable player for the All-Stars, who are unbeaten in five years against foreign opponents.
"The MLS players showed we have good players in our league, not only good players but great players," New England coach Steve Nicol said.
Forward Dean Ashton scored both goals for West Ham, which beat MLS' Columbus Crew 3-1 in an exhibition match on Sunday that was marred by a halftime scuffle between fans of both teams.
Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham played the entire game and earned an assist in his first MLS All-Star appearance. Beckham came close to scoring in the 40th minute, but his low free kick was headed away by West Ham defender Calum Davenport.
The England international had two more opportunities early in the second half, running onto a loose ball inside the 18-yard box but shooting high and just wide. He missed wide again on a free kick minutes later.
"I'd read about the last five years not losing so I was kind of nervous and hoping that we would win," Beckham said. "As soon as we started I knew we were capable of winning it because of the quality we've got in the team."
West Ham opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Carlton Cole's header sent Ashton in alone on goal. Ashton, who made his international debut for England last month, coolly fired a low shot past New England goalkeeper Matt Reis and into the bottom corner.
