LANDON DONOVAN’S GOAL in the 70th minute Wednesday gave the Major League Soccer All-Stars a 2-1 victory over German champions Bayern Munich in a friendly marred by rough tackles.
The Los Angeles Galaxy striker took a high centering pass on the run up the middle of the field, eluded two defenders and netted the deciding goal.
“Any time you can beat Bayern Munich, that’s a good beat,” Donovan said. “We came out and played them hard and that was an entertaining game for sure.”
The Bundesliga side opened the scoring on an eighth-minute strike from Robert Lewandowski, who tucked a right-footed blast just under the crossbar.
English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls, a former Southampton and Manchester City forward, answered for the MLS squad in the 51st minute, powering a left-footed kick from just outside the penalty area into the net.
Wright-Phillips is the younger brother of England international Shaun Wright-Phillips of England’s Queens Park Rangers and the son of former England and Arsenal standout Ian Wright.
But after watching a pair of tackles from behind in the late minutes by MLS players in the heart of their season against Bayern players who were in the first stages of pre-season training, Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola decided to wave off a post-match handshake with MLS All-Stars coach Caleb Porter.
“…most important game this year”. Sly dig at Australia there, not even match week and he’s already started on Australia
@Conor Magee: not even close to their most important game this year. He’s worse than Gatland
Go easy on the pies Hartley
Although his comments can stick in the craw at times, its a smart selection from Jones to rest Farrell and Itoje. Both players have already proven themselves ahead of 2019. This game is a chance for England to develop depth against top quality opposition.
Hopefully Ireland do the same this November. I wouldn’t mind losing a game or two this November if it meant inexperienced players were ready for the World Cup.