The young standouts in Major League Soccer’s All-Star Match
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Major League Soccer's 2022 All Star match against Liga MX was one for the books.
Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath led the American league to a 2-1 victory, as goals from LAFC forward Carlos Vela and Seattle Sounders player Raul Ruidiaz sent Allianz Field into a frenzy. Liga MX managed to pull one back in the second half, seeing Kevin Alvarez sneak one past NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
Several players made themselves known throughout the event, but these four young figures stood out as the ones to watch.
1. Jesus Ferreira
The USMNT and FC Dallas frontman did not hold back against Liga MX.
Jesus Ferreira formed part of Major League Soccer's attack, coming together with Seattle Sounders forward Ruidiaz. The FC Dallas figure played a part in the second goal, feeding the pass to New England Revolution's Carles Gil that eventually saw him being brought down inside the box for a penalty.
Though the player did not find the back of the net, he supported his teammates in the 2-1 triumph against Liga MX.
2. Julian Araujo
Julian Araujo pulled off a stunning performance in the 2022 MLS All Star match for the second year in a row.
After participating in the 2021 All Star event as a coach's pick, the defender came back bigger and better by demand of the fans.
Supporters voted in Araujo, and it was a good thing that they did. He held back Luis Quinones and Alexis Vega on the right, propelling his side to sweet victory.
3. Diego Palacios
The LAFC defender made himself known at Allianz field during the All Star match against Liga MX. He wasted no time on the pitch, connecting with teammate Carlos Vela to inspire the first goal of the night in just the third minute.
Palacios made the run to the box, before crossing the ball over to Vela for the Mexican to head it past the Liga MX goalkeeper and solidify the early lead.
No wonder the player was voted into the All Star madness by head coach Adrian Heath.
4. Dayne St. Clair
We couldn't leave out Minnesota United's main man. The goalkeeper played a crucial role in both the MLS All Star Skills Challenge and the game itself.
In the Skills Challenge, St. Clair cheered his teammates up from the sidelines before joining in on the Crossbar Challenge to help Hany Mukhtar make the precise shot and earn them the win.
But it was his contributions on the pitch during the game that earn him a place on this list. St. Clair made several vital saves, keeping Liga MX's best at bay. Just 30 minutes was enough for St. Clair to make an impact, earning him the title of MLS All Star MVP.