Instant takeaways from the MLS All-Star Game

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Major League Soccer completed another display of superiority over Liga MX, winning the 2022 All-Star Game 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,727 fans at Allianz Field in Minnesota.

It was a night to celebrate for the game in North America, as the second-year format proved again to be a compelling watch full of passion on the pitch and off.

Here are a few takeaways from what we witnessed in the Northland.

No coincidence

This is the year of Los Angeles FC. So it was only fitting that, two minutes into the biggest spectacle on the Major League Soccer calendar, LAFC's stars gave their league something to brag about.

Diego Palacios, the starting left back, crossed over a Liga MX defender to free himself for a cross to — who else — Carlos Vela. The former Mexican international made no mistake in placing his header at the far post into the top right corner. LAFC 1, Liga MX 0.

It be like that in 2022.

Palacios in particular was a standout during the first half, putting in work at both ends as MLS dominated possession against its neighbors from the South. He completed 85.7% of his passes, including completing two key passes.

Liga MX still had more shots, but goalkeepers Andre Blake and Dayne St. Clair each made big saves. St. Clair made four, including one off a point-blank header by Juan Dinenno in the 44th minute.

It wasn't perfect soccer by any means, but it was enjoyable. Especially for the MLS owners who were able to talk up LAFC as an emerging force to be considered among the top clubs in North America, especially following this summer's spending spree.

LAFC currently has 51 points, six clear of Austin FC in second for the Supporters' Shield. A spot in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League seems a near certainty. And you know that everybody in Black & Gold wants payback for the collapse it suffered against Tigres in the COVID-shortened 2020 version of the tournament. 

Liga MX is certainly starting to take notice of LA's golden boys.

Hometown hero

It was perhaps the save from St. Clair, or the chants of "D-S-C" coming from an abbreviated version of the Wonderwall, that caught the attention of the Powers That Be (including voters from the media) giving the Canadian international MVP honors. For both me and Phil West, representing The Striker at this iteration of the MLS All-Star Game, Palacios put his mark on the match early with the assist and put in a strong defensive shift to distinguish himself. 

But it's fitting for Minnesota — having a better season than some anticipated, and with key contests against Austin FC on Aug. 20 and FC Dallas on Sept. 3 to try to shift the West race to the North — to get an MVP nod to cap off a well-hosted week. 

And, come to think of it, in a World Cup year with a Canada team that's made its way in it, this is a good nod to that as well. 

Closing the door

You felt Liga MX would have something to say, like MLS did last year in Los Angeles. It wasn't to be, despite Liga MX having 15 shots to MLS's five when the home team went 2-0 up.

The dagger arrived via the penalty spot in the 73rd minute, after 2021 MLS MVP Carles Gil baited Tigres defender Jesús Angulo into a foul, and Raúl Ruidíaz buried the ensuing spot kick. 

Gil appeared shaken up, needing attention from the training staff after the foul, showing once again that when you put these two leagues against each other there's no such thing as a meaningless exhibition.

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But that wasn't the end. Liga MX made a late surge energized by a Kevin Álvarez rocket in the 85th minute. That set off chants around the stadium of "Sí, se puede" and "México" as the Mexican portion of the crowd finally had something to cheer about. 

In the end, MLS did enough to close the match out. The host is now 2-0 since this format kicked off, adding more fuel to the ever-growing argument that MLS is catching Liga MX. In the past year alone, the Seattle Sounders finally broke the string of 16-straight Concacaf Champions League titles for Mexican clubs.

That's not to say that the All-Star Game determines which league is superior, but Liga MX will want to win this thing before long — especially with the Leagues Cup kicking off next year.