COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the second year in a row, the MLS All-Stars were blown out as the Liga MX All-Stars won 4-1 at Lower.com Field in Downtown Columbus in front of a record crowd.
The best of the Mexican first division were able to go into halftime up 2-1 despite hometown favorite Cucho Hernandez's 17th minute goal, the lone bright spot for MLS. As MLS pushed for an equalizer, Liga MX silenced the stands and were able to add two more to complete the rout.
The Crew stated nearly 21,000 fans were in attendance, marking the most attended match in Lower.com Field's three-year history.
After some good pressure from MLS, Liga MX opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a German Berterame header. Seconds later, Hernandez equalized for the MLS All-Stars in front of his hometown fans with the assist from his Columbus teammate Diego Rossi. It was the first time in three years an MLS player scored in their home stadium in an All-Star game.
10 minutes later in the 26th minute, MLS thought they were awarded a penalty kick from a handball but VAR reversed the decision to the disappointment of the crowd as Hernandez was set to take the penalty.
Just before halftime in the 41st minute, Liga MX regained the lead as Pachuca's Oussama Idrissi curled a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Crew defenders Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira came on to start the second half for MLS as Hernandez and Rossi were subbed out in a full lineup shift. Crew captain Darlington Nagbe came on later in the half.
Nashville SC attacker Hany Mukhtar had multiple chances in the middle part of the second half for MLS, trying a long distance chip that was just over and hitting the bar on a point blank header.
MLS continued to push for that second goal but Liga MX was able to take the key edge by scoring a third in the 68th minute through Juan Brunetta after some excellent passing. A few seconds later, Liga MX added a fourth as Monterrey's Maximillian Meza slotted one past Maarten Paes, making it 4-1.
The defeat is MLS' first to the Liga MX All-Stars but its second straight in the All-Star Game. With last year's 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in Washington D.C., MLS has conceded nine goals in the last two All-Star games. Next year's edition will be played at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
This was the third MLS All-Star Game in Columbus and continued a trend of each edition of the game producing at least five goals when played in central Ohio.
