Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and forward Eddie Johnson were added to the league’s All-Star roster Sunday. The 18 MLS All-Stars will play UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea FC in the MLS All-Star Game July 25 at PPL Park in Philadelphia.
Earning his second All-Star selection in his four-year MLS career, Alonso, 26, has played 90 minutes in each of his 15 appearances this season. The ever-active midfielder has been instrumental to one of the league’s top defenses, holding opponents to just one goal per game (second in MLS) and 192 shots against (first in MLS).
Alonso leads the Sounders with 702 completed passes and a passing percentage of 81.4 percent.
Johnson, 28, is an All-Star for the third time in his eight-year MLS career. He leads the Sounders with eight goals (tied eighth in MLS), including five in the past six games and has scored five of the team’s last seven goals.
Johnson’s 0.62 goals per 90 minutes ranks just outside the top 10 in MLS. Johnson is one of two players in the top 10 of the Golden Boot race who did not play in MLS last season.
MLS commissioner Don Garber selected the only active MLS originals, defender Ramiro Corrales of the San Jose Earthquakes and Philadelphia Union defender Carlos Valdés, as All-Stars.
Because of the format — MLS vs. the World — MLS asked All-Star head coach Ben Olsen to select from among all available players, and he constructed a balanced roster loaded with the league’s top talent.
Olsen selected all eleven of the original fan-voted All-Stars. In addition to 12-time All-Star Landon Donovan, the roster also features prominent All-Star veterans such as David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) and Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United).
Nine roster selections are MLS All-Stars for the first time. Players are listed below by the position they are most likely to play in the All-Star Game, which is not necessarily the position they play for their clubs.
2012 MLS All-Stars
Goalkeeper: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA), Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City).
Defenders: Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose Earthquakes), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union).
Midfielders: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Forwards: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).