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TORONTO — On a night when transfer rumors swirled around both of them and with Major League Soccer’s elite on display, FC Dallas’ Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja earned starts in a thrilling edition of the MLS All-Star Game.
Chicago midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco stole the show early on Thursday night, notching a goal and an assist, and Houston midfielder Dwayne DeRosario closed the show with a second-half penalty kick to help the MLS All-Star team beat West Ham United 3-2 at a sold-out BMO Field.DeRosario scored only moments after West Ham had tied the game 2-2. The Dynamo playmaker was playing in his hometown.The victory improved the MLS All-Stars to 5-0 against foreign clubs in the current All-Star Game format.Cooper operated as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 MLS set and Toja played on the left flank. Cooper managed three shots before being replaced at halftime by New York’s Juan Pablo Angel."It was like a dream to play with so many amazing players," Cooper said. "This game has been a highlight of my career. To play with so many players who can make a play is like a dream and so much fun."Toja, who was the subject of reports incorrectly claiming that his transfer to Romanian club Steaua Bucharest was complete, played 59 minutes and was largely ineffective. He denied that a deal with Steaua is done, but said it is being negotiated."People talk a lot and I’ve tried to make it clear that while it is a great opportunity and we’re trying to get it done, nothing is certain yet," Toja said. "The truth is nothing has happened and nothing has been signed, so until something is signed, then we don’t know what will happen."Multiple European clubs reportedly have expressed interest in Cooper, while the team is still in negotiations over a potential Toja transfer.Cooper and Toja are expected to return to Dallas ahead of Sunday’s match against Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park. ONLINE: mlsnet.com
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