Andrew Farrell Plays Second Half, MLS Falls to Arsenal 2-1

For the first time since 2011, a New England Revolution player made an appearance in the MLS All-Star Game.

Defender Andrew Farrell replaced starting right back Keegan Rosenberry of the Philadelphia Union at halftime as the MLS All-Stars gave up a late goal to Chuba Akpom and Arsenal in a 2-1 loss. Farrell is the first Revs player to appear in this game since Shalrie Joseph in 2011 though Chris Tierney was named to the 2015 roster he was unable to play due to injury.

Joel Campbell got the match started by drawing a penalty on Laurent Ciman of the Montreal Impact and converting the spot kick himself in the 11th minute past starting MLS keeper Andre Blake of the Union. Didier Drogba of the Impact equalized in first half stoppage time when his third attempt snuck past keeper Petr Cech and the scrambling Gunners backline.

Farrell's shift was mostly a defensive one, though he did put a few crosses into the box, helping MLS earn a late corner kick as he tried to pick out Orlando City's Cyle Larin on a near post run. Midway through the half Farrell unleashed the trademark of his backline teammate Jose Goncalves, shielding an Arsenal attacker, likely American youth international Gideon Zelalem, off the ball for a goal kick.

However Farrell and the MLS defense were undone in the 87th minute when Chris Willock, marked closely by Farrell, played in an overlapping Nacho Monreal inside the box. Farrell and the backline were unable to recover from the unmarked runner, and Akpom was there to slot home Monreal's centering pass on the doorstep for the winning goal.

Arsenal becomes the first London-based team to beat the MLS All-Stars, with previous matchups against Chelsea (twice), Tottenham, West Ham and Fulham all going in favor of MLS. The 2017 MLS All-Star game venue or opponent have not yet been announced. In the current MLS ASG format, the MLS All-Star team is 9-4-1.