Recap: MLS All-Stars best Liga MX in thrilling 4-3 win

On Wednesday, the MLS All-Stars took down Liga MX in Major League Soccer's annual All-Star match, pulling off a narrow 4-3 victory in an exciting afair.

Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Andy Nájar, and Brian Schwake all saw the field, with Mukhtar and Surridge setting up goals in the victory.

The vibe check (TL;DR)

• What happened: MLS came back from a goal down early, with Son Heung-Min's first-half brace setting the tone, eventually going up 4-2 in the second half.
• Nashville spotlight: Hany Mukhtar started the match in midfield, while Sam Surridge, Andy Nájar, and Brian Schwake came in after 35 minutes. The quartet played out the first half together in a special moment for Music City soccer.
• Big picture: There's never anything that can really be taken from these matches, other than there are a lot of elite players in both leagues, and it's fun to see them on the field together in a low-pressure situation.

Key moments

• 9' | The Liga MX All-Stars take an early lead through Chivas center back Luis Rey. The 6'2" defender got on the end of a set piece from Tigres talisman Juan Brunetta, heading down towards the far post and beating a questionably-positioned Matt Freese.
• 20' | 11 minutes later, the MLS All-Stars respond through Son Heung-Min. The LAFC attacker, wearing the captain's armband on the night, received a pass from New England Revolution maestro Carles Gil and finished calmly to the far post to equalize.
• 23' | Son and Gil combined once again just three minutes later, this time after a gorgeous secondary assist from Nashville's Hany Mukhtar, scooping a ball over the top of the defense into the path of Gil, who cut back for Son to finish emphatically.

• 42' | Chicago Fire winger Philip Zinckernagel made it three just before halftime after a cut-back cross from substitute Sam Surridge bounced around in the box, eventually rifling in a shot from close range.
• 55' | Liga MX pull a goal back through Pachuca striker Salomón Rondón, getting on the end of a flicked corner kick and finishing from inside the six yard box.
• 58' | FC Cincinnati's Evander makes it four for MLS after an electric run from Andy Nájar, driving the full length of the half and cutting back for Surridge, who reacts quickly to a touch and flicks into the path of the Brazilian for an assist.

• 61' | Brian Schwake makes a fantastic save from close range, coming off his line quickly to deny Cruz Azul's José Paradela.
• 65' | Minutes later, Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau makes a similar save, rushing off his line to block another darting run from Paradela.
• 66' | Once again, Rondon causes problems for MLS. The crafty Venezuelan veteran takes a smart touch in the box and goes down under contact from Seattle Sounders centerback Jackson Ragen. After video review (yes, that's a thing in All-Star games), referee Rubiel Vazquez overturns the call.
• 90+1' | Paradela finally finds his goal, firing a left-footed volley past Crépeau after a cut-back cross from Club América right back Israel Reyes.

Standout performers

• Carles Gil and Son Heung-Min were electric in the opening 35 minutes. The duo were on the same wavelength from the opening whistle, finding each other in space throughout the night.
• Andy Nájar was calm on the ball, and his ability to beat defenders on the dribble and pass through tight spaces caught a couple of his All-Star teammates off guard. His run to set up Evander's goal was spectacular.
• Maxime Crépeau was impressive in his shift as Liga MX threw everything forward for an equalizer, making six saves to close out the win.

Lineup notes

Nashville SC captain Hany Mukhtar started in midfield next to New England Revolution's Carles Gil and Inter Miami's Yannick Bright, and played the full first half. Fellow Boys in Gold Sam Surridge, Andy Nájar, and Brian Schwake subbed into the match at the 35th minute.

Stats

Possession: MLS 48.6% – 51.4% LMX
Expected goals: MLS 1.91 – 4.11 LMX
Shots: MLS 13 – 25 LMX
Shots on goal: MLS 8 – 16 LMX
Goals: MLS 4 – 3 LMX
Total Passes: MLS 528 – 618 LMX
Fouls: MLS 7 – 12 LMX
Yellow cards: MLS 0 – 1 LMK
Red cards: MLS 0 – 0 LMX