The Major League Soccer All-Stars took down their counterparts from Liga MX at Austin FC's Q2 Stadium on Wednesday night, with Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge marking his first-ever All-Star appearance with the game's opening goal.
The XI
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez didn't make too many surprises. With Lionel Messi a late (and somewhat controversial) absence, Estévez went with a fairly straightforward lineup. Nashville striker and Golden Boot leader Sam Surridge started up top, flanked by LAFC's Dénis Bouanga and San Diego's Chucky Lozano. In midfield, a pair of MVP candidates in Cincinnati's Evander and San Diego's Anders Dreyer started, with Sebastian Berhalter sitting deeper. At the back, Philadelphia's Kai Wagner played opposite Andy Nájar, with Michael Boxall and Tristan Blackmon playing in front of Brad Stuver.
MLS All Star Starting XI vs Liga MX Stuver; Wagner, Blackmon, Boxall, Nájar; Evander ©, Berhalter, Dreyer; Bouanga, Surridge, Lozano BENCH: Takaoka, St. Clair, Biro, Glesnes, Tverskov, Luna, Baribo, Robinson, Vargas, Rossi, Gil, White, Arfsten, Mukhtar, Freeman, Espinoza, Zinckernagel, Pašalić
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2025-07-24T00:11:54.495Z
On the pitch
As expected, it was a fairly open match between two sides who had just a couple days together in training before the match. LAFC's Dénis Bouanga was the standout in the first half, typically lethal in transition and nearly scoring himself before turning provider for Sam Surridge, curling an inch-perfect cross to give the MLS Golden Boot leader a simple finish.
Denis Bouanga 🤝 Sam Surridge
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2025
There's a reason he's the top goalscorer in MLS. #MLSAllStar // @NashvilleSC pic.twitter.com/TCt4cXKvqB
Just before halftime, Nashville's Hany Mukhtar came close to doubling the lead, getting on the end of a gorgeous ball over the top from Evander, but scuffing the finish. The offside flag came up as well, rendering the sequence void. In the second half, another high-scoring No. 9 added to the scoresheet. Philadelphia's Tai Baribo scored what proved to be the winner with an understated finish, slotting home a silky assist from Columbus's Diego Rossi.
Diego Rossi assist. 🅰️
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2025
Tai Baribo finish. ⚽#MLSAllStar // @ColumbusCrew // @PhilaUnion pic.twitter.com/XACDf3A9pA
Liga MX pulled a goal back courtesy of 16-year-old phenom Gilberto Mora. The Tijuana midfielder and 2025 Gold Cup winner pounced on the end of a loose ball in the box and drilled a over the head of Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka.
Aquí está el GOL para que lo vuelvan a gritar, bandita.⚽🤩
— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) July 24, 2025
¡Gran jugada de Zendejas y tremendo lo de Gil Mora!#AllStarGame2025. ✨🤩 pic.twitter.com/GX87oCRX0N
With Liga MX pushing for an equalizer, Brian White iced the game. The striker nearly saw his shot deflected by USMNT teammate Diego Luna, but was able to convert the cross from Chicago's Philip Zinckernagel to hold the visitors at bay.
Brian White. Yessir.#MLSAllStar // @WhitecapsFC pic.twitter.com/MqwCLlFtNg
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2025
Goals
- 28' | MLS | Sam Surridge
- 51' | MLS | Tai Baribo
- 64' | LMX | Gilberto Mora
- 80' | MLS | Brian White
Stats
Total Passes: MLS 493 – 625 LMX
Shots: MLS 13 – 24 LMX
Shots on goal: MLS 8 – 7 LMX
Penalty kicks: MLS 0 – 0 LMX
Goals: MLS 3 – 1 LMX
Fouls: MLS 11 – 15 LMX
Yellow cards: MLS 0 – 0 LMX
Red cards: MLS 0 – 0 LMX
