SANDY, Utah (Monday, July 13, 2015) – Major League Soccer has announced that Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando have been named to the MLS Fan XI for the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. The AT&T MLS All-Stars will face Tottenham Hotspur, on Wednesday, July 29 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., at 7 p.m. MT. The summer showcase will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 and UniMas.
After being named to the 2014 World Cup squad, Rimando has had a highlight-reel year for RSL. After breaking the all-time shutout record last year when he amassed his 113th career clean sheet, Rimando has picked up where he left off and has been outstanding for the Claret-and-Cobalt this year. The 36-year-old goalkeeper has six shutouts and a 1.06 goals against average in 16 matches thus far. This is the fifth time that Rimando had received All-Star recognition.
“We are extremely proud of Nick and what he has accomplished for club and country,” Real Salt Lake Technical Director Craig Waibel said. “This honor is a great reward for his efforts and we are excited to have him represent the club at the All-Star Game.”
The full Fan XI is Rimando; defenders DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) and Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy); midfielders Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Kaka (Orlando City SC) and Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City); and forwards Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC) and David Villa (New York City FC).
In addition to the Fan XI, MLS Commissioner Don Garber also selected Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy) and Frank Lampard (New York City FC) as the Commissioner’s Picks for the match.
Media members nominated a total of 160 players to the fan ballot. Fans could vote for 11 players via an online ballot and social media. The 10 players with the highest combined votes from these two methods will be named to the All-Star Fan XI. The 11th player on the Fan XI was chosen by the fans via the AT&T MLS All-Star ‘More Than a Vote’ Challenge. The forward with whom fans score the most goals in FIFA 15, with one goal equaling one vote, was Martins. The game day roster – as chosen by All-Star Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni of the Colorado Rapids will be announced on Sautrday, July 18.
Real Salt Lake faces the LA Galaxy in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to the Open Cup match can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
