All-Stars soar past Hammers

Ashton brace not enough for Curbishley's West Ham

By James Dall   Last updated: 25th July 2008

Dean Ashton David Beckham

Ashton and Beckham: Toronto encounter

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West Ham United fell to a 3-2 defeat against a Major League Soccer All-Stars side featuring David Beckham at BMO Field in Toronto.

Dean Ashton fired a brace for The Hammers, but goals from Christian Gomez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Dwayne De Rosario handed the MLS All-Stars victory.

Alan Curbishley's West Ham broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Ashton latched on to Carlton Cole's flicked header to slot home right-footed.

But MLS, coached by Steve Nicol, responded almost instantly as Blanco's back-hell created space for Gomez, who smashed a low effort past goalkeeper Robert Green.

A minute before the break, Mexican forward Blanco handed MLS the lead, expertly dropping his shoulder before curling in to the top corner.

The Hammers drew level in the 67th minute as Ashton's long-range shot caught a wicked deflection to wrong-foot shot-stopper Matt Reis.

However, MLS restored their advantage when Lucas Neill felled Dwayne De Rosario in the box to allow the Canadian to dispatch with aplomb from the penalty spot and maintain the All-Stars' winning run against foreign opposition since the introduction of the format in 2003.