Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis was named to the 2018 MLS All-Star Roster, Major League Soccer announced today. This will be Elis’ first appearance in the MLS All-Star Game.
The 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target will be played on Wednesday, August 1 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 6:30 p.m. CDT against reigning Italian champions Juventus. Juventus claimed their seventh consecutive Serie A championship last month, the 34th in the club’s storied history. Italy’s oldest professional club, The Old Lady boasts the largest fan base in Italy and one of the largest in the world and has a roster loaded with stars from Italy and around the world.
Elis earned the All-Star nod thanks to his stellar play through the first half of the season. He leads the league in shots on goal, with 31; and is tied for the team lead in goals with eight and tied for second on the club with five. Elis has recorded a goal or an assist in 10 of Houston’s 15 games this year, and his 13 combined goals and assists are tied for fifth-most in the league. Elis ranks among the league’s top 10 in 12 different statistical categories and has earned MLS Team of the Week honors four times this season, tied for the most of any player in the league thus far.
Nicknamed La Pantera for his relentless attacking nature and athletic playing style, Elis quickly became a fan favorite after joining the Dynamo in 2017 as he scored 10 goals and recorded four assists in his first season with the team. The young attacker scored the game-winning goal in extra time during the Knockout Round of the Audi 2017 MLS Playoffs, sending Houston past Sporting Kansas City and into the Western Conference Semifinals.
Including Elis, the Dynamo have been represented in the All-Star Game by 12 different players who have combined for 29 appearances. The Honduran international joins Brian Ching (five appearances) as the only Dynamo forwards to earn All-Star nods.
Other Dynamo players to play in the All-Star Game include midfielder Brad Davis (four), midfielder Dwayne De Rosario (three), defender/midfielder Geoff Cameron (three), defender DaMarcus Beasley (two), defender Eddie Robinson (two), defender Corey Ashe (two), goalkeeper Pat Onstad (two), midfielder Ricardo Clark (two ), midfielder Stuart Holden (one), and goalkeeper Tally Hall (one).
Additionally, head coach Dominic Kinnear was named head coach of the MLS All-Star team in 2009 against English Premier League club Everton F.C. The MLS All-Stars played Everton to a 1-1 draw before losing 4-3 on penalties.
Elis could become the third Dynamo player to score a goal in the MLS All-Star Game. Ching scored against Manchester United at NRG Stadium in Houston in 2010 and De Rosario scored in 2006 and again in 2008. De Rosario earned MVP honors in 2006 after scoring the game-winning goal against Chelsea and had the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over West Ham United in 2008.
