ORLANDO, Fla. _ The MLS All-Star team dropped its friendly exhibition match for the fourth consecutive year, falling 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in front of an announced sold-out crowd at Exploria Stadium.
The match started slow for the MLS All-Stars, who took time to warm up to one another and build momentum throughout the first half. Playing time was limited for individual players to allow for full roster rotation _ Zlatan Ibrahimovic only played for the first 30 minutes and the trio of Wayne Rooney, Nani and Carlos Vela all retired after the first half.
The four highly touted stars worked to connect in the box, dancing through defenders and creating several chances, but the chemistry and finishing wasn't there. The best chance of the half came from well outside the box by Rooney, who blasted a shot in the 26th minute that flew just inches over the crossbar.
Atletico finally broke through in the 44th minute, when midfielder Marcos Llorente flashed into the box to collect a well-weighted through ball and bury it past goalkeeper Andre Blake. The assist came from a back-heeled flick by 19-year-old Rodrigo Riquelme, who normally plays for the second team for Atletico Madrid.
Atletico held back its first team until the final 35 minutes of play, making nine substitutions in the 55th minute and bringing in captain Koke and stars Joao Felix and Diego Costa. Although Costa was the first of the trio to challenge, attempting a bicycle kick within minutes of taking the pitch, it was Felix who delivered first for Atletico.
In the 85th minute, the 19-year-old star sized up a shot and fired from well outside the box. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando leapt and got his hand on the ball, but it wasn't enough to make the save and Atletico Madrid took the 2-0 lead.
The MLS All-Stars were outshot 18-10 at the end of the game. The team's two closest chances in the second half both came off of free kicks, curled wide by Ezequiel Barco and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Jonathan Dos Santos gave Pity Martinez a glimpse on goal in the 78th minute, sending a soft touch to the top of the box for the Atlanta United striker to take a wide open shot, but Martinez skied the ball well over the cross bar.
Atletico Madrid added one more goal in the final seconds of play when Felix dropped a pass behind the MLS backline for Costa. The forward muscled his way past his defender, finishing around Rimando to net the team's third and final goal.
