Thrills and spills at the MLS All-Star Game – in pictures

This year's MLS All-Star game featured the best of MLS playing Roma, who arrived in Kansas City a couple of days before the game to start a round of public engagements, press conferences and training sessions. At the first press conference in downtown Kansas City, Roma legend Francesco Totti was flanked by American midfielder Michael Bradley. The club's new American ownership are keen to maximize the commercial potential of Bradley's presence in the side Photograph: Graham Parker

During training at Sporting Kansas City's stadium, Sporting Park, Totti had a chance to catch up with his old friend Marco Di Vaio. Both of them looked thrilled … at the press conference, Totti had revealed that Di Vaio had spoken to him positively about his experiences in MLS with Montreal Impact. The Roma player has been linked with a move to MLS himself, but has insisted he is concentrating only on Roma. Photograph: Graham Parker

The Sporting Kansas City coach, Peter Vermes, doubled as All-Star coach for the week. Weather and other commitments restricted him to one full training session with the team. What was his plan? "There's only so much we can do – we keep it very simple. And we make sure everyone's clear about their duties at set pieces." Photograph: Graham Parker

One of the prominent aspects of All-Star week are the concerts and sponsor events around the city. Thousands of people turned out to an open-air arena on consecutive nights to watch artists such as Macklemore play. A less celebrated but equally important part of the week are the legacy projects by the MLS charitable wing, MLS Works. Here, MLS Commissioner Don Garber addresses local schoolchildren, accompanied by six of the All-Stars (including Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry). Garber was speaking at the launch of a new futsal court – one of several planned by Sporting Kansas City. Photograph: Graham Parker

Instead of the seats spelling the usual "Sporting" message inside the stadium, thousands of cards have been laid out for the crowd to spell out the tagline for the MLS anti-discrimination campaign, "Don't Cross the Line". The campaign, which is accompanied by a PSA video featuring MLS stars, has impressed the Roma hierarchy sufficiently that they have adopted the model for a forthcoming campaign of their own. Photograph: Graham Parker

Bring your own saddle… Photograph: Graham Parker

Consider yourself warned, part one… Photograph: Graham Parker

Consider yourself warned, part two… Photograph: Graham Parker

Those flying soccer balls appear to be a threat in the Sporting Park bathrooms too... Photograph: Graham Parker

Pre-game. Photograph: Graham Parker

During pre-game warm ups the All-Star captain, 6ft 2in Thierry Henry, pats his 5ft 7in left-back, Houston Dynamo's Corey Ashe, on the head. Photograph: Graham Parker

Jack McInerney almost missed out on the All-Star squad, despite being near the top of the MLS scoring chart this season. The young Philadelphia striker was called into the USA Gold Cup squad, though he did not play. He was then added to the All-Star squad following the late withdrawals of Robbie Keane and Tim Cahill. Despite not getting on the field in the Gold Cup, the 20-year old McInerney is seen as an exciting prospect for the national team. Photograph: Graham Parker

Houston Dynamo's Brad Davis gets the pre-game experimental dance wrong. Photograph: Graham Parker

Stadium staff walk round the field to prompt the pre-game fan displays. Photograph: Graham Parker

During the pre-game announcements and fireworks, the stadium scoreboard shows the Sporting Kansas City and USA defender Matt Besler. During the game the large contingent of home fans in the section of the stadium known as The Cauldron will serenade Besler with the chant: "Hometown hero!" Photograph: Graham Parker

Besler is not the only local favorite. Frenchman Aurélien Collin has a lot of young admirers in the stand. Photograph: Graham Parker

When young fans grow up. Photograph: Graham Parker

Earning a coveted All-Star mascot spot isn't easy... Photograph: Graham Parker

The game kicks off and almost immediately the All-Stars find themselves behind. Roma debutant Kevin Strootman latches on to a through ball and pokes the ball past All-Star keeper Raul Fernandez. Note that the referee is wearing Google Glasses. Photograph: Graham Parker

Despite their team falling behind, the members of The Cauldron have faith that the All-Stars can win. Photograph: Graham Parker

As the first half settles, the All-Stars begin to get their defense organized – but they have trouble breaking down an organized Roma rearguard. Photograph: Graham Parker

Roma spring repeat attacks behind the All-Star lines and Raul Fernandez and eventual game MVP Alessandro Florenzi clash as the latter tries to add a second. Florenzi will have the ball in the net before half-time, but the goal will be disallowed for offside… as will another Roma chance. Photograph: Graham Parker

Members of the press wait for the smoke to clear from the extensive half-time firework display. Photograph: Graham Parker

With the All-Stars being passed around by an organized Roma team, the home fans are anxious. Note the open-fronted executive lounges in the background, and the honor wall that inspired the local campaign to "Paint the Wall" during last year's successful US Open Cup run by Sporting Kansas City. Photograph: Graham Parker

Not everybody in the stadium is behind the All-Stars… Photograph: Graham Parker

The great man himself. Photograph: Graham Parker

Roma score immediately after the break and add a third midway through the second half. It looks like there will be no repeat of last year's All-Star victory over Chelsea to send the 21,175 crowd home happy. Photograph: Graham Parker

As the game reaches the final minute, the All-Stars get on the board. A Camilo free-kick is headed home by Omar Gonzalez, as one of Peter Vermes' set pieces pays off. Roma kick off, but that is the last significant action of the game. Photograph: Graham Parker