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Lehi • Coach Jason Kreis said he was thrilled to see Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman and Jamison Olave win spots in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game next week.
But he couldn't believe goalkeeper Nick Rimando was left out.
Kreis said the veteran goalkeeper — ranked second in the league with a 0.75 goals-against average — is too diplomatic to complain publicly about being passed over in favor of Houston's Tally Hall and Philadelphia's Faryd Mondragon. But "he's deeply hurt."
"He needs someone like me to stand up for him and say it's absolutely ridiculous," Kreis said.
Coach Hans Backe of the New York Red Bulls picked the rest of the 22-man team that will face Manchester United at Red Bull Arena on July 27, after fans voted for a dozen players and commissioner Don Garber picked two others.
In particular, Kreis questioned the choice of Hall, a player for whom he has a "ton of respect" but who also is just halfway through his first season as a starter for a team with a losing record.
"I don't understand All-Star selections for that," Kreis said.
But Backe said in a radio podcast that while Rimando "was of course in my thoughts," he rated Hall as "one of the two, three best goalies in this league … so that was a very easy pick for me."
Backe also said Mondragon is "solid" with "tons of experience" who has "made a huge impact" for Philadelphia.
Part of the coach's charge is to pick a team that not only represents the best players in the league, but can also beat Manchester United.
Backe needed to pick two goalkeepers because Seattle's Kasey Keller — voted to the team by the fans — is not available for the All-Star Game due to the Sounders playing in a CONCACAF Champions League group-stage game at almost the same time. Kevin Hartman of FC Dallas was not among the replacement options, for the same reason.
Rimando "has put together year after year after year and continues to get looked over," Kreis said.
Kreis also questioned the All-Star credentials of Sporting KC's Matt Besler, as another relatively inexperienced player. But Besler was chosen by fans, as the player who received the most All-Star votes via text message.
Rimando declined to comment about his omission, knowing he still might be named among the final six men chosen as "inactive" All-Stars in a vote of players around the league. Although inactive players do not attend the game, they are entitled to receive contractual bonuses as All-Stars.
Twitter: @RSLTrib —
Stacking up
The best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer, based on goals-against average among those who have played at least half their team's games:
Player Team G GAA Saves Shutouts Record
Donovan Ricketts* Los Angeles 12 0.53 33 6 6-1-4
Nick Rimando RSL 16 0.75 42 8 7-3-6
Faryd Mondragon Philadelphia 19 0.84 30 7 8-4-7
Kevin Hartman FC Dallas 20 0.95 50 10 10-5-5
William Hesmer Columbus 19 1.00 53 7 7-5-7
Kasey Keller Seattle 22 1.05 59 6 10-4-8
Dan Kennedy Chivas USA 18 1.06 56 6 5-5-8
Jon Busch San Jose 19 1.11 70 6 5-6-8
Tally Hall Houston 20 1.15 60 4 5-6-9
* Injured