MLS All-Star Game: Former understudy bests Keller in All-Star shootout

SANDY — Major League Soccer's decision to decide Wednesday's All-Star Game on penalty kicks made for some great theatre for the Rio Tinto Stadium crowd.

It also created a pretty intriguing match-up between the two keepers. Everton's Tim Howard and MLS's Kasey Keller are two of the best keepers in U.S. National Team history. Howard was basically Keller's understudy during his early days in the national team program.

Now they were battling it out to determine the All-Star Game winner.

As the friends took turns trying to stop shots in the shootout, they chatted back and forth, slapping each other's gloves as they walked by.

In the end, Howard had the last laugh. He saved three shots in the shootout as Everton prevailed 4-3 in the shootout. Keller made one save and benefited from a shanked shot.

RULES ADJUSTMENT: The MLS All-Star Game proved to be a kinder, gentler game on Wednesday night.

In the 59th minute, All-Star keeper Zach Thornton injured his thigh while snagging an awkward shot at the near post. Thornton had replaced Kasey Keller at halftime, and with no other available keeper on the bench, Thornton would've been required to finish the game or be replaced by a field player under traditional soccer rules.

In the All-Star Game, though, Keller was allowed to re-enter the match in the 62nd minute.

UNWANTED RECEPTION: During the starting line-up introductions for Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game, the loudest cheers from the sold-out crowd were for Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman and Everton's Tim Howard, the starting keeper for the U.S. National Team.

One player among the 22 starters did receive a chorus of boos from the Rio Tinto Stadium crowd, though, when his name was introduced. Not surprisingly, the boos were directed at Colorado Rapids' striker Conor Casey as Real Salt Lake's die-hard fans couldn't bring themselves to cheer for an arch-rival.

WILLIAMS TRIBUTE: Real Salt Lake fan favorite Andy Williams spoke briefly to the Rio Tinto Stadium crowd on the field at halftime, thanking them for their support in the past year as he and his family deal with his wife, Marcia's, battle with Leukemia.

"Thanks for your thoughtful prayers and thinking of our family every day," said Williams, who also thanked the MLS community and the entire Real Salt Lake organization for standing behind him.