East dominated the West team at this year’s edition of the MLS NEXT All Star Game on Monday night in the Charlotte region.

Two goals and assist from Oscar Avilez (D.C. United) spurred East to a 6-1 victory, as the top players from the MLS-run league battled it out.

While Avilez piled up the stats in the first half, it was the collective work of the attacking front three of Liam Stribling (Nashville SC), Jamil Danjaji (Columbus Crew) and Avilez that dominated for the East. By the time the first half reached the 12 minute mark, it was a 3-0 lead thanks to a goal each from that trio.

Avilez scored first in the fifth minute, collecting a square ball from Christopher Morales, beating the defender for pace and then the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot at the near post. Next up it was Danjaji in transition just over two minutes later. The Crew Academy star raced past the back line and latched on to a great pass from Logan Azar (New England Revolution) to double the advantage. Stribling hit in the 12th minute, roasting Jaiden Paz for pace and unleashing a shot that Kellen Tamblyn (Portland Timbers) couldn’t keep out.

Center back Marcellus Singleton (Met Oval) got into the scoring action in the 30th minute. He benefited from a beautiful right-footed cross from Avilez on the left wing, beating Tamblyn to the ball to make it 4-0. Avilez added his second on a beautiful team goal before the halftime whistle blew.

After the two lineups swapped at the half, neither side managed to find the back of the net for 30 minutes. It wasn’t until Daniel Brown (Charlotte FC) scored in the 77th minute with a low-driven, left-footed effort from a cleared corner kick.

Easton Wilson (Real Salt Lake) finally got the West team on the board, managing to just stay onside and finish nicely past Connor Dale (FC Cincinnati) to provide his team’s long tally of the day.

First Half Lineups

East: Levi Williams; Dylan Lawlor, Marcellus Singleton, Myles Johnson, Jacob Bradley; Logan Azar, Christopher Morales, Caleb Trombino; Oscar Avilez, Jamil Danjaji, Liam Stribling

West: Kellen Tamblyn; Jaiden Paz, Greyson Codjoe, Clayton Glynn, Brogan Fitzsimons; Matthew Arana, Maxwell Harwood, Daniel Carmona, Blake Wilson, Alessio Benedetti; Drew Dowling

Second Half Lineups

East: Connor Dale; Oluwaseyitan Fakiyesi, John Chukwu, Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz, Dominick Lester; David Ilevbare, Samuel Diaz Gallego, Abdoulaye Diop; William Karras, Amadou Aly Han, Daniel Brown

West: Benjamin Failla; Luca Antongirolami, Vasilii Kuprishow, Rocky Rommel, Kellen Poll; Manav Badwal, Ezra VanCleave; Benjamin Flowers, Abraham Prado, Cristopher Batiz; Easton Wilson

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