[MLS SPOTLIGHT] MLS All-Star Coach Ben Olsen has added San Jose Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow as a replacement for injured New York Red Bulls defender Heath Pearce on the roster for next Wednesday’s AT&T MLS All-Star
game against Chelsea at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. (8:30 p.m., ESPN2, TeleFutura, TSN2). If you've never heard of Morrow, you're probably not alone. Until this season, he had played only 12 pro matches
for one MLS's less visible clubs, but his solid play on the Quakes' backline this season has been one of the keys to their climb to the top of the MLS standings.
Following Wednesday's 2-1
win over FC Dallas that extended the Quakes' lead in the Supporter's Shield race to seven points, San Jose coach Frank Yallop praised Morrow, the youngest MLS
all-star at the age of 24.
“Justin’s playing as well as anybody, not just for us but in the league,” Yallop told reporters. “Sometimes mentally, it takes a little
while for the players coming out of college to come to grips with this league. And he’s really got to grips with it.”
Yallop's praise came after a rare mental mistake by
Morrow, whose encroachment on Chris Wondolowski’s successful penalty kick resulted in a retake that was saved by Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, thereby negating at 18th goal for Wondolowski.
Morrow, a product of Notre Dame out of Cleveland, joins teammates Ramiro Corrales, Chris Wondolowski and Steven Beitashour on the MLS All-Star team.
He has
played every minute of the Quakes' 21 games, alternating between center and left back.
The 1,890 minutes are double the 869 minutes he played his first two seasons.



David Sirias


