Major League Soccer announced its 26-man All-Star roster on Sunday to be pitted against Arsenal on July 28, and Jermaine Jones was the lone Colorado Rapid named to the list. Marcelo Balboa, though, of Mile High Sports radio AM 1340 | FM 104.7 believes the league’s statistically-superior goalkeeper should have gotten a nod as well.
Zac MacMath has started all 16 games he’s appeared in, out of a possible 19, and for Balboa, there’s no reason he should not be heading to San Jose.
“MacMath has been fantastic,” Balboa said. “I know it’s a popularity thing. I get that – as fans want to see the biggest and the brightest – but I feel bad for guys like Sjoberg; I feel bad for guys like MacMath, who have had good years, probably deserve it.”
Last season’s All-Star goalkeepers were Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando and Vancouver’s David Ousted. Up until the July 29 All-Star game against Tottenham Hotspur, Rimando held a 1.06 GAA and Ousted a 1.00. MacMath’s this year? 0.69.
That’s better than Philadelphia’s Andre Blake and San Jose’s David Bingham, both of whom were named to this year’s roster in lieu of MacMath.
MacMath’s 56.3 win percentage is tied with FC Dallas’ Chris Seitz for highest in the league among goalkeepers who have appeared in a minimum of 10 games. He’s also garnered six shutouts on the year, putting him in a four-way tie for second. Only Luis Robles of the Red Bulls has more.
From both a table and goalkeeping standpoint, the Rapids have held the advantage over the Union in 2016. Colorado is seven points ahead in the Supporters’ Shield standings, and MacMath has had a statistically better year than Blake in five categories. For Balboa, that’s rightful justification for putting the 24-year-old in the All-Star game.
“We’re at 37 points,” Balboa said. “We’re ahead of the Philadelphia Union and MacMath has had a better year. Tell me how MacMath doesn’t get in there.”
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