July 19, 2012
NO STARS FOR HIM
Pearce out of all-star game; Morrow his replacement

Heath Pearce won't be playing in next week's MLS all-star game. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Ailing Red Bulls defender Heath Pearce is out of the MLS all-star game.

MLS all-star coach Ben Olsen selected on Thursday San Jose Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow to replace Pearce on the roster for next Wednesday’s match against Chelsea FC (8:30 p.m., ESPN2, TeleFutura, TSN2).

Pearce has a right hamstring strain that kept him from playing in the 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.

Team captain and striker Thierry Henry will be the lone Red Bull to participate in the match.

In his third season with the Earthquakes after being drafted in the second round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, Morrow has emerged as one of the best left backs in the league.

Having started all 21 Earthquakes’ games through July 19, Morrow has helped his team to an MLS-best record of 13-4-4, a goals-against average of 1.19, and an MLS-best goal differential of +18. Morrow is the only San Jose player to play every minute of every game this season.