MLS Next West goalkeeper Adam Beaudry (1) of Colorado Rapids makes a save against MLS Next East player Benjamin Cremaschi (8) of Inter Miami CF during the second half of the 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

In the inaugural MLS NEXT All-Star Game, the East team defeated the West squad with a late comeback, earning a 2-1 victory in Blaine, Minn. on Wednesday.

The East team was led by the player of the game, Favian Loyola from Orlando City SC, who helped turn around a 1-0 deficit in the second half with his play on the wing.

The San Jose Earthquakes’ Cruz Medina scored the first goal in the history of the MLS NEXT All-Star Game just six minutes into the match, when his deflected strike from outside of the box made its way past the flat-footed East goalkeeper (Watch Here).

The West held the 1-0 advantage until the 86th minute.

However, Inter Miami CF’s Benjamin Cremaschi was taken down by the goalkeeper in the box for a penalty kick. Toronto FC defender and East captain Adam Pearlman stepped up to take the kick, but fooled the opposition, playing a pass to Cremaschi who darted into the box and smashed in the game-tying goal.

As regulation time dwindled and the game appeared headed for penalty kicks, Philadelphia Union standout Marcos Zambrano-Delgado made sure that would not happen, slotting home the game-winner after the New England Revolution’s Jack Panayotou provided the crucial cross ( Watch Here).

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.