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DeAndre Yedlin, Sean Okoli named to Homegrown Game roster

List of 20 players is nearly as exceptional for the names that were left off.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

DeAndre Yedlin and Sean Okoli were among the 20 players named to the second-annual Homegrown Game, which is part of the MLS All-Star Game festivities. The game will be played Aug. 4 at Providence Park against the Timbers U-23s, which is itself pretty ridiculous.

Among the names left off the team was Sounders midfielder Aaron Kovar, but he can only barely be called a snub considering how many much more accomplished players were left off. Diego Fagundez, Kelyn Acosta, Bill Hamid, the list goes on. The roster was apparently constructed by MLS teams nominating their own players and then MLS Director of Player Programs Alfonso Mondelo finalized it. Mondelo will also coach the team.

It's entirely unclear if the New England Revolution, FC Dallas and D.C. United even bothered submitting lists as none of them are represented in the game. In fact, only 12 of the 19 teams have at least one representative.

That the game will be played against a PDL team only serves to undermine the quality further.

If Yedlin -- or any other player -- were to be named to the actual All-Star Game on Aug. 6 against Bayern Munich, they would be excused from this barely trumped up scrimmage in order to play in that exhibition.

2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Roster

Goalkeeper: Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew)

Defenders: Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Shane O'Neill (Colorado Rapids), Karl W. Ouimette(Montreal Impact), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

Midfielders: Steven Evans (Portland Timbers), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Chris Ritter (Chicago Fire), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew)

Forwards: Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC), Dillon Serna(Colorado Rapids), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

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