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A giant mechanic loon flies over the stadium before the start of the 2022 MLS All-Star game against the LIGA MX All-Stars at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

The MLS All-Star Los Angeles forward Carlos Vela (11) celebrates his first half goal against LIGA MX All-Stars at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

MLS All-Star goalie Dayne St. Clairin (97) is greeted by Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman (25) as he comes onto the field in the first half of the 2022 MLS All-Star game against the LIGA MX All-Stars at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

MLS All-Star Minnesota United midfielder Emanuel Reynoso (16) defends against LIGA MX All-Star Tigres winger Luis Quiñones (23) in the first half of the 2022 MLS All-Star game at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

The MLS All-Star celebrate Los Angeles forward Carlos Vela (11) first half goal against LIGA MX All-Stars at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

St. Paul was the epicenter of North American soccer on Wednesday with the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, pitting MLS against Mexico’s Liga MX at Allianz Field.

While the announced crowd of 19,797 included an estimated 40 percent first-time visitors who watched the MLS win 2-1, there remained a clear hometown bias.

When Loons talisman Emanuel Reynoso was announced as an MLS starter, he received the loudest cheer among the well-known 11. Reynoso was given the honor of set-piece taker and provided quality into the box on his initial deliveries. On a squad with so much attacking talent, how did that come about?

“Cause I’m in charge,” Loons/MLS head coach Adrian Heath half-joked. “I could tell who was going to take what.”

On a recycled corner in the 11th minute, Reynoso dribbled past Tigres’ Luis Quinones, and the fans “oohed.”

Then Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair subbed in in the 32nd minute, made a diving save off Pumas’ Juan Dinenno’s header, and the supporters sections behind the south goal had his back.

“DSC! DSC! DSC!” they chanted.

Carlos Vela and Raul Ruidiaz scored MLS’s goals and were clear candidates to win the MVP award, but that, too, had a hometown flavor with St. Clair raising the glass silverware trophy.

“I was definitely a little surprised, so many good players here on our team and their team, and normally it’s the guys that contribute to the goals get the award, but definitely very happy to be awarded for it,” St. Clair said. “And being one of the hometown guys.”

In the postgame press conference, Heath praised how St. Clair bounced back from two bobbled shots that directly led to two goals allowed in a 4-3 loss to Colorado on Saturday. “It speaks volumes for his attitude, his professionalism and also, I think, his mental state,” Heath said. “He’s very strong mentally. He’s here now. What have you won?”

St. Clair, who is off to the FIFA World Cup with Canada this fall, helped keep Liga MX off the scoresheet with four saves in his 29-minute shift. Starter Andre Blake had a clean sheet in his opening 32 minutes, but Sean Johnson could do little as Kevin Alvarez scored a stunner in the 85th minute.

It was MLS’s second consecutive win against Liga MX. In their first All-Star matchup last August, MLS won in penalty kicks in Los Angeles. It was another sign MLS continues to narrow the gap between the two leagues.

One number thrown around this week is how MLS has increased spending by 600 percent in recent years.

MNUFC owner Bill McGuire is in the 10th anniversary of owning the team, which started in the lower-level NASL and entered MLS in 2017, then opened the $250 million stadium in the Midway neighborhood in 2019. The All-Star Game was one of the marquee events he wanted to bring to Minnesota.

“It’s been a great way to showcase what the club is about,” Heath said. “I’m so pleased for all the ownership, who believed in everything we tried to do here, and it shows six years in, the club is firmly on the map.”

With all MLS and Liga MX clubs in the Leagues Cup midseason tournament in 2023 , MLS commissioner Don Garber said on ESPN there might not be a trifecta of border battles in MLS All-Star Game next August. … The MLS starting lineup had three Mexican or Mexican American players (Vela, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Julian Araujo), while Liga MX put out only one at the beginning. … MNUFC player Carlos Leatherman started and played 45 minutes in the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star Game at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Wednesday. The 17-year-old St. Paul native had a flashy step-over dribble into the box during his shift. The Loons academy product will enter his senior year at St. Paul Central High School this fall and currently has plans to attend St. Louis University in 2023 — unless the Loons keep him in their system. MNUFC would also hold his rights if/when he goes to college. … MNUFC2 goalkeeper Alec Smir got a surprise invitation to join the reboot of the quirky goalie wars competition, which was reintroduced as part of the MLS Skills Competition on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2 Greensboro, N.C., native won the competition. He landed in Minnesota after FC Dallas didn’t retain the third round of the 2022 MLS draft. At the University of North Carolina, Smir had 10 shutouts in 20 games and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

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