New York, NY (Sports Network) - Sporting Kansas City led the way with four players on the 2012 MLS Best XI team, which was revealed on Monday.
After finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and capturing the U.S. Open Cup, Sporting crashed out of the playoffs at the hands of the Houston Dynamo.
But it didn't prevent Sporting from landing four players on the Best XI team, including MVP candidate Graham Zusi and Defender of the Year winner Matt Besler.
Defender Aurelien Collin and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen both found themselves on the team for the first time in their MLS careers, with Collin losing out Besler for top defender honors while Nielsen is up for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Supporters' Shield winners San Jose put two players on the team as both the league's leading scorer Chris Wondolowski and defender Victor Bernardez were named.
Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane have played pivotal roles in the Los Angeles Galaxy reaching the MLS Cup and they are joined on the Best XI by D.C. United midfielders Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius, Red Bull New York striker Thierry Henry and Seattle midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.
Following is the 2012 MLS Best XI:
Goalkeeper - Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City) Defender - Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes) Defender - Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) Defender - Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City) Midfielder - Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC) Midfielder - Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) Midfielder - Chris Pontius (D.C. United) Midfielder - Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Forward - Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) Forward - Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) Forward - Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
