Misbah-ul-Haq knows the secret to getting Steven Smith out, and calls it the batsman's "blind spot". It isn't much of a secret at all: simply hit the same spot, hitting at or near the top of the off stump, that troubles every batsman in international cricket.

The first trick, of course, is to get the ball to move off the seam from that spot to force errors. As Smith put it in England this year: "There is no doubt in my mind that the seaming ball is the hardest thing to play in the game. You don't have time to react, so you have to play the line and if it goes in, you are a chance of hitting the stumps and getting lbw, and if it goes away you are a chance of nicking it."

The other trick, even less of a trick than extracting seam movement, is simply to keep hitting that precise spot, ball after ball, over after over, hour after hour, session after session. Misbah, a past master at the pendulum-like rhythm that brings success whether batting or bowling in Test matches, has done his best to ensure that when Smith walks out to bat in the first Test, starting Thursday, Pakistan's bowlers will find a way to hit the blind spot near enough to every ball.

ALSO READ: Waqar Younis warns against getting 'carried away' by bounce

"As far as Steve Smith goes, there's a blind spot for every top batsman in the world; as a bowler you're always interested in pitching the ball there," Misbah said. "It's important that we bowl with consistency there. Our bowlers are executing the plans very well right now, and hopefully we'll be able to build that kind of a pressure, and stay disciplined especially early in the innings. No matter how good a batsman is batting, it's about consistency and bowling the maximum balls in those areas that build pressure and the batsman respects you, and you force him to make a mistake.

"All the batsmen you talk to, any batsman in the world, that's the area where you have to defend a ball, and that is a six-to-eight-metre spot where you have to play the top of off stump. That's the area from where if it's happening then that creates a great chance. Even if it's not happening, you have less chances to do anything with the ball.

"So it's about consistency, and top players in the world, if you miss those areas, that special length and line, then they are good enough to just cash in on that. So you have to be very, very disciplined, just keep the ball there, and if it's happening you are already in the game."

"If you get good pace behind the ball and just put it in the right areas, you can create chances. That's what we are looking for, and I think they can do it" Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan's selection choices seem to be geared to finding not only consistency but also movement, with bounce, off the pitch. Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Musa and the 16-year-old Naseem Shah have the makings of one of the tougher pace-bowling attacks Australia have faced at home.

"At the moment, they are doing it, but obviously we'll see how it goes in these conditions," Misbah said, "because these pitches are hard.

"But I still believe if you get good pace behind the ball and just put it in the right areas, you can create chances. That's what we are looking for, and I think they can, the way Naseem is bowling at the moment, Shaheen is very important with the new ball especially, he gets some movement in the air and off the seam also. We hope that they can do it, but you need to be very, very disciplined.

"Then it comes to plan B and plan C, if it's not happening then where you're going to attack him. Let's see, there are good signs for us that a young bowling attack like this, they start understanding what they need to do here. It's big pressure when they just go in a Test match, that's a big learning for them. If they can replicate that in the game scenario then these fast bowlers will be a great asset for Pakistan. The kind of form he is in, there's no doubt Steve Smith is a batting genius. We will try our best to execute our plans and dismiss him."

Among Pakistan's batsmen, the way Babar Azam has begun this tour gives the strong impression that he may be on the verge of a major breakthrough into the very front rank, currently occupied by Smith and Virat Kohli, among others. Misbah is hopeful that he has been able to add the requisite ice to Babar's shotmaking fire, as evidenced by the maturity he showed in compiling a masterful century against Australia A in Perth.

"It was a very difficult pitch for our three-day game and they bowled very well. We were playing pretty much the top four bowlers from Australia A," Misbah said. "Babar Azam did both the things there - he punished the poor deliveries and respected the bowlers when it was required. He batted with a lot of maturity there. It's not just aggression, aggression and aggression, he has a very balanced approach. He puts the short balls away and even respects the good deliveries whenever he had to. He is ready to play that sort of a long innings in Tests.

"He is very important. I think the way he is playing these days, the most important thing for a batsman is how confident you are, especially after South Africa and those were difficult pitches when Pakistan played last series. The way he played good and attacking cricket there, he has changed totally as a batsman. He understands conditions and here the conditions for batting are a lot better.

"The way he has been batting these days in the warm-up games, in the T20s, and even in the nets, you can see his confidence and he has improved a lot technically, you can see the surety in him. He will be a key [batsman], especially with his confidence. Hopefully he will do well, it will be very important for Pakistan."

As for the World Test Championship, Pakistan will finally make their entry to the contest with India already having streeted away to a 300-point lead. Misbah mentioned the psychological value of winning in Australia or England, before assuming a typically serene attitude to the title race.

"These two Test matches are here, whenever you come to Australia and England, if you perform well in these conditions as a team, especially a young team, that gives you huge confidence," he said. "Then four Test matches at home, if we can do well here and then go there and perform well, then these things will take care of themselves."

LOS ANGELES -- Paul George knows the narrative used to be that he isn't clutch.

That hasn't been true of late, and on Monday, the All-Star swingman proved that for the first time as a member of the LA Clippers. In his third game back from offseason surgeries on both of his shoulders, George beat his old team in the final seconds. He buried a catch-and-shoot, go-ahead 3 off a curl with 25.9 seconds left before adding a free throw late to lift the Clippers to a 90-88 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center.

"You know, there was a big thing about [how I] can't make it to win games," George said. "That stuff doesn't bother me. I am out there to play hard and to win games. I feel confident in every shot that I take. It's up to me to make it or miss it. That type of stuff don't bother me."

The Thunder trapped George often, holding him to fewer than 33 points for the first time this season and forcing the swingman into seven turnovers. After scoring 70 points in 44 minutes his previous two games, George was held to 18 points and seven rebounds.

But Clippers coach Doc Rivers called George's number with the Thunder up 88-86 late. And George delivered again with the game on the line.

Since the start of the previous season, George has made four go-ahead 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. That is twice as many as any other player in the league in that span.

George appears to have reversed his late-game play; he was 1-for-12 on such 3-point attempts in his career before the start of last season.

"I just felt that the play would get him open," Rivers said of drawing up a play with Montrezl Harrell freeing George for the catch-and-shoot with a screen on Chris Paul. "With his size, I was looking at who could get a good shot off. With his size, they had a small on him, I really felt good in the timeout. I didn't know that he was going to make the shot, but I did feel like we were going to get him a good shot."

Despite having surgery in May to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder and another surgery a month later for a partial tear of his left labrum, George hasn't missed a beat offensively. He hit seven of 14 shots against Oklahoma City and is shooting 27-for-44 overall, including making 12 3-pointers.

He has done so with teammate Kawhi Leonard sidelined due to a left knee contusion the past three games. Rivers says there isn't any concern about Leonard's injury becoming more than a day-to-day issue.

George can hardly wait to see what it will be like when the two-way All-Stars are finally playing together.

"You can't shrink the floor when you got me, Lou [Williams], Kawhi, Trezz," George said. "You just can't shrink the floor. There is no way that guys can take themselves out of the play defensively and try to face guard.

"You just can't do that because Lou, Kawhi or myself -- whoever is getting that type of defense -- we are going to pick you apart and make plays offensively."

As for his old team, George said Oklahoma City did well in the July trade that sent George to the Clippers in exchange for five first-round picks, the right to swap two first-round picks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points, and Gallinari had 14 points Monday, but both missed shots in the final 12.3 seconds that would have given the Thunder the lead.

"I thought it worked out great for them," George said. "I think Shai is a future star, and he's proven that he can carry a load ... him just being under CP, he is going to learn so much. So they got a star.

"And Danilo is a proven big-time scorer. And then how many picks that they got? Their future is bright. Sam Presti is a proven expert at drafting."

It was hardly going to be a state secret, but Justin Langer revealed Australia's hand for the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba two days before it starts, all but confirming that Michael Neser and Cameron Bancroft would sit out.

There remains a chance for things to go wrong, but in reality, the decision was made pretty simple once James Pattinson was ruled out after his code of conduct breach. Neser is a fine bowler, and with two day-night Tests this season his chance could still come, but the in-form Mitchell Starc slots back in alongside Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood - the trio that retained the Ashes at Old Trafford.

However, the bowling was never really going to be the issue. The tough choices were made a few days ago when the squad was named in the wake of Australia A's collapse to 9 for 57 in Perth.

"I was disappointed for the guys that no-one banged the door down," Langer said. "But I did say leading up to that game that it wouldn't just be picked on that game, it'd be a whole range of things. I just came to realise that we're going to have to show Pakistan great respect."

Australia may have regained the services of Steven Smith and David Warner - both now set to play their first home Tests for 21 months - but as with last season when they were absent, there remains significant uncertainty around the batting. Joe Burns and Travis Head are those who have been given the first chance to bring stability as Langer balances the twin ambitions of immediate success and longer-term planning.

Burns' last Test brought him 180 against Sri Lanka in Canberra and Head has only been absent for one game when he made way for Mitchell Marsh at The Oval, so there is plenty of logic around their returns. But it would not take long for questions to be asked if substantial returns aren't forthcoming.

"We're No. 5 in the world in Test cricket at the moment, and there's a reason for that. One of them is that we don't score 300-plus in the first innings enough," Langer said. "Our batters are very aware of that. We understand there's a spotlight on our batting at the moment and the boys have got to embrace that. They understand that and that's part of the responsibility and privilege of being selected in the top six in the Australian Test team. We're not going to shy away from that."

Burns' comeback recreates an opening partnership with Warner that has enjoyed success at Test level - four century stands and an average of 44.31 - with Langer hoping their contrasting styles and personalities can form a long-term alliance.

"He's got a very good first-innings record as well, and I know Davey likes batting with him," Langer said. "And I obviously have some understanding of how important it is for the openers to get on really well, and work well together and understand each other. I've said one of the things we need to do is get our top three cemented and get that as strong as possible because it's a pivotal part of winning games of cricket. So I'm hopeful the odd couple will get out there and, like we've seen in the past, form a really good opening partnership."

Meanwhile, Head remains Australia leading run-scorer since Newlands albeit Smith has done his best to overtake him in just four matches. A maiden Test hundred against Sri Lanka in Canberra capped a successful home summer amid a struggling batting line-up before a combination of a failure to build on starts and team balance cost him his place.

For a little while at the beginning of the season, it appeared Head may struggle to make the case for an immediate return, but a century against a strong New South Wales attack was enough.

"Runs didn't come early, I probably missed out at Junction Oval and missed out here [against Queensland] but at no time did I doubt what I was doing, was making sure I backed what I'd been over the last 18 months and trying to get better," Head said. "Fortunately, I was able to spend some time in the middle in Adelaide and finish not out in Perth.

"[It's about] trying to continue the work I did last summer. I felt like I started the Ashes really well, but wasn't able to post a score. I knew what was working and probably went away from that in Manchester which probably led to me missing out, but it was good learnings to work out the reasons why. I've looked at that over the last month, feeling I'm moving really well again. I continue to get better at the technical aspect, it's still a work in progress."

Though he won't play, barring a late injury (or concussion substitution), Bancroft's selection in the squad was the most contentious call given his first-class average of 17.67 for the season - and that was boosted by his 49 against Pakistan. Usman Khawaja's first-class season has been an equal struggle (average 17) but he averages 52.97 in Australia and has scored six of his eight Test hundreds on home soil.

"He knows what he has to do," Langer said. "In this instance, we probably don't need a 33-year-old like Uzzie [being around the squad] not playing the Test match. That's what it comes down to. I've got great admiration for Uzzie, I think he's a fantastic player, and I'm sure when he finds a bit of touch he'll be pushing really hard to get back into the team."

Will the Australia top six that starts the Test season at the Gabba on Thursday be the same one that finishes it in Sydney in six weeks?

MEXICO CITY -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers knows he's costing his team games because of his turnovers.

However, so far through 11 games, Rivers hasn't found the magic elixir.

"It's a football game," he said. "If you could just pick and choose and never throw them ever, I'd choose to throw zero. So I certainly don't want to throw them, but I know it's hurting us right now. So obviously I need to cut them out."

Rivers finished with four interceptions in a 24-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, including a dagger on the final offensive play for the Chargers where he underthrew Austin Ekeler in the end zone, with the ball falling into the hands of Kansas City safety Daniel Sorensen.

Rivers threw three interceptions last week in a loss to the Oakland Raiders, becoming the first Chargers quarterback since Erik Kramer in 1999 to throw at least three interceptions in consecutive games.

Rivers now has 14 interceptions on the year and 16 turnovers total, the most he has had in a season since 2016.

A priority for Chargers coach Anthony Lynn when he took over in 2017 was curbing turnovers. Rivers did a better job the first two years under Lynn, but has regressed this season.

"Philip just has to execute better, as far as turnovers," Lynn said. "Now, when you look at his turnovers, it's not always on the quarterback. I mean, sometimes the quarterback is getting hit late, or sometimes a receiver may slip down, so you can't put all of those turnovers on Philip.

"But his turnovers are a little higher than I would like. He knows that. And we have to get better in that area, period."

A team that expected to be in the conversation for a potential Super Bowl run at the start of the year, the Chargers fell to 4-7 and out of playoff contention.

All seven of the Chargers losses' this season have been by seven or fewer points. The Chargers are the first team since the 2005 Packers to lose seven games by seven or few points within their first 11 games of the season.

That's tied for the most such losses in a team's first 11 games in the Super Bowl era.

Rivers has lost 61 games by seven or fewer points as a starting quarterback, the most such losses in the Super Bowl era. The next on the list is Vinny Testaverde with 59.

Rivers turns 38 in December and is in the final year of his deal. However, Lynn's not ready to turn his attention to 2020.

"I don't have that luxury to think about Philip and the future and his contract," Lynn said. "My focus is on preparing for the next game and the Denver Broncos. At the end of the season, that will take care of itself. But right now, we're just trying to finish the season on a positive note."

Like Lynn, Rivers isn't ready to give up on the season, either, as the Chargers head into their bye week.

"The only way I know is to fight, and we'll just keep fighting," Rivers said. "You sign up for them all, regardless of what your record is. We've been in this spot before, and you just keep playing. You never know what can happen, but whether that happens or not, you just keep fighting.

"That's the beauty of this game. Believe me, while it hurts like crazy, we know that we're all playing as a team and what our goals are. This game is way more than between the lines. It's the things you learn, the toughness and all of the things you have to work on help you be a better person, man, husband and father. We're in one of those spots. I'm certainly in one of those spots. You just keep fighting."

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday's 99-85 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Smart appeared to land awkwardly on his right foot at around the 9-minute mark as he was guarding Devin Booker along the baseline. He immediately waved for help after going down and limped off the court with assistance from medical personnel.

Smart had 17 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in 30 minutes before exiting.

Smart said he might have tried to return if the game had been close, and there wasn't much swelling after the injury.

"It just irritated the exact same ankle I was coming back from in the same spot,'' Smart said. "But everything's fine. I should be fine to play the rest of the trip.''

Coach Brad Stevens said Smart will be reevaluated on Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino has stressed that foreigner rules in Liga MX must be changed in order to clear the path to first team soccer for those coming through El Tri's successful youth team programs.

Mexico finished runner-up in the Under-17 on Sunday, as Brazil stormed to a late 2-1 victory, but with three U-17 World Cup finals in eights years for El Tri, Martino believes that nine non-homegrown players per 18-man match day squad in Liga MX games is too much.

The former Barcelona boss -- who is from Argentina -- said he will be talking to Liga MX owners in an attempt to get them to see the national team's point of view.

"The football people with whom I've talked -- coaches, footballers, ex-footballers -- are in agreement that the number of foreigners is excessive," said Martino in a news conference. "But then there is the other part, the business. I've always said that the business has to be looked after, but so does the sporting aspect, so we have to look for the middle ground."

Martino contrasted the greater opportunities young Argentines have to play in his homeland's first division compared to Liga MX.

Update from Mexico camp ahead of El Tri vs. Bermuda in Mexico's final game of 2019. #eltrieng pic.twitter.com/0R8FUECju5

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) November 18, 2019

"I'm not an expert in youth national teams, but what happens in Argentina is that the Under-17s are playing in the first team within a year ... I debuted at 17," added Martino. "It's about the players developing in the clubs, but then, in the right moment, those with the necessary quality moving to the first team."

- CONCACAF Nations League: All you need to know

Martino also gave his opinion on LA Galaxy youngster Efrain Alvarez, who had a good U-17 World Cup overall with four goals, but was left out of the starting XI for the semifinal against the Netherlands and came in for criticism in Mexico when his Panenka penalty was saved in the shoot-out, after he'd come on.

"Efrain is no more and no less than a boy of 17, with lots to learn, just like the rest," stated Martino. "It's our responsibility to correct situations that he may have in his personal or sporting life ... I think we focus on Efrain because he is the best known player in the group and because he's a footballer of 17 years playing for the LA Galaxy first team, as well as because of his footballing ability."

Mexico faces Bermuda in Toluca on Tuesday in its final CONCACAF Nations League group stage game, with Martino expected to name a young side, given Mexico is already qualified to next June's semifinals.

HOUSTON -- James Harden's scoring average for the season dipped slightly Monday night, when he scored 36 points in the Houston Rockets' 132-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

That just puts in perspective how productive Harden has been for the Rockets, who have won eight consecutive games, with Harden scoring more than 35 points in each victory during the streak.

"I think that a lot of people like to normalize greatness when you see it over and over again, but it's not normal, because there's nobody else that can do it," said Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, who had his third triple-double of the season with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. "If it was normal, everybody would do it.

"He's put himself in position to be one of the best offensive scorers of all-time because of the way that he's able to score the ball at a high level in a variety of ways."

Harden is averaging 39.2 points per game for the 11-3 Rockets after going 11-of-19 from the floor, 5-of-10 from 3-point range and 9-of-10 from the free throw line on Monday night. He averaged 36.1 points per game last season, the most by anyone in the NBA since Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 in 1986-87.

"I don't care about that. I just want to win games," said Harden, who also had six rebounds and five assists in the win over the Blazers. "Tonight, just shooting my shots. Last game, I took 41 shots, but we had six guys on the injured reserve list. So it's whatever it takes to win at this point. That's what I go out there and do every single night."

Others marvel on how Harden, who has won the last two NBA scoring titles, maintains historic production levels in such efficient fashion. He became the first player in NBA history last season to average at least 35 points per game with a true shooting percentage (61.6) better than 60%.

So far this season, Harden's scoring average and true shooting percentage (61.8) have both improved.

"It's unbelievable. I'm at a loss for words," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "What he does, you can't do that. I've never seen it.

"I know I've said he's the best offensive player I've ever seen. Well, he is. I haven't coached everybody, but he's so good at what he does. You might like it, you might not like it. I don't know how you don't like it. I don't think we've ever seen it like this."

DALLAS -- Luka Doncic scored a career-high 42 points in his sixth triple-double of the young NBA season and the Dallas Mavericks handed the San Antonio Spurs their sixth straight loss, 117-110 on Monday night.

Dallas led wire to wire but had to fend off a late Spurs rally, needing every bit of Doncic's huge performance.

The 20-year-old second-year player leads the NBA in triple-doubles after finishing with 11 rebounds and 12 assists to go with the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds to play that put the Mavericks up 115-110.

Doncic is the second youngest player in NBA history to have a 40-point triple-double, behind only LeBron James.

Dorian Finney-Smith added a career-best 22 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.

San Antonio has lost eight of nine and is off to its worst start since 1996-97, the season before it drafted former star and current assistant coach Tim Duncan. The Spurs' losing streak is their longest since 2011.

DeMar DeRozan had a season-high 36 points for the Spurs, helping to lead a fourth-quarter surge after they trailed 93-79 entering the period.

With Dallas up 110-107, both Bryn Forbes and Patty Mills missed potential game-tying 3s. Doncic corralled his 10th rebound off Mills' miss. On the ensuing possession, Finney-Smith scooped up a loose ball and fired an off-balance 20-footer just as the shot clock expired that fell through to put Dallas up five.

After Rudy Gay's 3 brought the Spurs back within two, Doncic stepped back and hit the 3 that finally finished off San Antonio.

The Spurs scored on 10 of their first 11 possessions in the second half and got within 68-64 midway through the third quarter, but Doncic drove the lane to score and draw a foul. His free throw missed, but Porzingis tracked down the rebound and fed an open Finney-Smith for a dunk.

Dallas used that sequence to start a 17-6 run, with Doncic, Finney-Smith and Porzingis scoring all the points.

The Mavericks blitzed the Spurs early, jumping out to a 32-14 lead behind 17 first-quarter points from Doncic.

DeRozan nearly answered that with 15 points in the second, bringing the Spurs to 59-49 at the break.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Coach Gregg Popovich talked about Duncan, in his first season as an assistant coach: "His mere presence is valuable. When a young kid has Tim Duncan put his arm around them and guide them in a certain way, give them a piece of advice, that's way more important than what I can do."

Mavericks: This was their first matchup with the Spurs since the retirement of Dirk Nowitzki. He played against the Spurs 78 times in the regular season, more than any other team. Nowitzki also faced San Antonio 36 more times in the playoffs over six series between 2001 and 2014.

UP NEXT

Spurs: At the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Mavericks: Host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON -- Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway was ejected from Washington's 5-2 win on Monday over for spitting on a player from the Anaheim Ducks.

Hathaway spit on defenseman Erik Gudbranson during a brawl late in the second period, with referee Peter MacDougall standing a few feet away. Officials reviewed video before confirming the five-minute match penalty that triggers a game misconduct.

Here's a look at the festivities. pic.twitter.com/OLMbYQ5aeG

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 19, 2019

By the way, here's the reason for the match penalty for Garnet Hathaway. pic.twitter.com/e3W97zFSKV

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 19, 2019

Tempers flared in the first 40 minutes between Washington and Anaheim and boiled over with 33.4 seconds remaining in the second period. Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic bulldozed the Ducks' Derek Grant behind the net, sparking several fights between the teams' fourth lines.

Hathaway was involved with Grant, Gudbranson and Nick Ritchie during the scrum before he was thrown out.

Gudbranson, fellow Ducks defenseman Brendan Guhle, Ritchie and Leipsic were also penalized for their roles in the ruckus that took referees significant time to sort out. A total of 55 penalty minutes were handed out as Hathaway was sent off, Gudbranson was given a 10-minute misconduct and Anaheim came up empty on its ensuing power play in the third before Jakub Vrana added a fourth goal for Washington.

Even after the game misconduct that's automatic for spitting, Hathaway could face more discipline from the NHL office in the form of a fine or suspension.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The 2020 MLS All-Star Game will be held at Los Angeles' Banc of California Stadium, with the MLS All-Stars taking on their counterparts from Mexico's Liga MX, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday.

The match is set to take place on July 29 at the home of LAFC, which opened in 2018. An announcement is scheduled to take place on Wednesday with MLS commissioner Don Garber, Liga MX executive president Enrique Bonilla, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, former U.S. international Landon Donovan and former Mexico international Pavel Pardo all in attendance.

For the past 15 seasons, MLS has lined up club opposition to play in the match, including the likes of Manchester United (twice), Chelsea (twice) Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus. In 2019 Atletico Madrid prevailed 3-0.

But in some ways the novelty has worn off, with the MLS All-Stars having not won in the event since a 2-1 win over Tottenham in 2015. Now the fact that MLS will be facing a Liga MX means the All-Stars will be competing on a more level playing field.

The first time that the MLS All-Star Game involved a club opponent came in 2003 when the All-Stars squared off against Chivas de Guadalajara. That match was held in Carson, Calif. at what is now known as Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of the LA Galaxy.

The match is also the latest sign of increasing cooperation between the two leagues. Recent years have seen the introduction of the Campeones Cup, a match between Mexico's Campeon de Campeones -- which involves the most recent winners of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments -- and the winners of MLS Cup. UNAL Tigres defeated Toronto FC 3-1 in 2018, while Atlanta United prevailed over Club America 3-2 last summer.

The 2019 season also witnessed the inaugural Leagues Cup, which this year involved four teams from each league, and will be expanded in 2020 to involve a total of 16 teams. Cruz Azul won the first edition of that event.