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See as L.A. hosts the MLS-Liga MX All-Star game

MLS teammates swarm Ricardo Pepe after he scored the clinching penalty kick to beat Liga MX.
MLS teammates swarm Ricardo Pepe after he scored the clinching penalty kick to beat Liga MX in the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadiums.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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If the courtship between North America’s top two soccer leagues leads to any serious proposals in the years to come, this week might be remembered as the one in which the romance became serious.

Major League Soccer, with 27 teams in the U.S. and Canada, and Liga MX, with 18 teams in Mexico, have competed in numerous competitions over the years — most of which ended with Mexico winning. But this week’s interleague activities at Banc of California Stadium, which kicked off with Tuesday’s skills challenge and concluded Wednesday with the first MLS-Liga MX All-Star game, is both the largest and most intimate collaboration between the two. The MLS All-Stars won on penalty kicks after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Helicopters fly over the stadium during pregame festivities as the MLS All-Star game
Helicopters fly over the stadium during pregame festivities as the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A fiery pregame show featured a phalanx of drummers and flames at the MLS All-Star game
A fiery pregame show featured a phalanx of drummers and flames at the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Jonathan Rodriguez of Liga MX celebrates after scoring a first-half goal against the MLS All-Stars
Jonathan Rodriguez of Liga MX celebrates after scoring a first-half goal against the MLS All-Stars at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
MLS goalie Andre Blake knocks the ball from Liga MX forward Santiago Giminez
MLS goalie Andre Blake knocks the ball from Liga MX forward Santiago Giminez during first-half action at the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
MLS forward Diego Rossi flips the ball over Liga MX goalie Guillermo Ochoa toward the goal
MLS forward Diego Rossi flips the ball over Liga MX goalie Guillermo Ochoa toward the goal, but another defender kicks the attempt away in the first half of the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Liga MX midfielder Pedro Aquino, right, and MLS forward Raul Ruidiaz compete for the ball
Liga MX midfielder Pedro Aquino, right, and MLS forward Raul Ruidiaz compete for the ball in the first half of the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Fans do the wave at the MLS All-Star game
Fans do the wave at the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Jesus Murillo, behind Miles Robinson, 12, scores on a header past Liga MX goalie Alfredo Talavera
Jesus Murillo, behind Miles Robinson (12), scores on a header past Liga MX goalie Alfredo Talavera, left, during second-half action at the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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MLS goalie Matt Turner celebrates after turning away a penalty kick to help defeat Liga MX
MLS goalie Matt Turner celebrates after turning away a penalty kick to help defeat Liga MX in the MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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