NORTH America's Major League Soccer (MLS) may be considered to be something of a joke by many Premier League supporters.

However, that joke was wearing rather thin by the end of West Ham United's 3-2 defeat to a Cuauthemoc Blanco-inspired MLS All-Stars in Toronto, Canada, last night.

The Mexican playmaker is in the twilight of an enigmatic career, but he put Leytonstone-born David Beckham in the shade as the All-Stars extended their unbeaten record against British clubs to four matches.

The Chicago Fire midfielder's sublime back-heel set Carlos Gomez free to fire the home side level just 70 seconds after Dean Ashton had opened the scoring on 26 minutes.

And the diminutive star added the finishing touch to a typically entertaining 45 minute cameo by curling the MLS into a deserved 2-1 lead a minute before half-time.

Earlier Ashton, as he had done against the Columbus Crew in the Hammers' first tour match, converted with expert precision after latching on to Carlton Cole's flick-on.

Gomez replied almost immediately in similar fashion, leaving Hayden Mullins trailing in his wake before firing low past Robert Green.

And Green had even less chance with Blanco's winner – a supremely accurate pass into his top right-hand corner from 18 yards.

And the All-Stars – who are 18 matches into their regular season – looked well on their way to victory as the second half progressed until Ashton struck for a second time in fortuitous circumstances with 23 minutes remaining.

The forward's shot appeared to be flying well wide before striking MLS skipper Jimmy Conrad on the head and wrong-footing home goalkeeper Matt Reis.

But West Ham's joy was short-lived for the second time in the match as Irons captain Lucas Neill – woefully out of position for Blanco's goal – felled Dwayne De Rosario inside the penalty area.

The Canadian international picked himself up to power home the resulting penalty kick via the underside of the crossbar.

A minute later it looked like 4-2 as former Aston Villa frontman Juan Pablo Angel powered his shot past Green, only to be controversially denied by the assistant referee's flag.

With Alan Curbishley's side visibly tiring, the All-Stars continued to pour forward and should have increased their advantage.

Both Beckham and Angel – desperate to show Premier League fans what they have been missing since leaving Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively – went close.

Then, with seconds remaining, Luis Boa Morte was unable to convert Scott Parker's pass from eight yards as West Ham's challenge faded and died at BMO Field.

*CANVEY'S Tony Stokes, who has signed a new one-year contract with West Ham, appeared as an injury-time substitute for Carlton Cole.

MLS ALL-STARS: Reis (Onstad 76), Bornstein (Ralston 88), Hejduk (Buddle 88), Conrad, Mastroeni, Beckham, Toja (De Rosario 59), Joseph, Gomez (Brennan 59), Blanco (Donovan 46), Cooper (Angel 46).

WEST HAM UNITED: Green, Neill, Widdowson, Davenport, Ferdinand, Faubert (Stanislas 76), Etherington (Boa Morte 46), Mullins (Collison 65), Parker, Cole (Stokes 90), Ashton (Reid 80).