Wikipedia

1996 Major League Soccer season

(Redirected from 1996 MLS Cup Playoffs)

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. It was the 84th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 18th with a national first-division league.

1996 Major League Soccer season
Season1996
MLS CupD.C. United (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldTampa Bay Mutiny (1st shield)
CONCACAF Champions' CupD.C. United
Los Angeles Galaxy
Matches played160
Goals scored539 (3.37 per match)
Top goalscorerRoy Lassiter
(27 goals)
Longest winning runLos Angeles Galaxy
Games: 12
(04/13 – 06/30)
Longest losing runColumbus Crew
Games: 6
(05/15 – 06/22)
Highest attendance92,216
LA 2–2 TB
(June 16, 1996)
Lowest attendance6,013
COL 4–2 KC
(August 7, 1996)
Total attendance2,785,001
Average attendance17,406
1997 →
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Locations of teams for the 1996 Major League Soccer season
Western Conference   Eastern Conference

Overview

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Preparation for first season

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Major League Soccer had originally intended to begin competitive action in 1995. Various difficulties forced the league to postpone its first season until 1996. In preparation for its first season, the league began signing what it called marquee players, [1] beginning with Tab Ramos on January 3, 1995.[2] Beginning in October 1995, the league apportioned the marquee players in the MLS Inaugural Allocations.[3] Each team received two national team and two foreign players in the allocation.[4] The league then invited about 250 players to a tryout the second week of January 1996 on the campus of UC Irvine.[5] On February 6 and 7, 1996, the league held its 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft in which the ten teams selected 160 players over sixteen rounds. The Columbus Crew selected Brian McBride with the first pick of the draft. On March 4, 1996, the league then held the 1996 MLS College Draft followed by the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft later that day. Despite the numerous drafts, the teams were not obligated to sign only players from the drafts.[6]

Preseason

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The preseason began the first week of March. The teams reduced their rosters to twenty-two players by March 25 and had to make a final roster reduction to eighteen by April 15.[7] The teams had a $1,200,000 salary cap with no player allowed to receive more than $192,500. In order to promote American players, teams were limited to five foreigners on the roster.[8]

Season

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Each of the 10 MLS teams played 32 games. A regulation win was worth three points, a shootout win one point, and zero points for a loss in any manner. Fear of alienating fans with tied games had led the league to adopting the shootout when games ended even. The league also adopted a countdown clock instead of running clock, unlike IFAB's standards. The league also divided the teams equally into two conferences – Eastern and Western.

The league began its first season on Saturday, April 6, 1996, when the San Jose Clash hosted D.C. United at Spartan Stadium. ESPN carried the game live which the Clash won on a goal by Eric Wynalda. That goal was selected as the Goal of the Year. The regular season ended on September 22. The playoffs began two days later.

Stadiums and locations

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Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Colorado Rapids Mile High Stadium 76,273
Columbus Crew Ohio Stadium 102,329
D.C. United RFK Stadium 46,000
Dallas Burn Cotton Bowl 92,100
Kansas City Wiz Arrowhead Stadium 81,425
Los Angeles Galaxy Rose Bowl 92,542
New England Revolution Foxboro Stadium 60,292
NY/NJ MetroStars Giants Stadium 80,200
San Jose Clash Spartan Stadium 30,456
Tampa Bay Mutiny Houlihan's Stadium 74,301

Personnel and sponsorships

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Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Colorado Rapids   Bob Houghton Budweiser
Columbus Crew   Timo Liekoski   Doctor Khumalo Snickers
D.C. United   Bruce Arena MasterCard
Dallas Burn   Dave Dir AT&T
Kansas City Wiz   Ron Newman AT&T
Los Angeles Galaxy   Lothar Osiander Budweiser
New England Revolution   Frank Stapleton BIC
NY/NJ MetroStars   Eddie Firmani   Peter Vermes Fujifilm
San Jose Clash   Laurie Calloway   John Doyle Honda
Tampa Bay Mutiny   Thomas Rongen Bandai

Coaching changes

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Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
NY/NJ MetroStars   Eddie Firmani Fired May 24, 1996   Carlos Queiroz May 30, 1996
Columbus Crew   Timo Liekoski Resigned August 2, 1996   Tom Fitzgerald August 2, 1996
Colorado Rapids   Bob Houghton Fired September 10, 1996   Roy Wegerle September 13, 1996

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 19 1 12 66 51 +15 58 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 D.C. United 32 15 1 16 62 56 +6 46
3 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 3 17 45 47 −2 39
4 Columbus Crew 32 11 4 17 59 60 −1 37
5 New England Revolution 32 9 6 17 43 56 −13 33
Source: MLS

Western Conference

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Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 4 13 59 49 +10 49 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Dallas Burn 32 12 5 15 50 48 +2 41
3 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 5 15 61 63 −2 41
4 San Jose Clash 32 12 3 17 50 50 0 39
5 Colorado Rapids 32 9 2 21 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny (S) 32 19 1 12 66 51 +15 58
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 4 13 59 49 +10 49 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
3 D.C. United (C) 32 15 1 16 62 56 +6 46
4 Dallas Burn 32 12 5 15 50 48 +2 41
5 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 5 15 61 63 −2 41
6 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 3 17 45 47 −2 39
7 San Jose Clash 32 12 3 17 50 50 0 39
8 Columbus Crew 32 11 4 17 59 60 −1 37
9 New England Revolution 32 9 6 17 43 56 −13 33
10 Colorado Rapids 32 9 2 21 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Bracket

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Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
             
E1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 2 1 4
E4 Columbus Crew 0 2 1
E1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 1 x
Eastern Conference
E2 D.C. United 4 2 x
E2 D.C. United 2 (5) 1 2
E3 NY/NJ MetroStars *(pen.) 2 (6)* 0 1
E2 D.C. United (aet) 3
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy 2
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy 0 2 2
W4 San Jose Clash 1 0 0
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy *(pen.) 2 1 (3)* x
Western Conference
W3 Kansas City Wiz 1 1 (1) x
W2 Dallas Burn 2 2 2 (2)
W3 Kansas City Wiz *(pen.) 3 1 2 (3)*
  • Best of Three series winners will advance.

Conference semifinals

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Eastern Conference

Game 1
NY/NJ MetroStars2–2D.C. United
 Report
Penalties
 6–5
Attendance: 14,416
Game 2
D.C. United1–0NY/NJ MetroStars
 Report
Attendance: 21,442
Game 3
D.C. United2–1NY/NJ MetroStars
 Report
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: Brian Hall
  • D.C. United wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
Columbus Crew0–2Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Attendance: 20,807
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2Columbus Crew
 Report
Attendance: 13,009
Referee: Rich Grady
Game 3
Tampa Bay Mutiny4–1Columbus Crew
 Report
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Tim Weyland
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Western Conference

Game 1
Kansas City Wiz3–2Dallas Burn
 Report
Attendance: 4,466
Referee: Tim Weyland
Game 2
Dallas Burn2–1Kansas City Wiz
 Report Preki   30'
Attendance: 10,125
Game 3
Dallas Burn2–2Kansas City Wiz
 Report
Penalties
 2–3
Attendance: 9,802
Referee: Rich Grady
  • Kansas City Wiz wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
San Jose Clash1–0Los Angeles Galaxy
 Report
Attendance: 17,209
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
 Report
Attendance: 27,833
Referee: Joshua Patlak
Game 3
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
 Report
Attendance: 30,231
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Conference finals

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Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United4–1Tampa Bay Mutiny
 Report
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2D.C. United
 Report
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady
  • D.C. United wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

Western Conference

Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy2–1Kansas City Wiz
 Report Preki   52'
Attendance: 25,212
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Kansas City Wiz1–1Los Angeles Galaxy
 Report
Penalties
 1–3
Attendance: 11,041
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

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Main article: MLS Cup 1996
Los Angeles Galaxy2–3 (a.e.t.)D.C. United
 Report
Attendance: 34,643

Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny 27
2   Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United 23
3   Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy 21
4   Preki Kansas City Wiz 18
5   Brian McBride Columbus Crew 17
6   Steve Rammel D.C. United 14
7   Paul Bravo San Jose Clash 13
  Jason Kreis Dallas Burn
  Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars
  Vitalis Takawira Kansas City Wiz

Hat-tricks

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Main article: List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks
Player Club Against Result Date
  Steve Rammel D.C. United Columbus Crew 5–2 May 15
  Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars Colorado Rapids 3–0 May 16
  Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy NY/NJ MetroStars 4–0 June 9
  Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy Colorado Rapids 3–1 June 26
  Raúl Díaz Arce4 D.C. United Dallas Burn 6–1 July 7
  Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–4 July 27
  Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny Colorado Rapids 3–1 August 3
  Brian Maisonneuve Columbus Crew Kansas City Wiz 5–1 September 7

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   Marco Etcheverry D.C. United 16
2   Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash 11
  Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
4   Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy 10
5   Preki Kansas City Wiz 9
  Mark Chung Kansas City Wiz
  Tab Ramos NY/NJ Metrostars
8   Adrián Paz Columbus Crew 8
  Roberto Donadoni NY/NJ MetroStars
  John Harkes D.C. United

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Tony Meola NY/NJ Metrostars 9
2   Mark Dodd Dallas Burn 6
3   Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy 4
  Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
  Aidan Heaney New England Revolution
  Tom Liner San Jose Clash
  Dave Salzwedel San Jose Clash
8   Mark Dougherty Tampa Bay Mutiny 3
  Garth Lagerway Kansas City Wiz
  Mark Simpson D.C. United

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the Year   John Doyle San Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the Year   Mark Dodd Dallas Burn
Coach of the Year   Thomas Rongen Tampa Bay Mutiny
Rookie of the Year   Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion   Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the Year   Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Mark Dodd, Dallas   Leonel Álvarez, Dallas
  John Doyle, San Jose
  Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy 		  Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy
  Roberto Donadoni, MetroStars
  Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
  Preki, Kansas City
  Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay 		  Eduardo Hurtado, LA Galaxy
  Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay

Player of the Month

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Month Player Club Stats
April   Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy 2G
May   Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny 2G, 4A
June   Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy 7G, 1A
July   Jason Kreis Dallas Burn 5G
August   Marco Etcheverry D.C. United 1G, 8A
September   Brad Friedel Columbus Crew 2GA

Weekly awards

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Attendance

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Main article: Major League Soccer attendance
Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 16 462,650 92,216 8,561 28,916
2 NY/NJ Metrostars 16 382,360 53,250 14,007 23,898
3 New England Revolution 16 304,392 38,633 11,009 19,025
4 Columbus Crew 16 303,202 31,550 12,832 18,950
5 San Jose Clash 16 275,712 31,728 10,894 17,232
6 Dallas Burn 16 256,173 35,250 7,338 16,011
7 D.C. United 16 244,199 35,032 7,360 15,262
8 Kansas City Wiz 16 206,044 21,141 8,062 12,878
9 Tampa Bay Mutiny 16 186,856 26,473 6,281 11,679
10 Colorado Rapids 16 163,413 21,711 6,013 10,213
Total 160 2,785,001 92,216 6,013 17,406

References

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  1. ^ 1996 marquee players - 90soccer.com- Ken Salmon
  2. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: SOCCER; Ramos Signs With Major League Soccer (Published 1995)". The New York Times. January 5, 1995. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Yannis, Alex (October 17, 1995). "SOCCER; Major League Soccer Gets Set for Unveilings (Published 1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  4. ^ Yannis, Alex (October 18, 1995). "SOCCER;Giants Stadium Will Go Natural Again (Published 1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Pro Soccer Combine Begins Today at UC Irvine
  6. ^ 1996 draft - latimes.com
  7. ^ RAPIDS RELEASE THREE PLAYERS
  8. ^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1995". Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
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