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1997 Major League Soccer season

2nd season of Major League Soccer

2nd season of Major League Soccer

FieldValue
season1997
num_teams10
mlscupD.C. United (2nd title)
shieldD.C. United (1st shield)
continentalcup1[CONCACAF Champions' Cup](1998-concacaf-champions-cup)
continentalcup1 qualifiersD.C. United
Colorado Rapids
league topscorerJaime Moreno
(16 goals)
matches160
total goals522
longest winsKansas City Wizards
Games: 7
(07/19 – 08/31)
longest lossesNew England Revolution
Games: 9
(07/20 – 09/12)
highest attendance57,407
NE 2–1 TB
(April 20, 1997)
lowest attendance4,120
COL 1–0 DAL
(April 23, 1997)
attendance2,336,889
average attendance14,606
prevseason[1996](1996-major-league-soccer-season)
nextseason[1998](1998-major-league-soccer-season)

Colorado Rapids (16 goals) Games: 7 (07/19 – 08/31) Games: 9 (07/20 – 09/12) NE 2–1 TB (April 20, 1997) COL 1–0 DAL (April 23, 1997)

The 1997 Major League Soccer season was the second season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 85th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 19th with a national first-division league.

Following the 1996 season, the Wiz changed names, becoming the Wizards, following legal action from electronics retailer The Wiz.

The regular season began on March 29, and concluded on September 28. The 1997 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 4, and concluded with MLS Cup 1997 on October 26. D.C. United won their first Supporters' Shield and defended their MLS Cup championship becoming the first team to win back-to-back cups.

Overview

Season format

The season began on March 22 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 26. The 10 teams were split evenly into two conferences. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their conference four times, for a total of 16 games. The rest of the schedule consisted of three games against each team from the opposite conference, with four games against one designated team.

The top four teams from each conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The conference semifinals and finals were played as a best-of-three series, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken by penalty shootout if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.

The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield. The winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Stadiums and locations

Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums

TeamStadiumCapacity
Colorado RapidsMile High Stadium76,273
Columbus CrewOhio Stadium102,329
D.C. UnitedRFK Stadium46,000
Dallas BurnCotton Bowl92,100
Kansas City WizardsArrowhead Stadium81,425
Los Angeles GalaxyRose Bowl92,542
New England RevolutionFoxboro Stadium60,292
NY/NJ MetroStarsGiants Stadium80,200
San Jose ClashSpartan Stadium30,456
Tampa Bay MutinyHoulihan's Stadium74,301

Personnel and sponsorships

TeamHead coachCaptainShirt sponsor
Colorado RapidsUSA Glenn Myernick
Columbus CrewUSA Tom FitzgeraldARG Marcelo CarreraSnickers
D.C. UnitedUSA Bruce ArenaMasterCard
Dallas BurnUSA Dave Dir
Kansas City WizardsENG Ron Newman—
Los Angeles GalaxyECU Octavio Zambrano—
New England RevolutionNED Thomas Rongen—
NY/NJ MetroStarsBRA Carlos Alberto ParreiraUSA Tony MeolaFujifilm
San Jose ClashIRL Brian QuinnUSA John DoyleHonda
Tampa Bay MutinyPOL John Kowalski

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
Los Angeles GalaxyGER Lothar OsianderFiredurl=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/148921177/title=Galaxy Dumps Osianderfirst=Grahame L.last=Joneswork=Los Angeles Timesdate=June 10, 1997access-date=June 7, 2024page=37via=Newspapers.com}}ECU Octavio ZambranoJune 10, 1997
San Jose ClashENG Laurie CallowayFiredJune 25, 1997IRL Brian QuinnJune 25, 1997

Standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Overall standings

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

  • The ties were a best-of-three series. | RD1-group1=Eastern Conference | RD1-group2=Western Conference | score-width=35px | team-width=170px | RD1-seed1=1 | RD1-team1=D.C. United | RD1-score1-1=4 | RD1-score1-2=1 (4) | RD1-score1-3=x | RD1-seed2=4 | RD1-team2=New England Revolution | RD1-score2-1=1 | RD1-score2-2=1 (3) | RD1-score2-3=x | RD1-seed3=2 | RD1-team3=Tampa Bay Mutiny | RD1-score3-1=1 | RD1-score3-2=0 | RD1-score3-3=x | RD1-seed4=3 | RD1-team4=Columbus Crew | RD1-score4-1=2 | RD1-score4-2=2 | RD1-score4-3=x | RD1-seed5=1 | RD1-team5=Kansas City Wizards | RD1-score5-1=0 | RD1-score5-2=2 | RD1-score5-3=x | RD1-seed6=4 | RD1-team6=Colorado Rapids | RD1-score6-1=3 | RD1-score6-2=3 | RD1-score6-3=x | RD1-seed7=2 | RD1-team7=LA Galaxy | RD1-score7-1=0 (0) | RD1-score7-2=0 | RD1-score7-3=x | RD1-seed8=3 | RD1-team8=Dallas Burn | RD1-score8-1=0 (2) | RD1-score8-2=3 | RD1-score8-3=x | RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1=D.C. United | RD2-score1-1=3 | RD2-score1-2=1 | RD2-score1-3=x | RD2-seed2=3 | RD2-team2=Columbus Crew | RD2-score2-1=2 | RD2-score2-2=0 | RD2-score2-3=x | RD2-seed3=4 | RD2-team3=Colorado Rapids | RD2-score3-1=1 | RD2-score3-2=2 | RD2-score3-3=x | RD2-seed4=3 | RD2-team4=Dallas Burn | RD2-score4-1=0 | RD2-score4-2=1 | RD2-score4-3=x | RD3-seed1=1 | RD3-team1=D.C. United | RD3-score1-1=2 | RD3-seed2=4 | RD3-team2=Colorado Rapids | RD3-score2-1=1

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

  • Wegerle

  • Moreno

  • Burns

  • Moore

  • Williams

  • Moore

  • Burns

  • Chronopoulos

  • Galderisi

  • Naveda

  • Keegan

  • McKinley

  • Etcheverry

  • Moreno

  • Kelderman

  • Agoos

  • Iroha

  • Harkes

  • Llamosa

  • D.C. United advance to the Conference Finals.

  • Gilmar

  • Farrell

  • Wood

  • McBride

  • Warzycha

  • Columbus Crew advance to the Conference Finals.

Western Conference

  • Karapetyan
  • Armas
  • Machón
  • Vanney
  • Sutter
  • Soehn
  • Santel
  • Álvarez

Peinado

  • Dallas Burn advance to the Conference Finals.

  • C. Henderson

  • Bravo

  • Paule

  • Bravo

  • Harris

  • Takawira

  • Preki

  • Colorado Rapids advance to the Conference Finals.

Conference finals

Western Conference

  • S. Henderson

  • Patiño

  • C. Henderson

  • Álvarez

  • Colorado Rapids advance to MLS Cup.

Eastern Conference

  • Sanneh

  • Díaz Arce

  • Farrell

  • Dooley

  • Díaz Arce

  • D.C. United advance to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup 1997

  • Moreno
  • Sanneh
  • Paz

Player statistics

Goals

RankPlayerClubGoals
1BOL Jaime MorenoD.C. United16
2SLV Raúl Díaz ArceD.C. United15
3VEN Giovanni SavareseNY/NJ MetroStars14
4USA PrekiKansas City Wizards12
SLV Ronald CerritosSan Jose Clash
USA Dante WashingtonDallas Burn
7MEX Damián ÁlvarezDallas Burn11
BRA WéltonLos Angeles Galaxy
9USA Jeff BaicherSan Jose Clash10
USA Mark ChungKansas City Wizards
USA Roy LassiterTampa Bay Mutiny
USA Lawrence LozzanoSan Jose Clash

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks

PlayerClubAgainstResultDate
SLV Raúl Díaz Arce4D.C. UnitedColorado Rapids5–2
ARG Alberto NavedaNew England RevolutionNY/NJ MetroStars3–1
USA Dante WashingtonDallas BurnSan Jose Clash3–1
ECU Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles GalaxyTampa Bay Mutiny6–1
SLV Jose VasquezLos Angeles GalaxySan Jose Clash3–2

Assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1COL Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny15
2USA PrekiKansas City Wizards12
USA Eddie LewisSan Jose Clash
4USA Chris HendersonColorado Rapids9
SLV Mauricio CienfuegosLos Angeles Galaxy
6USA Lawrence LozzanoSan Jose Clash8
USA Steve RalstonTampa Bay Mutiny
USA Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash
URU Adrián PazColorado Rapids
USA Miles JosephNY/NJ MetroStars

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1USA Brad FriedelColumbus Crew7
2ITA Walter ZengaNew England Revolution6
3USA Mike AmmannKansas City Wizards5
USA Marcus HahnemannColorado Rapids
USA Tony MeolaNY/NJ MetroStars
6MEX Jorge CamposLos Angeles Galaxy4
7USA Mark DoddDallas Burn3
USA Mark DoughertyTampa Bay Mutiny
USA Kevin HartmanLos Angeles Galaxy
USA Mark SimpsonD.C. United

Awards

Individual awards

AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable PlayerUSA PrekiKansas City Wizards
Defender of the YearUSA Eddie PopeD.C. United
Goalkeeper of the YearUSA Brad FriedelColumbus Crew
Coach of the YearUSA Bruce ArenaD.C. United
Rookie of the YearUSA Mike DuhaneyTampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring ChampionUSA PrekiKansas City Wizards
Goal of the YearBOL Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
Fair Play AwardUSA Mark ChungKansas City Wizards

Best XI

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
USA Brad Friedel, ColumbusUSA Jeff Agoos, D.C. United
USA Thomas Dooley, Columbus
SCO Richard Gough, Kansas City
USA Eddie Pope, D.C. UnitedUSA Mark Chung, Kansas City
BOL Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
USA Preki, Kansas City
COL Carlos Valderrama, Tampa BaySLV Ronald Cerritos, San Jose
BOL Jaime Moreno, D.C. United

Player of the Month

MonthPlayerClub
AprilBOL Jaime MorenoD.C. United
MayCHE Alain SutterDallas Burn
JuneUSA John HarkesD.C. United
JulyBRA WéltonLos Angeles Galaxy
AugustUSA Brad FriedelColumbus Crew
SeptemberITA Walter ZengaNew England Revolution

Weekly awards

Player of the WeekWeekPlayerClub
Week 1USA Dave SalzwedelSan Jose Clash
Week 2ITA Giuseppe GalderisiTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 3COL Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 4ESA Raúl Díaz ArceD.C. United
Week 5USA Dante WashingtonDallas Burn
Week 6ITA Roberto DonadoniNY/NJ MetroStars
Week 7ZAF Doctor KhumaloColumbus Crew
Week 8ARG Damian AlvarezDallas Burn
Week 9MOZ Chiquinho CondeNew England Revolution
Week 10USA Preki RadosavljevićKansas City Wizards
Week 11USA Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash
Week 12USA Preki RadosavljevićKansas City Wizards
Week 13BRA GilmarTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 14USA Paul BravoColorado Rapids
Week 15USA Tab RamosNY/NJ MetroStars
Week 16USA Dante WashingtonDallas Burn
Week 17COL Antony de ÁvilaNY/NJ MetroStars
Week 18BRA GilmarTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 19JAM Wolde HarrisColorado Rapids
Week 20USA Thomas DooleyColumbus Crew
Week 21VEN Giovanni SavareseNY/NJ MetroStars
Week 22BOL Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
Week 23ECU Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 24USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 25USA Martín VásquezTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 26USA Marcelo BalboaColorado Rapids

Attendance

Main article: Major League Soccer attendance

RankTeamGPCumulativeHighLowMeanTotal1602,336,88957,4074,120
1New England Revolution1657,40710,242
2Los Angeles Galaxy1653,1477,232
3NY/NJ MetroStars1626,32210,510
4D.C. United1628,7499,675
5Columbus Crew1622,25910,662
6San Jose Clash1623,5017,955
7Colorado Rapids1636,2524,120
8Tampa Bay Mutiny1618,0706,984
9Dallas Burn1616,0894,451
10Kansas City Wizards1612,4856,272

References

References

  1. Jones, Grahame L.. (June 10, 1997). "Galaxy Dumps Osiander". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  2. Caldwell, Kevin. (June 11, 1997). "Osiander out, Caligiuri in as Galaxy making changes". [[News-Pilot]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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