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1998 Major League Soccer season

3rd season of Major League Soccer

3rd season of Major League Soccer

FieldValue
season1998
num_teams12
mlscupChicago Fire (1st title)
shieldLos Angeles Galaxy (1st shield)
continentalcup1[CONCACAF Champions' Cup](1999-concacaf-champions-cup)
continentalcup1 qualifiersChicago Fire
D.C. United
Los Angeles Galaxy
league topscorerStern John
(26 goals)
matches192
total goals701
longest winsChicago Fire
Games: 11
(05/16 – 07/09)
longest lossesNew England Revolution
Games: 9
(05/13 – 07/04)
highest attendance56,404
MET 4–2 MIA
(May 23, 1998)
lowest attendance4,130
KC 1–0 CHI
(April 8, 1998)
attendance2,747,897
average attendance14,312
prevseason[1997](1997-major-league-soccer-season)
nextseason[1999](1999-major-league-soccer-season)

D.C. United Los Angeles Galaxy (26 goals) Games: 11 (05/16 – 07/09) Games: 9 (05/13 – 07/04) MET 4–2 MIA (May 23, 1998) KC 1–0 CHI (April 8, 1998)

The 1998 Major League Soccer season was the third season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 86th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 20th with a national first-division league.

The Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion played their inaugural seasons as the league's first two expansion teams.

The NY/NJ MetroStars dropped the New York/New Jersey from their name and rebranded as just MetroStars, with no city, state or regional name attached to it.

The regular season began on March 15, and concluded on September 27. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 30, and concluded with MLS Cup on October 25. Chicago became the first expansion team to win MLS Cup and the first to win it in its inaugural season.

Overview

Season format

The season began on March 15 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 25. The 12 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 20 games. The remaining schedule consisted of two games against each team from the opposite conference.

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 and qualified automatically for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, also qualified for the Champions' Cup.

Stadiums and locations

Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums

TeamStadiumCapacity
Chicago FireSoldier Field66,944
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
MetroStarsGiants Stadium80,200
Miami FusionLockhart Stadium20,450
New England RevolutionFoxboro Stadium60,292
San Jose ClashSpartan Stadium30,456
Tampa Bay MutinyHoulihan's Stadium74,301

Personnel and sponsorships

TeamHead coachCaptainShirt sponsor
Chicago FireUSA Bob Bradley—
Colorado RapidsUSA Glenn Myernick
Columbus CrewUSA Tom FitzgeraldSnickers
D.C. UnitedUSA Bruce ArenaMasterCard
Dallas BurnUSA Dave Dir
Kansas City WizardsENG Ron Newman—
Los Angeles GalaxyECU Octavio Zambrano—
MetroStarsFRY Bora MilutinovićUSA Tony MeolaFujifilm
Miami FusionBRA Ivo Wortmann—
New England RevolutionITA Walter Zenga—
San Jose ClashIRL Brian QuinnUSA John DoyleHonda
Tampa Bay MutinyUSA Tim Hankinson

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
Tampa Bay MutinyPOL John KowalskiResignedJune 6, 1998USA Tim HankinsonJune 8, 1998
Miami FusionARG Carlos CordobaFiredJuly 24, 1998BRA Ivo WortmannJuly 25, 1998
New England RevolutionNED Thomas RongenFiredAugust 24, 1998ITA Walter ZengaAugust 24, 1998
MetroStarsSPA Alfonso MondeloFiredSeptember 21, 1998FRY Bora MilutinovićSeptember 21, 1998

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=150px | RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1=D.C. United | RD1-score1-1=2 | RD1-score1-2=0 (3) | RD1-score1-3=x | RD1-seed2=E4 | RD1-team2=Miami | RD1-score2-1=1 | RD1-score2-2=0 (2) | RD1-score2-3=x | RD1-seed3=E2 | RD1-team3=Columbus | RD1-score3-1=5 | RD1-score3-2=1 (3) | RD1-score3-3=x | RD1-seed4=E3 | RD1-team4=MetroStars | RD1-score4-1=3 | RD1-score4-2=1 (2) | RD1-score4-3=x | RD1-seed5=W1 | RD1-team5=Los Angeles | RD1-score5-1=6 | RD1-score5-2=3 | RD1-score5-3=x | RD1-seed6=W4 | RD1-team6=Dallas | RD1-score6-1=1 | RD1-score6-2=2 | RD1-score6-3=x | RD1-seed7=W2 | RD1-team7=Chicago | RD1-score7-1=1 (3) | RD1-score7-2=1 | RD1-score7-3=x | RD1-seed8=W3 | RD1-team8=Colorado | RD1-score8-1=1 (2) | RD1-score8-2=0 | RD1-score8-3=x | RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1=D.C. United | RD2-score1-1=2 | RD2-score1-2=2 | RD2-score1-3=3 | RD2-seed2=E2 | RD2-team2=Columbus | RD2-score2-1=0 | RD2-score2-2=4 | RD2-score2-3=0 | RD2-seed3=W1 | RD2-team3=Los Angeles | RD2-score3-1=0 | RD2-score3-2=1 (1) | RD2-score3-3=x | RD2-seed4=W2 | RD2-team4=Chicago | RD2-score4-1=1 | RD2-score4-2=1 (2) | RD2-score4-3=x | RD3-seed1=E1 | RD3-team1=D.C. United | RD3-score1-1=0 | RD3-score1-2= | RD3-score1-3= | RD3-seed2=W2 | RD3-team2=Chicago | RD3-score2-1=2 | RD3-score2-2= | RD3-score2-3=

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

  • Lassiter

  • Moreno

  • McLaren

  • Gutierrez

  • Maessner

  • Vargas

  • Cullen

  • Serna

  • Boyce

  • Wood

  • Etcheverry

  • Moreno

  • Aunger

  • Harkes

  • Agoos

  • D.C. United advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

  • McBride

  • Smith

  • Farrell

  • John

  • Hurtado

  • Sorber

  • Joseph

  • Ramos

  • John

  • Ramos

  • Savarese

  • Duhaney

  • Sorber

  • Petke

  • Thompson

  • Yeagley

  • Dooley

  • John

  • Williams

  • Columbus Crew advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

Western Conference

  • Pena

  • Hermosillo

  • Cienfuegos

  • Wélton

  • Washington

  • Haynes

  • Kreis

  • Hendrickson

  • Caligiuri

  • Mathis

  • Los Angeles Galaxy advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

  • Kubík

  • Sáenz

  • Kubík

  • Soehn

  • Klopas

  • Wolff

  • Kuhn

  • Marsch

  • Bravo

  • Sáenz

  • Henderson

  • Vaudreuil

  • Harris

  • Vermes

  • Kubík

  • Chicago Fire advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

  • Sanneh

  • Etcheverry

  • McBride

  • Dooley

  • John

  • Sanneh

  • Lassiter

  • Agoos

  • Lassiter

  • D.C. United advance 2–1, to MLS Cup

Western Conference

  • Marsch

  • Nowak

  • Pena

  • Nowak

  • Razov

  • Soehn

  • Marsch

  • Podbrożny

  • Jones

  • Wélton

  • Machón

  • Cienfuegos

  • Vanney

  • Chicago Fire advance 2–0, to MLS Cup

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup 1998

  • Podbrożny
  • Gutiérrez

Player statistics

Goals

RankPlayerClubGoals
1TRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew26
2USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy19
3USA Roy LassiterD.C. United18
SLV Raúl Díaz ArceNew England Revolution
5BRA WéltonLos Angeles Galaxy17
6BOL Jaime MorenoD.C. United16
7VEN Giovanni SavareseMetroStars14
8JAM Wolde HarrisColorado Rapids13
SLV Mauricio CienfuegosLos Angeles Galaxy
SLV Ronald CerritosSan Jose Clash

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks

PlayerClubAgainstResultDate
TRI Stern JohnColumbus CrewMiami Fusion5–1
USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles GalaxyColorado Rapids7–4
LBR Musa ShannonTampa Bay MutinyNew England Revolution3–4
ZIM Vitalis TakawiraKansas City WizardsNew England Revolution3–1
GUA Martín MachónLos Angeles GalaxyColumbus Crew3–1
TRI Stern JohnColumbus CrewChicago Fire5–1
ARM Harut KarapetyanLos Angeles GalaxyDallas Burn8–1
USA Roy LassiterD.C. UnitedChicago Fire4–1
USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles GalaxyColorado Rapids6–1
TRI Stern JohnColumbus CrewKansas City Wizards5–3
USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles GalaxyNew England Revolution5–1
COL Diego SernaMiami FusionNew England Revolution3–2
USA PrekiKansas City WizardsSan Jose Clash5–1

Assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1ECU Eduardo HurtadoMetroStars14
2USA Marco EtcheverryD.C. United13
3POL Jerzy PodbrożnyChicago Fire12
4USA Joe-Max MooreNew England Revolution11
5URU Adrián PazColorado Rapids10
6SLV Ronald CerritosSan Jose Clash9
ENG Paul DoughertyMetroStars
USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
9*10 players*8

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1USA Zach ThorntonChicago Fire8
2USA Scott GarlickD.C. United7
USA Kevin HartmanLos Angeles Galaxy
4USA Mark DoddDallas Burn6
5USA Mike AmmannKansas City Wizards5
USA Ian FeuerNew England Revolution
USA David KramerSan Jose Clash
8USA Marcus HahnemannColorado Rapids4
USA Tony MeolaMetroStars
USA Juergen SommerColumbus Crew

Awards

Individual awards

AwardPlayerTeam
Most Valuable PlayerBOL Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
Defender of the YearCZE Luboš KubíkChicago Fire
Goalkeeper of the YearUSA Zach ThorntonChicago Fire
Coach of the YearUSA Bob BradleyChicago Fire
Rookie of the YearUSA Ben OlsenD.C. United
Scoring ChampionTRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew
Goal of the YearUSA Brian McBrideColumbus Crew
Fair Play AwardUSA Thomas DooleyColumbus Crew

Best XI

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
USA Zach Thornton, ChicagoUSA Thomas Dooley, Columbus
USA Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy
CZE Luboš Kubík, Chicago
USA Eddie Pope, D.C. UnitedUSA Chris Armas, Chicago
SLV Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy
BOL Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
POL Piotr Nowak, ChicagoTRI Stern John, Columbus
USA Cobi Jones, LA Galaxy

Player of the Month

WeekPlayerClub
MarchUSA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
AprilUSA Juergen SommerColumbus Crew
MayPOL Piotr NowakChicago Fire
JuneUSA Ross PauleColorado Rapids
JulyUSA Roy LassiterD.C. United
AugustTRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew
SeptemberCOL Diego SernaMiami Fusion

Weekly awards

Player of the WeekWeekPlayerClub
Week 1USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 2USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 3USA Frank KlopasChicago Fire
Week 4USA Jason FarrellColumbus Crew
Week 5TRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew
Week 6USA Paul BravoColorado Rapids
Week 7USA Tony MeolaMetroStars
Week 8USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 9ZIM Vitalis TakawiraKansas City Wizards
Week 10POL Peter NowakChicago Fire
Week 11TRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew
Week 12POL Jerzy PodbrożnyChicago Fire
Week 13USA Zach ThorntonChicago Fire
Week 14POL Roman KoseckiChicago Fire
Week 15CZE Luboš KubíkChicago Fire
Week 16USA John HarkesD.C. United
Week 17USA Roy LassiterD.C. United
Week 18BOL Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
Week 19USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 20TRI Stern JohnColumbus Crew
Week 21USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 22COL Diego SernaMiami Fusion
Week 23MEX Carlos HermosilloLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 24USA Josh WolffChicago Fire
Week 25COL Diego SernaMiami Fusion

Attendance

Main article: Major League Soccer attendance

RankTeamGPCumulativeHighLowMeanTotal1922,747,89756,4044,130
1Los Angeles Galaxy1653,6559,113
2New England Revolution1635,46213,074
3Chicago Fire1637,1227,598
4MetroStars1656,4048,826
5D.C. United1623,6319,755
6Colorado Rapids1646,7225,485
7San Jose Clash1622,6949,102
8Columbus Crew1615,6289,166
9Dallas Burn1615,2809,197
10Tampa Bay Mutiny1622,7044,473
11Miami Fusion1620,4506,127
12Kansas City Wizards1613,1464,130

References

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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