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2001 Major League Soccer season

6th season of Major League Soccer


6th season of Major League Soccer

FieldValue
season2001
num_teams12
mlscupSan Jose Earthquakes (1st title)
shieldMiami Fusion (1st shield)
continentalcup12002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
continentalcup1 qualifiersSan Jose Earthquakes
league topscorerAlex Pineda Chacon
Miami Fusion F.C.
Goals: 19
matches158
total goals519
highest attendanceD.C. United
Season: 258,213
Game Avg.: 21,518
lowest attendanceSan Jose Earthquakes
Season: 125,250
Game Avg.: 9,635
attendance2,363,859
average attendance14,961
prevseason2000
nextseason2002

Miami Fusion F.C. Goals: 19 Season: 258,213 Game Avg.: 21,518 Season: 125,250 Game Avg.: 9,635

The 2001 Major League Soccer season was the sixth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 89th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 23rd with a national first-division league.

The season was shortened due to the September 11 attacks, with the final weeks' regular season matches being canceled. Due to the different number of games played, playoff ordering was determined by points per game, instead of total points.

The regular season began on April 7, and concluded prematurely on September 9. The 2001 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 20, and concluded with MLS Cup 2001 on October 21. The Miami Fusion won their first Supporters' Shield and the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final to win their first MLS Cup.

Overview

Season format

The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 21. The 12 teams were split into three divisions. Each team was to play 28 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team would play every other team in their division four times, for a total of 12 games. The remaining schedule consisted of three games against four select opponents in one of the other divisions, and two games against the remaining four teams.

The eight teams with the most points per game qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals 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
Chicago FireSoldier Field66,944
Colorado RapidsMile High Stadium76,273
Columbus CrewColumbus Crew Stadium22,555
D.C. UnitedRFK Stadium46,000
Dallas BurnCotton Bowl92,100
Kansas City WizardsArrowhead Stadium81,425
Los Angeles GalaxyRose Bowl92,542
Miami FusionLockhart Stadium20,450
New England RevolutionFoxboro Stadium60,292
MetroStarsGiants Stadium80,200
San Jose EarthquakesSpartan Stadium30,456
Tampa Bay MutinyRaymond James Stadium69,218

Personnel and sponsorships

TeamHead coachCaptainShirt sponsor
Chicago FireUSA Bob Bradley
Colorado RapidsUSA Tim Hankinson
Columbus CrewUSA Greg Andrulis
D.C. UnitedNED Thomas RongenMasterCard
Dallas BurnUSA Mike Jeffries
Kansas City WizardsUSA Bob Gansler
Los Angeles GalaxyUSA Sigi Schmid
MetroStarsECU Octavio ZambranoUSA Tab RamosNew York Life
Miami FusionENG Ray Hudson
New England RevolutionUSA Fernando Clavijo
San Jose EarthquakesCAN Frank YallopUSA Jeff AgoosYahoo! Sports
Tampa Bay MutinyUSA Perry Van der Beck

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
Columbus CrewUSA Tom FitzgeraldFiredMay 17, 2001USA Greg AndrulisMay 17, 2001
Tampa Bay MutinySPA Alfonso MondeloResignedJuly 5, 2001USA Perry Van der BeckJuly 5, 2001

Standings

Eastern Division

Central Division

Western Division

Overall standings

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

| score-width=20px | team-width=260px | RD1-seed1=2 | RD1-team1=Chicago Fire (7 Points) | RD1-score1-1=2 | RD1-score1-2=1 | RD1-score1-3=2 | RD1-seed2=7 | RD1-team2= Dallas Burn (1 Points) | RD1-score2-1=0 | RD1-score2-2=1 | RD1-score2-3=0 | RD1-seed3=3 | RD1-team3=Los Angeles Galaxy (SDET)* (4 Points) | RD1-score3-1=1 | RD1-score3-2=1 | RD1-score3-3=3* | RD1-seed4=6 | RD1-team4=MetroStars (4 Points) | RD1-score4-1=1 | RD1-score4-2=4 | RD1-score4-3=2 | RD1-seed5=1 | RD1-team5=Miami Fusion (6 Points) | RD1-score5-1=2 | RD1-score5-2=0 | RD1-score5-3=2 | RD1-seed6=8 | RD1-team6=Kansas City Wizards (3 Points) | RD1-score6-1=0 | RD1-score6-2=3 | RD1-score6-3=1 | RD1-seed7=4 | RD1-team7=Columbus Crew (0 Points) | RD1-score7-1=1 | RD1-score7-2=0 | RD1-score7-3=x | RD1-seed8=5 | RD1-team8=San Jose Earthquakes (6 Points) | RD1-score8-1=3 | RD1-score8-2=3 | RD1-score8-3=x | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=Chicago Fire (1 Points) | RD2-score1-1=1 | RD2-score1-2=0 | RD2-score1-3=1 | RD2-seed2=3 | RD2-team2=Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET)* (7 Points) | RD2-score2-1=1 | RD2-score2-2=1* | RD2-score2-3=2* | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=Miami Fusion (3 Points) | RD2-score3-1=1 | RD2-score3-2=0 | RD2-score3-3=0 | RD2-seed4=5 | RD2-team4=San Jose Earthquakes (SDET)* (6 Points) | RD2-score4-1=0 | RD2-score4-2=4 | RD2-score4-3=1* | RD3-seed1=3 | RD3-team1=Los Angeles Galaxy | RD3-score1=1 | RD3-seed2=5 | RD3-team2=San Jose Earthquakes (ASDET)* | RD3-score2=2

  • Points system Win = 3 Pts. Loss = 0 Pts. Draw = 1 Pt.
  • ASDET*=Added sudden death extra time (game tie breaker) SDET**=Sudden death extra time (series tie breaker) Teams will advance at 5 points.

Quarterfinals

Whitfield + Chicago, Illinois Attendance: 8,314

Dallas, Texas Attendance:: 17,149

Armas Chicago, Illinois Attendance: 12,811

Chicago Fire advance 7–1 on points.


Pineda Chacón Fort Lauderdale, Florida Attendance: 6,281

McKeon
Gomez + Kansas City, Missouri Attendance: 5,803

Henderson Fort Lauderdale, Florida Attendance: 8,119

Miami Fusion advance 6–3 on points.


Pasadena, California Attendance: 11,580

Chung
Valencia East Rutherford, New Jersey Attendance: 12,817

Frye Pasadena, California Attendance: 6,154

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 1-0 in series overtime (SDET) after 4-4 tie on points.


Lagos Columbus, Ohio Attendance: 20,883

Cerritos
Donovan San Jose, California Attendance: 10,419

San Jose Earthquakes advance 6–0 on points.

Semifinals


Chicago, Illinois Attendance: 10,388

Pasadena, California Attendance: 10,100

Cienfuegos Chicago, Illinois Attendance: 13,444

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 7–1 on points.


Fort Lauderdale, Florida Attendance: 9,236

Russell
Lagos
De Rosario San Jose, California Attendance: 16,119

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Attendance: 11,242

San Jose Earthquakes advance 6–3 on points.

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup 2001

De Rosario Columbus, Ohio Attendance: 21,626

Player statistics

Goals

RankPlayerClubGoals
1HON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami Fusion19
2COL Diego SernaMiami Fusion15
3SCO John SpencerColorado Rapids14
SLE Abdul Thompson ContehD.C. United
5SLV Ronald CerritosSan Jose Earthquakes11
ECU Ariel GrazianiDallas Burn
7USA Jeff CunninghamColumbus Crew10
USA Eric WynaldaNew England Revolution,
Chicago Fire
9SEN Mamadou DialloTampa Bay Mutiny9
BOL Jaime MorenoD.C. United

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks

PlayerClubAgainstResultDate
USA Clint MathisMetroStarsKansas City Wizards4–1
SLE Abdul Thompson ContehD.C. UnitedNew England Revolution5–0
SEN Mamadou Diallo4Tampa Bay MutinyLos Angeles Galaxy4–1
COL Diego SernaMiami FusionDallas Burn6–2
USA Dante WashingtonColumbus CrewTampa Bay Mutiny6–1
SCO John SpencerColorado RapidsD.C. United3–1
HON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami FusionD.C. United3–1

Assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1COL Diego SernaMiami Fusion11
COL John Wilmar PérezColumbus Crew
3USA Ross PauleColorado Rapids10
USA PrekiMiami Fusion
5USA Jeff CunninghamColumbus Crew8
USA Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
USA Manny LagosSan Jose Earthquakes
POL Piotr NowakChicago Fire
9USA Landon DonovanSan Jose Earthquakes7
BOL Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
ECU Ariel GrazianiDallas Burn
USA Eric QuillTampa Bay Mutiny

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1USA Matt JordanDallas Burn9
USA Zach ThorntonChicago Fire
3USA Joe CannonSan Jose Earthquakes7
4USA Matt ReisLos Angeles Galaxy6
5USA Tom PresthusColumbus Crew5
USA Nick RimandoMiami Fusion
7USA Kevin HartmanLos Angeles Galaxy4
USA Tim HowardMetroStars
USA Tony MeolaKansas City Wizards
10USA Bo OshoniyiKansas City Wizards3

Awards

Individual awards

AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable PlayerHON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami Fusion
Defender of the YearUSA Jeff AgoosSan Jose Earthquakes
Goalkeeper of the YearUSA Tim HowardMetroStars
Coach of the YearCAN Frank YallopSan Jose Earthquakes
Rookie of the YearBRA Rodrigo FariaMetroStars
Comeback Player of the YearUSA Troy DayakSan Jose Earthquakes
Scoring ChampionHON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami Fusion
Goal of the YearUSA Clint MathisMetroStars
Fair Play AwardHON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami Fusion
Humanitarian of the YearUSA Tim HowardMetroStars

Best XI

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
USA Tim Howard, MetroStarsUSA Jeff Agoos, San Jose
USA Carlos Llamosa, Miami
USA Pablo Mastroeni, Miami
USA Greg Vanney, LA GalaxyUSA Chris Armas, Chicago
POL Piotr Nowak, Chicago
USA Preki, MiamiHON Alex Pineda Chacón, Miami
COL Diego Serna, Miami
SCO John Spencer, Colorado

Player of the Month

WeekPlayerClub
AprilHON Alex Pineda ChacónMiami Fusion
MayUSA Clint MathisMetroStars
JuneCOL Diego SernaMiami Fusion
JulyBUL Hristo StoitchkovChicago Fire
AugustUSA Brian MaisonneuveColumbus Crew

Attendance

TeamGamesTotalAverage
D.C. United12258,21321,518
MetroStars13270,47720,806
Columbus Crew13227,64417,511
Los Angeles Galaxy13226,03517,387
Colorado Rapids13214,24916,481
Chicago Fire14229,43816,388
New England Revolution13203,50115,654
Dallas Burn13163,46512,574
Miami Fusion14156,48111,177
Kansas City Wizards13142,40210,954
Tampa Bay Mutiny14146,70410,479
San Jose Earthquakes13125,2509,635
Totals1582,363,85914,961

International Competition

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

  • Kansas City Wizards 2001 edition canceled; Wizards advanced to CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2002.
  • Chicago Fire 2001 edition canceled; Fire advance to CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2002.

Copa Merconorte

  • MetroStars Went 3-3-0 in group stage and did not advance. Defeated VEN Deportivo Italchacao, 2-0 at home. Awarded two forfeit wins against MEX Club Deportivo Guadalajara, after the club refused to travel. Lost VEN Deportivo Italchacao, 2-1 away. Lost COL Millonarios, 2-1 away and 1-0 at home.
  • Kansas City Wizards Went 1-4-1 in group stage and did not advance. Defeated ECU Barcelona, 3-2 away, Drew 1-1 at home. Lost MEX Santos Laguna, 4-2 away and 1-0 at home. Lost PER Sporting Cristal, 2-1 at home and 2-1 away.

CONCACAF Giants Cup

  • D.C. United Defeated JAM Arnett Gardens, 5-1 on aggregate in quarterfinals. Defeated GUA Comunicaciones, 2-1 in semifinals. Lost MEX Club América, 2-0 in final.
  • Columbus Crew Lost CRC Deportivo Saprissa, 3-1 on aggregate in quarterfinals.

References

References

  1. "MLS Teleconference: September 13, 2001".
  2. White, Joseph. (April 5, 2001). "Everything but attendance rising for Major League Soccer". [[News & Messenger]]].
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