1997 D.C. United season

D.C. United
1997 season
General managerDave Kasper
Head coachBruce Arena
StadiumRFK Stadium
MLSConference: 1st
Overall: 1st
MLS CupChampions
U.S. Open CupRunners-Up
CONCACAF Champions' CupThird place
Top goalscorerLeague:
All:
Jaime Moreno (16)
← 1996
1998 →

The 1997 D.C. United season was the clubs' third year of existence, as well as their second season in Major League Soccer. United successfully defended its MLS Cup title, becoming the first club to win consecutive league championships until the Houston Dynamo in 2007.[1] United also won its first Supporters' Shield as the team with the best regular-season record, earning their first league "double" by winning the regular season and playoffs.[2] The team also finished as runners-up in the 1997 U.S. Open Cup final, played in Indinapolis three days after United won MLS Cup 1997 at its home stadium, RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.[3] In international play, United qualified for the 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, which was primarily played in Washington, D.C., and were eliminated in the semifinals by the Los Angeles Galaxy; the team ultimately shared third place with C.D. Guadalajara after a tie in the third-place match.[4]

Background

Main article: 1996 D.C. United season

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was both Major League Soccer and D.C. United's debut season, which resulted in United winning the inaugural MLS Cup championship match.[5]

Review

Competitions

Preseason

Major League Soccer

Further information: 1997 Major League Soccer season

Conference standings

Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D.C. United 32 17 4 11 70 53 +17 55 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 14 3 15 55 60 −5 45
3 Columbus Crew 32 12 3 17 42 41 +1 39
4 New England Revolution 32 11 4 17 40 53 −13 37
5 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 11 2 19 43 53 −10 35
Source: MLS

Overall standings

Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D.C. United (C, S) 32 17 4 11 70 53 +17 55 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 Kansas City Wizards 32 14 7 11 57 51 +6 49
3 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 14 3 15 55 60 −5 45
4 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 14 2 16 55 44 +11 44
5 Dallas Burn 32 13 3 16 55 49 +6 42
6 Columbus Crew 32 12 3 17 42 41 +1 39
7 Colorado Rapids 32 12 2 18 50 59 −9 38 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
8 New England Revolution 32 11 4 17 40 53 −13 37
9 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 11 2 19 43 53 −10 35
10 San Jose Clash 32 9 3 20 55 59 −4 30
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

Results summary

Results by round

Game reports

MLS Cup Playoffs

Further information: 1997 Major League Soccer season § Playoffs

Bracket

  • The ties were a best of three series.
Conference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup '97
               
1 D.C. United 4 1 (4) x
4 New England Revolution 1 1 (3) x
1 D.C. United 3 1 x
Eastern Conference
3 Columbus Crew 2 0 x
2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 0 x
3 Columbus Crew 2 2 x
E D.C. United 2
W Colorado Rapids 1
1 Kansas City Wizards 0 2 x
4 Colorado Rapids 3 3 x
4 Colorado Rapids 1 2 x
Western Conference
3 Dallas Burn 0 1 x
2 LA Galaxy 0 (0) 0 x
3 Dallas Burn 0 (2) 3 x

Conference semifinals

October 5 Game 1 D.C. United 4–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
Wegerle 13', 56'
Moreno 65', 76'		 Burns 89' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,540
Referee: Tim Weyland
October 8 Game 2 New England Revolution 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 SO)		 D.C. United Foxborough, Massachusetts
Moore 72' Report Williams 53' Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 16,233
Referee: Tim Weyland

D.C. United won the series 2–0.[6]

Conference finals

October 12 Game 1 D.C. United 3–2 Columbus Crew Washington, D.C.
Sanneh 9', 45'
Díaz Arce 29'		 Farrell 57'
Dooley 73'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,820
Referee: Kevin Terry
October 15 Game 2 D.C. United 1–0 Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio
Díaz Arce 47' Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Attendance: 9,506
Referee: Arturo Angeles

D.C. United won the series 2–0.[6]

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup '97
October 26 Final D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C.
Moreno 37'
Sanneh 68'		 Paz 75' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 57,431
Referee: Brian Hall

U.S. Open Cup

Further information: 1997 U.S. Open Cup
August 19, 1997 (1997-08-19) Quarterfinals D.C. United Washington, D.C. 2–0 Florida Tampa Bay Mutiny Washington, D.C., United States
Etcheverry 84'
Iroha 89'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
September 3, 1997 (1997-09-03) Semifinals San Francisco Bay Seals California 1–2 Washington, D.C. D.C. United Stockton, California
White 84' Moreno 2' (pen.)
Díaz Arce 62'		 Stadium: Stagg Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,470
October 29, 1997 (1997-10-29) Final Dallas Burn Texas 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		 Washington, D.C. D.C. United Indianapolis
19:00 EDT Stadium: Carroll Stadium
Attendance: 9,766
Referee: Rich Grady
Penalties

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Further information: 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
United States D.C. United 1
Trinidad and Tobago United Petrotrin 0
United States D.C. United 0
United States LA Galaxy 1
United States LA Galaxy 2
El Salvador Luis Ángel Firpo 0
United States LA Galaxy 3
Mexico Cruz Azul 5
Mexico Guadalajara 1
Costa Rica Cartaginés 0
Mexico Guadalajara 2
Mexico Cruz Azul 3
Mexico Cruz Azul 5
Guatemala Comunicaciones 0

Match results

August 12, 1997 (1997-08-12) Quarterfinals D.C. United United States 1–0 Trinidad and Tobago United Petrotrin Washington, D.C., United States
Etcheverry 84' Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 22, 1997 (1997-08-22) Semifinals D.C. United United States 0–1 United States LA Galaxy Washington, D.C., United States
Report Jones 10' Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 24, 1997 (1997-08-24) Consolation match D.C. United United States 2–2 Mexico Guadalajara Washington, D.C., United States
Díaz Arce 40'
Iroha 89'		 Report Acosta 55'
Sánchez 86' (pen.)		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
Note: Match stood as a draw

Statistics

Transfers

References

  1. ^ Schaerlaeckens, Leander (August 3, 2011). "Odds against defending MLS title". ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Hall, Andy (October 16, 2024). "Which MLS teams have won a league and Supporters' Shield double?". Diario AS. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Hayes, Tom (October 29, 1997). "D.C. is dethroned in Open Cup Final". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Goff, Steven (August 25, 1997). "Cruz Azul captures Champions Cup, 5–3". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Yannis, Alex (October 21, 1996). "United Rallies, Slides and Heads Its Way to First Title". The New York Times. p. C7. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "1997 Major League Soccer Scores & Fixtures". FBref. Retrieved November 1, 2024.

See also