1996 Major League Soccer season

1996 Major League Soccer season
Season 1996
MLS Cup D.C. United (1st title)
Supporters' Shield Tampa Bay Mutiny (1st shield)
Matches played 160
Goals scored 539 (3.37 per match)
Top goalscorer Roy Lassiter
Tampa Bay Mutiny
Goals: 27
Longest winning run Los Angeles Galaxy
Games: 12
(04/13 – 06/30)
Longest losing run Columbus Crew
Games: 6
(05/15 – 06/22)
Highest attendance Los Angeles Galaxy
Season: 462,650
Game Avg.: 28,916
Lowest attendance Colorado Rapids
Season: 163,413
Game Avg.: 10,213
Average attendance MLS
Season: 2,785,001
Game Avg.: 17,406

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

Overview

Preparation for first season

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 marque players, beginning with Tab Ramos on January 3, 1995.[1] Beginning in October 1995, the league apportioned the marque players in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations.[2] Each team received two national team and two foreign players in the allocation.[3] The league then invited about 250 players to a tryout the second week of January 1996 on the campus of UC Irvine.[4] 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.

Pre-season

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.[5] 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.[6]

Season

The teams played thirty-two games each. Each win was worth three points, a loss counted for zero and a shootout win earned a team one point. Fear of alienating fans with tied games had led the league to adopting the shootout when games ended even. The league also adopted a count down clock instead of running clock. 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 1996 MLS Goal of the Year. The regular season ended on September 22. The playoffs began two days later.

Team locations

Stadiums

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

Standings

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L SOW GF GA GD
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 58 32 19 12 1 66 51  +15
2 D.C. United 46 32 15 16 1 62 56  +6
3 New York/New Jersey MetroStars 39 32 12 17 3 45 47  −2
4 Columbus Crew 37 32 11 17 4 59 60  −1
5 New England Revolution 33 32 9 17 6 43 56  −13
1996 MLS Cup Playoffs
Western Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L SOW GF GA GD
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 49 32 15 13 4 59 49  +10
2 Dallas Burn 41 32 12 15 5 50 48  +2
3 Kansas City Wiz 41 32 12 15 5 61 63  −2
4 San Jose Clash 39 32 12 17 3 50 50  0
5 Colorado Rapids 29 32 9 21 2 44 59  −15
1996 MLS Cup Playoffs

Overall standings

Major League Soccer
Pos Club Pts GP W L SOW GF GA GD
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny (E1) 58 32 19 12 1 66 51  +15
2 Los Angeles Galaxy1 (W1) 49 32 15 13 4 59 49  +10
3 D.C. United1 (E2) 46 32 15 16 1 62 56  +6
4 Dallas Burn (W2) 41 32 12 15 5 50 48  +2
5 Kansas City Wiz 41 32 12 15 5 61 63  −2
6 San Jose Clash 39 32 12 17 3 50 50  0
7 New York/New Jersey MetroStars 39 32 12 17 3 45 47  −2
8 Columbus Crew 37 32 11 17 4 59 60  −1
9 New England Revolution 33 32 9 17 6 43 56  −13
10 Colorado Rapids 29 32 9 21 2 44 59  −15
MLS Supporters' Shield, 1996 MLS Cup Playoffs
1996 MLS Cup Playoffs

Playoff bracket

  Conference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup '96
                                   
  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.) 3 (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 2 (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 3 (3)*  

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

September 24, 1996
Game 1
NY/NJ MetroStars 3 – 2
6 – 5 (SO) 		D.C. United
De Ávila  38'
Savarese  75'		 Díaz Arce  24'
Moreno  56'

September 27, 1996
Game 2
D.C. United 1 – 0 NY/NJ MetroStars
Etcheverry  72'
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 21,442
Referee: Paul Tamberino

October 2, 1996
Game 3
D.C. United 2 – 1 NY/NJ MetroStars
Rammel  67'
Diaz Arce (pen.)  89'		 De Ávila  86'
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: Brian Hall

September 25, 1996
Game 1
Columbus Crew 0 – 2 Tampa Bay Mutiny
Lassiter  82', 87'
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,807
Referee: Brian Hall

September 28, 1996
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 – 2 Columbus Crew
Lassiter  26' Paz  1'
McBride  58'
Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 13,009
Referee: Rich Grady

October 2, 1996
Game 3
Tampa Bay Mutiny 4 – 1 Columbus Crew
Vásquez  3'
Lassiter  41',58'
Pittman  55'		 McBride  35'
Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Tim Weyland

Western Conference

September 26, 1996
Game 1
Kansas City Wiz 3 – 2 Dallas Burn
Johnston  16'
McKeon  79'
Preki  89'		 Elliott  21'
Ashton  25'
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 4,466
Referee: Tim Weyland

September 29, 1996
Game 2
Dallas Burn 2 – 1 Kansas City Wiz
Kreis  5'
Washington  32'		 Preki  30'
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 10,125

October 2, 1996
Game 3
Dallas Burn 2 – 3
2 – 3 (SO) 		Kansas City Wiz
Sánchez  27'
Elliott  66'		 Chung  41'
Takawira  62'
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 9,802
Referee: Rich Grady

September 29, 1996
Game 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 0 San Jose Clash
Fraser  84'
Hurtado  90'
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 27,833
Referee: Joshua Patlak

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

October 10, 1996
Game 1
D.C. United 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Mutiny
Díaz Arce  36', 58', 60'
Rammel  54'		 Lassiter  42'
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott

October 12, 1996
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 – 2 D.C. United
Ralston  14' Williams  49'
Díaz Arce  82'
Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady

Western Conference

October 10, 1996
Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 1 Kansas City Wiz
Armas  48'
Vanney  57'		 Preki  52'
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 25,212
Referee: Brian Hall

October 13, 1996
Game 2
Kansas City Wiz 1 – 2
1 – 3 (SO) 		Los Angeles Galaxy
Preki  69' Vanney  76'
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 11,041
Referee: Zimmerman Boulos

MLS Cup '96

Main article: MLS Cup '96

October 20, 1996
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 3 (AET) D.C. United
Hurtado  5'
Armas  56'		 Sanneh  72'
Medved  81'
Pope  94'
Foxboro Stadium
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Attendance: 34,643
Weather: Rain, 44 °F
Referee: Esse Baharmast

Team awards

Player of the Week

WeekPlayer of the WeekClub
Week 1 United States Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash
Week 2 United States Brian McBride Columbus Crew
Week 3 United States Marcelo Balboa Colorado Rapids
Week 4 United States Bo Oshoniyi Columbus Crew
Week 5 Venezuela Giovanni Savarese MetroStars
Week 6 United States Brian McBride Columbus Crew
Week 7 Mexico Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 8 United States Preki Kansas City Wiz
Week 9 United States John Doyle San Jose Clash
Week 10 Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 11 United States Mark Dodd Dallas Burn
Week 12 United States Mark Chung Kansas City Wiz
Week 13 United States Tony Meola MetroStars
Week 14 El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United
Week 15 United States Paul Bravo San Jose Clash
Week 16 United States Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 17 United States Joe-Max Moore New England Revolution
Week 18 United States Tony Meola MetroStars
Week 19 Uruguay Adrián Paz Columbus Crew
Week 20 Bolivia Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
Week 21 United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
Week 22 United States Brian Maisonneuve Columbus Crew
Week 23 Canada Frank Yallop Tampa Bay Mutiny
Week 24 United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew

Player of the Month

MonthPlayer of the MonthClub
April El Salvador Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy
May Colombia Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
June Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy
July United States Jason Kreis Dallas Burn
August Bolivia Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
September United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew

Individual awards

AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable PlayerColombia Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring ChampionUnited States Roy Lassiter (58 points) Tampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the YearUnited States John DoyleSan Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the YearUnited States Mark DoddDallas Burn
Rookie of the YearUnited States Steve RalstonTampa Bay Mutiny
Coach of the YearNetherlands Thomas RongenTampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the YearUnited States Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash

Top goal scorers

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

Goalkeeping leaders

(Minimum 1,000 minutes)

No. Player Club Games
Played		 Minutes Goals
Against		 GA
Average		 Wins Loses
1 Mexico Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy 24 2025 27 1.20 13 8
2 United States Dave Salzwedel San Jose Clash 14 1168 17 1.31 9 4
3 United States Tony Meola NY/NJ MetroStars 29 2610 38 1.31 14 15
4 United States Mark Dodd Dallas Burn 31 2776 45 1.46 17 14
5 United States Mark Simpson D.C. United 15 1260 21 1.50 7 6
6 United States Mark Dougherty Tampa Bay Mutiny 28 2520 47 1.68 17 11
7 United States Aidan Heaney New England Revolution 19 1534 29 1.70 8 9
8 United States Tom Liner San Jose Clash 20 1712 33 1.73 7 12
9 United States Garth Lagerwey Kansas City Wiz 23 1959 38 1.75 12 10
10 United States Jim St. Andre New England Revolution 15 1346 27 1.81 6 9
11 England Chris Woods Colorado Rapids 23 2070 43 1.87 8 15
12 United States Jeff Causey D.C. United 19 1620 35 1.94 9 10
13 United States Bo Oshoniyi Columbus Crew 13 1170 33 2.54 3 10

Team attendance totals

Club Games Season totals Game average
Los Angeles Galaxy 16 462,650 28,916
NY/NJ MetroStars 16 382,360 23,898
New England Revolution 16 304,392 19,025
Columbus Crew 16 303,202 18,950
San Jose Clash 16 275,712 17,232
Dallas Burn 16 256,173 16,011
D.C. United 16 244,199 15,262
Kansas City Wiz 16 206,044 12,878
Tampa Bay Mutiny 16 186,856 11,679
Colorado Rapids 16 163,413 10,213
OVERALL 160 2,785,001 17,406

Winningest coaches (by wins)

CoachClubWinsLossPCT.PTS.SOW
Netherlands Thomas RongenTampa Bay Mutiny20120.625581
Germany Lothar OsianderLos Angeles Galaxy19130.594494
United States Dave DirDallas Burn17150.531415
England Ron NewmanKansas City Wiz17150.531415
United States Bruce ArenaD.C. United16160.500461
England Laurie CallowaySan Jose Clash15170.469393
Republic of Ireland Frank StapletonNew England Revolution15170.469336
Mozambique Carlos QueirozNY/NJ MetroStars12120.500341
England Bobby HoughtonColorado Rapids11200.355292
United States Tom FitzgeraldColumbus Crew910.900232
Finland Timo LiekoskiColumbus Crew6150.286142
South Africa Eddie FirmaniNY/NJ MetroStars350.37552
United States Roy WegerleColorado Rapids010.00000

References

  1. ↑ Ramos Signs With Major League Soccer
  2. ↑ Major League Soccer Gets Set for Unveilings
  3. ↑ Giants Stadium Will Go Natural Again
  4. ↑ Pro Soccer Combine Begins Today at UC Irvine
  5. ↑ RAPIDS RELEASE THREE PLAYERS
  6. ↑ The Year in American Soccer - 1995

External links

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