1997 Major League Soccer Season

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.

1997 Major League Soccer season
Season1997
MLS CupD.C. United (2nd title)
Supporters' ShieldD.C. United (1st shield)
1998 CONCACAF Champions' CupD.C. United
Colorado Rapids
Matches played160
Goals scored522 (3.26 per match)
Top goalscorerJaime Moreno
(16 goals)
Longest winning runKansas City Wizards
Games: 7
(07/19 – 08/31)
Longest losing runNew 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)
Total attendance2,336,889
Average attendance14,606
1996
1998

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

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

Personnel and sponsorships

Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Colorado Rapids 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Glenn Myernick
Columbus Crew 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Tom Fitzgerald 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Marcelo Carrera Snickers
D.C. United 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Bruce Arena MasterCard
Dallas Burn 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Dave Dir
Kansas City Wizards 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Ron Newman
Los Angeles Galaxy 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Lothar Osiander
New England Revolution 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Thomas Rongen
NY/NJ MetroStars 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Carlos Alberto Parreira 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Tony Meola
San Jose Clash 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Laurie Calloway 1997 Major League Soccer Season  John Doyle Honda
Tampa Bay Mutiny 1997 Major League Soccer Season  John Kowalski

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
Los Angeles Galaxy 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Lothar Osiander Fired June 10, 1997 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Octavio Zambrano June 10, 1997
San Jose Clash 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Laurie Calloway Fired June 25, 1997 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Brian Quinn June 25, 1997

Standings

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kansas City Wizards 32 14 7 11 57 51 +6 49 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 14 2 16 55 44 +11 44
3 Dallas Burn 32 13 3 16 55 49 +6 42
4 Colorado Rapids 32 12 2 18 50 59 −9 38
5 San Jose Clash 32 9 3 20 55 59 −4 30
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

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

  • The ties were a best-of-three series.
Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
             
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
1 D.C. United 2
4 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

Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United4–1New England Revolution
  • Wegerle 1997 Major League Soccer Season  13', 56'
  • Moreno 1997 Major League Soccer Season  65', 76'
Report
Attendance: 12,540
Referee: Tim Weyland
  • D.C. United advance to the Conference Finals.

Game 1
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2Columbus Crew
Report
Attendance: 8,272
Referee: Noel Kenny
Game 2
Columbus Crew2–0Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Attendance: 13,102
Referee: Joshua Patlak
  • Columbus Crew advance to the Conference Finals.

Western Conference

Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy0–0Dallas Burn
Report
Penalties
0–2
Attendance: 18,921
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Dallas Burn3–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Washington 1997 Major League Soccer Season  29', 69'
Peinado 1997 Major League Soccer Season  86'
Report
Attendance: 11,248
  • Dallas Burn advance to the Conference Finals.

Game 1
Kansas City Wizards0–3Colorado Rapids
Report
Game 2
Colorado Rapids3–2Kansas City Wizards
Report
  • Colorado Rapids advance to the Conference Finals.

Conference finals

Western Conference

Game 1
Dallas Burn0–1Colorado Rapids
Report
Attendance: 7,376
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Colorado Rapids2–1Dallas Burn
Report
Attendance: 18,452
Referee: Noel Kenny
  • Colorado Rapids advance to MLS Cup.

Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United3–2Columbus Crew
Report
Attendance: 11,820
Referee: Kevin Terry
Game 2
Columbus Crew0–1D.C. United
Report
Attendance: 9,506
  • D.C. United advance to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

D.C. United2–1Colorado Rapids
Report
Attendance: 57,431
Referee: Brian Hall

Player statistics

Goals

Rank Player Club Goals
1 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jaime Moreno D.C. United 16
2 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United 15
3 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars 14
4 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Preki Kansas City Wizards 12
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Ronald Cerritos San Jose Clash
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Dante Washington Dallas Burn
7 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Damián Álvarez Dallas Burn 11
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Wélton Los Angeles Galaxy
9 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jeff Baicher San Jose Clash 10
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Chung Kansas City Wizards
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Lawrence Lozzano San Jose Clash

Assists

Rank Player Club Assists
1 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny 15
2 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Preki Kansas City Wizards 12
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Eddie Lewis San Jose Clash
4 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Chris Henderson Colorado Rapids 9
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy
6 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Lawrence Lozzano San Jose Clash 8
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Adrián Paz Colorado Rapids
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Miles Joseph NY/NJ MetroStars

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Brad Friedel Columbus Crew 7
2 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Walter Zenga New England Revolution 6
3 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mike Ammann Kansas City Wizards 5
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Marcus Hahnemann Colorado Rapids
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Tony Meola NY/NJ MetroStars
6 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy 4
7 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Dodd Dallas Burn 3
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Dougherty Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Kevin Hartman Los Angeles Galaxy
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Simpson D.C. United

Awards

Individual awards

Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Preki Kansas City Wizards
Defender of the Year 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Eddie Pope D.C. United
Goalkeeper of the Year 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
Coach of the Year 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Bruce Arena D.C. United
Rookie of the Year 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mike Duhaney Tampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Preki Kansas City Wizards
Goal of the Year 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
Fair Play Award 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Chung Kansas City Wizards

Best XI

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Brad Friedel, Columbus 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jeff Agoos, D.C. United
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Thomas Dooley, Columbus
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Richard Gough, Kansas City
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Eddie Pope, D.C. United
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Mark Chung, Kansas City
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Preki, Kansas City
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Ronald Cerritos, San Jose
1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jaime Moreno, D.C. United

Player of the Month

Month Player Club
April 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Jaime Moreno D.C. United
May 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Alain Sutter Dallas Burn
June 1997 Major League Soccer Season  John Harkes D.C. United
July 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Wélton Los Angeles Galaxy
August 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
September 1997 Major League Soccer Season  Walter Zenga New England Revolution

Weekly awards

Attendance

Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1 New England Revolution 16 340,762 57,407 10,242 21,298
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 16 330,015 53,147 7,232 20,626
3 NY/NJ MetroStars 16 270,288 26,322 10,510 16,893
4 D.C. United 16 267,171 28,749 9,675 16,698
5 Columbus Crew 16 240,650 22,259 10,662 15,041
6 San Jose Clash 16 217,546 23,501 7,955 13,597
7 Colorado Rapids 16 189,355 36,252 4,120 11,835
8 Tampa Bay Mutiny 16 181,322 18,070 6,984 11,333
9 Dallas Burn 16 154,845 16,089 4,451 9,678
10 Kansas City Wizards 16 144,935 12,485 6,272 9,058
Total 160 2,336,889 57,407 4,120 14,606

References

Tags:

1997 Major League Soccer Season Overview1997 Major League Soccer Season Standings1997 Major League Soccer Season MLS Cup Playoffs1997 Major League Soccer Season Player statistics1997 Major League Soccer Season Awards1997 Major League Soccer Season Attendance1997 Major League Soccer Season

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