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.
Season | 1997 |
---|---|
MLS Cup | D.C. United (2nd title) |
Supporters' Shield | D.C. United (1st shield) |
Matches played | 160 |
Goals scored | 522 (3.26 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jaime Moreno (16 goals) |
Longest winning run | Kansas City Wizards Games: 7 (07/19 – 08/31) |
Longest losing run | New England Revolution Games: 9 (07/20 – 09/12) |
Highest attendance | 57,407 NE 2–1 TB (April 20, 1997) |
Lowest attendance | 4,120 COL 1–0 DAL (April 23, 1997) |
Total attendance | 2,336,889 |
Average attendance | 14,606 |
← 1996 1998 → |


United






Burn



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
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
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Galaxy | ![]() |
Fired | June 10, 1997 | ![]() |
June 10, 1997 |
San Jose Clash | ![]() |
Fired | June 25, 1997 | ![]() |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (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 Semi-finals
Eastern Conference
D.C. United | 4–1 | New England Revolution |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
New England Revolution | 1–1 | D.C. United |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Penalties | ||
3–4 |
- D.C. United advance to the Conference Finals.
Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1–2 | Columbus Crew |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Columbus Crew | 2–0 | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
---|---|---|
Report |
- Columbus Crew advance to the Conference Finals.
Western Conference
LA Galaxy | 0–0 | Dallas Burn |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
0–2 |
Dallas Burn | 3–0 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
---|---|---|
Washington ![]() Peinado ![]() |
Report |
- Dallas Burn advance to the Conference Finals.
Kansas City Wizards | 0–3 | Colorado Rapids |
---|---|---|
Report |
Colorado Rapids | 3–2 | Kansas City Wizards |
---|---|---|
Report |
- Colorado Rapids advance to the Conference Finals.
Conference finals
Western Conference
Dallas Burn | 0–1 | Colorado Rapids |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Colorado Rapids | 2–1 | Dallas Burn |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
- Colorado Rapids advance to MLS Cup.
Eastern Conference
D.C. United | 3–2 | Columbus Crew |
---|---|---|
Report |
Columbus Crew | 0–1 | D.C. United |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
- D.C. United advance to MLS Cup.
MLS Cup
D.C. United | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Player statistics
Goals
Assists
Goalkeeping leaders
(Minimum 1,000 minutes)
No. | Player | Club | Games played |
Minutes | Goals against |
GA average |
Wins | Loses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Columbus Crew | 29 | 2,609 | 35 | 1.21 | 14 | 15 |
2 | ![]() |
New England Revolution | 22 | 1,980 | 28 | 1.27 | 15 | 7 |
3 | ![]() |
Los Angeles Galaxy | 19 | 1,661 | 24 | 1.30 | 12 | 6 |
4 | ![]() |
Colorado Rapids | 25 | 2,157 | 37 | 1.54 | 13 | 10 |
5 | ![]() |
Kansas City Wizards | 29 | 2,597 | 45 | 1.56 | 21 | 8 |
6 | ![]() |
Dallas Burn | 30 | 2,700 | 48 | 1.60 | 14 | 16 |
7 | ![]() |
NY/NJ MetroStars | 30 | 2,684 | 48 | 1.61 | 12 | 18 |
8 | ![]() |
San Jose Clash | 21 | 1,831 | 33 | 1.62 | 7 | 14 |
9 | ![]() |
D.C. United | 14 | 1,171 | 22 | 1.69 | 9 | 5 |
10 | ![]() |
San Jose Clash | 20 | 1,679 | 35 | 1.88 | 7 | 11 |
11 | ![]() |
Tampa Bay Mutiny | 25 | 2,143 | 45 | 1.89 | 15 | 10 |
Played for more than one team – Most Recent Team Listed*
Awards
Individual awards
Best XI
Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Player of the Week
Player of the Month
Player of the Month | ||
---|---|---|
Month | Player | Club |
April | ![]() | D.C. United |
May | ![]() | Dallas Burn |
June | ![]() | D.C. United |
July | ![]() | Los Angeles Galaxy |
August | ![]() | Columbus Crew |
September | ![]() | New England Revolution |
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 |