1996 Major League Soccer season

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.

1996 Major League Soccer season
Season1996
MLS CupD.C. United (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldTampa Bay Mutiny (1st shield)
Matches played160
Goals scored539 (3.37 per match)
Top goalscorerRoy Lassiter
(27 goals)
Longest winning runLos Angeles Galaxy
Games: 12
(04/13 – 06/30)
Longest losing runColumbus Crew
Games: 6
(05/15 – 06/22)
Highest attendanceLos Angeles Galaxy
Season: 462,650
Game Avg.: 28,916
Lowest attendanceColorado Rapids
Season: 163,413
Game Avg.: 10,213
Total attendance2,785,001
Average attendance17,406
1997 →
D.C.
United
NY/NJ MetroStars
Tampa Bay Mutiny
Columbus Crew
New England Revolution
Colorado Rapids
Dallas
Burn
Los Angeles Galaxy
Kansas City Wiz
San Jose Clash
Locations of teams for the 1996 Major League Soccer season
Western Conference   Eastern Conference

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 marquee players, beginning with Tab Ramos on January 3, 1995.[1] Beginning in October 1995, the league apportioned the marquee 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.

Preseason

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 regulation 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 countdown clock instead of running clock, unlike IFAB's standards, but did it away starting with MLS Cup 1999. 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.

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

Eastern Conference
Pos Team Pld W L SOW GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 19 12 1 66 51 +15 58 Playoffs
2 D.C. United 32 15 16 1 62 56 +6 46
3 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 17 3 45 47 −2 39
4 Columbus Crew 32 11 17 4 59 60 −1 37
5 New England Revolution 32 9 17 6 43 56 −13 33
Source: MLS

Western Conference
Pos Team Pld W L SOW GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 13 4 59 49 +10 49 Playoffs
2 Dallas Burn 32 12 15 5 50 48 +2 41[lower-alpha 1]
3 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 15 5 61 63 −2 41[lower-alpha 1]
4 San Jose Clash 32 12 17 3 50 50 0 39
5 Colorado Rapids 32 9 21 2 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS
Notes:
  1. Dallas wins head-to-head against Kansas City (3–1)

Overall standings
Pos Team Pld W L SOW GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny (X) 32 19 12 1 66 51 +15 58
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 13 4 59 49 +10 49 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup[lower-alpha 1]
3 D.C. United (C) 32 15 16 1 62 56 +6 46
4 Dallas Burn 32 12 15 5 50 48 +2 41[lower-alpha 2]
5 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 15 5 61 63 −2 41[lower-alpha 2]
6 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 17 3 45 47 −2 39[lower-alpha 3]
7 San Jose Clash 32 12 17 3 50 50 0 39[lower-alpha 3]
8 Columbus Crew 32 11 17 4 59 60 −1 37
9 New England Revolution 32 9 17 6 43 56 −13 33
10 Colorado Rapids 32 9 21 2 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS
(C) Champion; (X) Supporters' Shield winner
Notes:
  1. Qualified as 1996 MLS Cup finalists
  2. Dallas wins head-to-head against Kansas City (3–1)
  3. NY/NJ wins head-to-head against San Jose (2–1)

MLS Cup Playoffs

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.) 2 (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 1 (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 2 (3)*  
  • Best of Three series winners will advance.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
New York/New Jersey MetroStars2–2D.C. United
  • de Ávila 38'
  • Savarese 75'
 Report
Penalties
 6–5
Attendance: 14,416
Game 2
D.C. United1–0New York/New Jersey MetroStars
 Report
Attendance: 21,442
Game 3
D.C. United2–1New York/New Jersey MetroStars
 Report
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: Brian Hall
  • D.C. United wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
Columbus Crew0–2Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Attendance: 20,807
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2Columbus Crew
 Report
Attendance: 13,009
Referee: Rich Grady
Game 3
Tampa Bay Mutiny4–1Columbus Crew
 Report
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Tim Weyland
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Western Conference

Game 1
Kansas City Wiz3–2Dallas Burn
 Report
Attendance: 4,466
Referee: Tim Weyland
Game 2
Dallas Burn2–1Kansas City Wiz
 Report Preki 30'
Attendance: 10,125
Game 3
Dallas Burn2–2Kansas City Wiz
 Report
Penalties
 2–3
Attendance: 9,802
Referee: Rich Grady
  • Kansas City Wiz wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
San Jose Clash1–0Los Angeles Galaxy
 Report
Attendance: 17,209
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
 Report
Attendance: 27,833
Referee: Joshua Patlak
Game 3
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
 Report
Attendance: 30,231
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United4–1Tampa Bay Mutiny
 Report
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2D.C. United
 Report
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady
  • D.C. United wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup '96.

Western Conference

Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy2–1Kansas City Wiz
 Report Preki 52'
Attendance: 25,212
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Kansas City Wiz1–1Los Angeles Galaxy
 Report
Penalties
 1–3
Attendance: 11,041
Referee: Zimmerman Boulos
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup '96.

MLS Cup
MLS Cup 1996
Los Angeles Galaxy2–3 (a.e.t.)D.C. United
 Report
Attendance: 34,643

Player awards

Weekly awards
WeekPlayer of the WeekClub
Week 1 Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash
Week 2 Brian McBrideColumbus Crew
Week 3 Marcelo BalboaColorado Rapids
Week 4 Bo OshoniyiColumbus Crew
Week 5 Giovanni SavareseMetroStars
Week 6 Brian McBrideColumbus Crew
Week 7 Jorge CamposLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 8 PrekiKansas City Wiz
Week 9 John DoyleSan Jose Clash
Week 10 Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 11 Mark DoddDallas Burn
Week 12 Mark ChungKansas City Wiz
Week 13 Tony MeolaMetroStars
Week 14 Raúl Díaz ArceD.C. United
Week 15 Paul BravoSan Jose Clash
Week 16 Cobi JonesLos Angeles Galaxy
Week 17 Joe-Max MooreNew England Revolution
Week 18 Tony MeolaMetroStars
Week 19 Adrián PazColumbus Crew
Week 20 Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
Week 21 Brad FriedelColumbus Crew
Week 22 Brian MaisonneuveColumbus Crew
Week 23 Frank YallopTampa Bay Mutiny
Week 24 Brad FriedelColumbus Crew

Monthly awards
MonthPlayer of the MonthClub
April Mauricio CienfuegosLos Angeles Galaxy
May Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
June Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles Galaxy
July Jason KreisDallas Burn
August Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
September Brad FriedelColumbus Crew

End-of-season awards
AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable Player Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion Roy Lassiter (58 points)Tampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the Year John DoyleSan Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the Year Mark DoddDallas Burn
Rookie of the Year Steve RalstonTampa Bay Mutiny
Coach of the Year Thomas RongenTampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the Year Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash

Player statistics

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

Goalkeeping leaders

(Minimum 1,000 minutes)

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

Attendance
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
Total 160 2,785,001 17,406

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

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". Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
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