1996 Major League Soccer season

1996 Major League Soccer season
Season 1996
MLS Cup D.C. United
Supporters' Shield Tampa Bay Mutiny
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 84th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 18th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the inaugural season of MLS.

Contents

Team locations

Locations of teams in the 1996 Major League Soccer season

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

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
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

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
                                       
  1  Tampa Bay Mutiny 2 1 4  
4  Columbus Crew 0 2 1  
  1  Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 1 x  
Eastern Conference
  2  D.C. United 4 2 x  
2  D.C. United 2 1 2
  3  NY/NJ MetroStars (AET), (6-5 S.O.)* 3* 0 1  
    E  D.C. United     3
  W  Los Angeles Galaxy     2
  1  Los Angeles Galaxy 0 2 2  
4  San Jose Clash 1 0 0  
  1  Los Angeles Galaxy (AET), (3-1 S.O.)* 2 2* x
Western Conference
  3  Kansas City Wiz 1 1 x  
2  Dallas Burn 2 2 2
  3  Kansas City Wiz (AET), (3-2 S.O.)* 3 1 3*  

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

September 24, 1996
Game 1
 NY/NJ MetroStars 3 – 2
6 – 5 (SO)		 D.C. United Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 14,416
Referee: Esse Baharmast
De Ávila  38'
Savarese  75'		 Díaz Arce  24'
Moreno  56'
September 27, 1996
Game 2
 D.C. United 1 – 0 NY/NJ MetroStars Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 21,442
Referee: Paul Tamberino
Etcheverry  72'
October 2, 1996
Game 3
 D.C. United 2 – 1 NY/NJ MetroStars Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: Brian Hall
Rammel  67'
Diaz Arce (pen.)  89'		 De Ávila  86'
September 25, 1996
Game 1
 Columbus Crew 0 – 2 Tampa Bay Mutiny Ohio Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,807
Referee: Brian Hall
Lassiter  82', 87'
September 28, 1996
Game 2
 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 – 2 Columbus Crew Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 13,009
Referee: Rich Grady
Lassiter  26' Paz  1'
McBride  58'
October 2, 1996
Game 3
 Tampa Bay Mutiny 4 – 1 Columbus Crew Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Tim Weyland
Vasquez  3'
Lassiter  41',58'
Pittman  55'		 McBride  35'

Western Conference

September 26, 1996
Game 1
 Kansas City Wiz 3 – 2 Dallas Burn Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 4,466
Referee: Tim Weyland
Johnston  16'
McKeon  79'
Preki  89'		 Elliott  21'
Ashton  25'
September 29, 1996
Game 2
 Dallas Burn 2 – 1 Kansas City Wiz Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 10,125
Kreis  5'
Washington  32'		 Preki  30'
October 2, 1996
Game 3
 Dallas Burn 2 – 3
2 – 3 (SO)		 Kansas City Wiz Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 9,802
Referee: Rich Grady
Sánchez  27'
Elliott  66'		 Chung  41'
Takawira  62'
September 26, 1996
Game 1
 San Jose Clash 1 – 0 Los Angeles Galaxy Spartan Stadium
San Jose, California
Attendance: 17,209
Referee: Kevin Stott
Ianni  36'
September 29, 1996
Game 2
 Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 0 San Jose Clash Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 27,833
Referee: Joshua Patlak
Fraser  84'
Hurtado  90'
October 2, 1996
Game 3
 Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 0 San Jose Clash Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 30,231
Referee: Esse Baharmast
Hurtado  31'
Cienfuegos (pen.)  36'

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

October 10, 1996
Game 1
 D.C. United 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Mutiny Robert F. Kennedy Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott
Díaz Arce  36', 58', 60'
Rammel  54'		 Lassiter  42'
October 12, 1996
Game 2
 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 – 2 D.C. United Houlihan's Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady
Ralston  14' Williams  49'
Díaz Arce  82'

Western Conference

October 10, 1996
Game 1
 Los Angeles Galaxy 2 – 1 Kansas City Wiz Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 25,212
Referee: Brian Hall
Armas  48'
Vanney  57'		 Preki  52'
October 13, 1996
Game 2
 Kansas City Wiz 1 – 2
1 – 3 (SO)		 Los Angeles Galaxy Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 11,041
Referee: Zimmerman Boulos
Preki  69' Vanney  76'

MLS Cup '96

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

Team awards

Player of the Week

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

Player of the Month

Month Player of the Month Club
April Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy
May Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
June Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy
July Jason Kreis Dallas Burn
August Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
September Brad Friedel Columbus Crew

Individual awards

Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion Roy Lassiter (58 points) Tampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the Year John Doyle San Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the Year Mark Dodd Dallas Burn
Rookie of the Year Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
Coach of the Year Thomas Rongen Tampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the Year Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash

Top goal scorers

Position 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 Wizards 18
5 Brian McBride Columbus Crew 17
6 Steve Rammel D.C. United 14
7 Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars 13
Vitalis Takawira Kansas City Wiz 13
Paul Bravo San Jose Earthquakes 13
Jason Kreis Dallas Burn 13

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

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)

Coach Club Wins Loss PCT. PTS. SOW
Thomas Rongen Tampa Bay Mutiny 20 12 0.625 58 1
Lothar Osiander Los Angeles Galaxy 19 13 0.594 49 4
Dave Dir Dallas Burn 17 15 0.531 41 5
Ron Newman Kansas City Wiz 17 15 0.531 41 5
Bruce Arena D.C. United 16 16 0.500 46 1
Laurie Calloway San Jose Clash 15 17 0.469 39 3
Frank Stapleton New England Revolution 15 17 0.469 33 6
Carlos Queiroz NY/NJ Metrostars 12 12 0.500 34 1
Bobby Houghton Colorado Rapids 11 20 0.355 29 2
Tom Fitzgerald Columbus Crew 9 1 0.900 23 2
Timo Liekoski Columbus Crew 6 15 0.286 14 2
Eddie Firmani NY/NJ Metrostars 3 5 0.375 5 2
Roy Wegerle Colorado Rapids 0 1 0.000 0 0

Reference
League articles
Seasons
1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012