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1996 D.C. United season

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D.C. United
1996 season
General ManagerDave Kasper
Head CoachBruce Arena
StadiumRFK Stadium
MLS3rd
MLS CupChampions
U.S. Open CupChampions
Top goalscorerLeague:
Raúl Díaz Arce (23)
All:
Raúl Díaz Arce (24)
Highest home attendance32,864 vs New England
(April 27, 1996)
Average home league attendance15,585
1997 →

The 1996 D.C. United season was the clubs' second year of existence, as well as their debutant season in Major League Soccer. United would become the first club to win the MLS Cup this year.

Background

See also: Washington Diplomats and Washington Diplomats (1988–90)

Prior to Major League Soccer's inaugural season, it had been six years since the Washington Metropolitan Area had a professional soccer club play within the region. The last team, was the late 1980s/early 1990s version of the Washington Diplomats. The Diplomats, played in the American Soccer League, which at the time was, by de facto, the top division of soccer in the United States although it was not sanctioned by U.S. Soccer or FIFA as a top tier soccer league. With the installation of the D.C. United franchise, it was the first time since the 1981 that a top division pro soccer club played in the region.

The foundation of the team came on June 15, 1994, when Major League Soccer selected Washington, D.C. out of twenty-two applicants to host one of the first seven teams, with three more added before the league's launch.[1]

Club name

Once an MLS franchise was awarded to Washington, the new club management sought a name for the club. Attempting to allude to the American sporting culture, original suppositions included the area's name followed by a mascot for the club. Some ideas included the "Spies", "Americans" and "Eagles". Eventually, the idea of simply naming the team "D.C. United" was decided upon as the club name. The moniker "United" alluded to European club names such as Leeds and Manchester United, as well as reflecting on being based in capital of the United States.[2]

MLS Playoffs

The final month of D.C. United's inaugural season saw the club compete in the first ever MLS Cup Playoffs, eventually being crowned the MLS Cup champions. Ten days later, United would earn the double by winning the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the United States' domestic knockout cup competition. Such a feat would not be accomplished again until the Chicago Fire did so in 1998. To date, only four other MLS sides have ever achieved any sort of "double", being regular season, playoffs, or cup competition.

Playoff play continued into October with game three of the conference semifinal series, with kickoff on October 2. United, tied with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars were level 1–1 in the series. Played in front of a crowd of 20,423, United would emerge victorious in the match and in the series winning the match and series by a 2–1 scoreline. In game three, Steve Rammel opened the scoring in the 67th minute, giving United a crucial 1–0 victory. Inside 20 minutes later, the MetroStars leveled things up off an 86th-minute strike from NY/NJ's Antony de Ávila. The match, looking destined for sudden death extra time was abruptly halted when a penalty was called against NY/NJ in the box. The call resulted with United's Raúl Díaz Arce notching the eventual match winner in the 89th minute of play. The win booked United into the 1996 MLS Eastern Conference Finals.

D.C. United took on the Supporters' Shield winners, Tampa Bay Mutiny on October 10 to open up the Eastern Conference Finals. The first match of the three-game series was held at RFK Stadium, where United posted a 4–1 victory. The score was United's largest margin of victory throughout the playoffs. The match saw Díaz Arce notch a hat trick, making him the first player in MLS Cup Playoffs history to score a hat trick in a playoff match. Díaz Arce scored in the 38th minute to give United the go-ahead lead, only for Tampa Bay's Roy Lassiter to equalize in the 42nd minute. United's Steve Rammel score what would eventually be the match-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give United a 2–1 lead over the Mutiny. Díaz Arce would score insurance goals for United in a three-minute span, scoring in the 58th and 60th minutes of play.

Held two days later, game two of the conference finals took place at Houlihan's Stadium near Tampa, Florida. With a crowd of 9,339 on hand, Tampa Bay took a 1–0 lead against D.C. inside 15 minutes, thanks to a strike from Steve Ralston. Ralston's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides for the remainder of the first half. However, four minutes into the second half of play, United's Richie Williams netted the equalizer. Díaz Arce would, once again, provide last minute heroics scoring in the 82nd minute to give United the 2–1 lead, and to book themselves in the inaugural MLS Cup championship.

Match Results

Legend

Major League Soccer

See also: 1996 Major League Soccer season

Regular season

April 6 Matchday 1 San Jose Clash 1–0 D.C. United San Jose, California
Wynalda 88' Report Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 31,683
April 13 Matchday 2 D.C. United 0–4 Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio
Report Lee 18' (o.g.)
McBride 29', 86'
Marino 48'		 Stadium: Crew Stadium
Attendance: 25,266
April 20 Matchday 3 LA Galaxy 2–1 D.C. United Washington, D.C.
Cienfuegos 21' (pen.)
Salcedo 72'		 Report Diaz Arce 7' Stadium: RFK
Attendance: 35,032
April 27 Matchday 4 D.C. United 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 p)		 New England Revolution Foxborough, Massachusetts
Diaz Arce 69' Report Aunger 78' (pen.) Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 32,864
Penalties
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May 1 Matchday 5 Dallas Burn 1–3 D.C. United Washington, D.C.
Rodriguez 43' (pen.) Report Diaz Arce 15' (pen.)
Etcheverry 53'
Rammel 64'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,253
May 5 Matchday 6 D.C. United 1–3 LA Galaxy Washington, D.C.
Rammel 28' Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,471
May 12 Matchday 7 NY/NJ MetroStars 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–1 p)		 D.C. United East Rutherford, New Jersey
Savarese 64' Report Harkes 11' Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 14,722
Penalties
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May 15 Matchday 8 Columbus Crew 2–5 D.C. United Columbus, Ohio
McBride 74'
Paz 86'		 Report Rammel 28', 49', 57'
Diaz Arce 67', 70'		 Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Attendance: 7,422
May 18 Matchday 9 D.C. United 2–3 Dallas Burn Washington, D.C.
Sanneh 65'
Agoos 90'		 Report Kreis 40', 82'
Sánchez 88'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 23,351
May 30 Matchday 10 D.C. United 2–1 NY/NJ MetroStars Washington, D.C.
Rammel 19'
Sanneh 32'		 Report Wood 27' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 25,322
June 2 Matchday 11 Colorado Rapids 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(1–3 p)		 D.C. United Denver, Colorado
Trittschuh 67'
Harbor 77'		 Report Diaz Arce 34'
Maessner 88'		 Stadium: Mile High Stadium
Attendance: 8,517
Penalties
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June 5 Matchday 12 D.C. United 3–1 San Jose Clash Washington, D.C.
Diaz Arce 23'
Rammel 35', 49'		 Report Butler 68' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,845
June 20 Matchday 13 Kansas City Wiz 5–1 D.C. United Kansas City, Missouri
Preki 6'
Takawira 28'
Chung 30', 54'
Sorber 35'		 Report Sanneh 42' Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Attendance: 9,458
June 23 Matchday 14 San Jose Clash 2–1 D.C. United San Jose, California
Espinoza 41'
Baicher 66'		 Report Díaz Arce 50' Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 14,088
June 30 Matchday 15 D.C. United 3–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
Rammel 1'
Díaz Arce 46'
Harkes 89'		 Report Naveda 38' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 19,355
July 4 Matchday 16 Dallas Burn 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		 D.C. United Dallas, Texas
9:30 PM Kreis 33' Report Díaz Arce 61' Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 16,177
July 7 Matchday 17 D.C. United 6–1 Dallas Burn Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM Díaz Arce 3', 48', 61', 63'
Rammel 18', 77'		 Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,244
July 12 Matchday 18 D.C. United 1–0 Tampa Bay Mutiny Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM Etcheverry 72' Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,014
July 20 Matchday 19 New England Revolution 2–0 D.C. United Foxborough, Massachusetts
12:00 PM Sawatzky 54', 78' Report Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 18,347
July 28 Matchday 20 D.C. United 2–0 Columbus Crew Washington, D.C.
4:00 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
July 31 Matchday 21 D.C. United 2–3 Kansas City Wiz Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 4 Matchday 22 D.C. United 2–4 Kansas City Wiz Washington, D.C.
3:00 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 7 Matchday 23 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1–3 D.C. United Tampa, Florida
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium
August 10 Matchday 24 Columbus Crew SC 3–2 D.C. United Columbus, Ohio
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Ohio Stadium
August 18 Matchday 25 D.C. United 2–1 LA Galaxy Washington, D.C.
8:30 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 21 Matchday 26 NY/NJ MetroStars 2–3 D.C. United East Rutherford, New Jersey
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Giants Stadium
August 25 Matchday 27 D.C. United 3–0 Tampa Bay Mutiny Washington, D.C.
3:00 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 29 Matchday 28 Colorado Rapids 1–2 D.C. United Denver, Colorado
10:30 PM Report Stadium: Mile High Stadium
September 6 Matchday 29 D.C. United 1–2 NY/NJ MetroStars Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
September 14 Matchday 30 Tampa Bay Mutiny 2–0 D.C. United Tampa, Florida
5:00 PM Report Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium
September 17 Matchday 31 D.C. United 3–2 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
September 21 Matchday 32 D.C. United 3–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM Report Stadium: RFK Stadium

Playoffs

Conference semifinals
September 24, 1996 Game 1 NY/NJ MetroStars 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)		 D.C. United East Rutherford, New Jersey
De Ávila 38'
Savarese 75'		 Díaz Arce 24'
Moreno 56'		 Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 14,416
Referee: California Esse Baharmast
Penalties
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Note: MetroStars lead the series 1–0
September 27, 1996 Game 2 D.C. United 1–0 NY/NJ MetroStars Washington, D.C.
Etcheverry 72' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 21,442
Referee: Maryland Paul Tamberino
Note: Series tied 1–1
October 2, 1996 Game 3 D.C. United 2–1 NY/NJ MetroStars Washington, D.C.
Rammel 67'
Díaz Arce 89' (pen.)		 de Ávila 86' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: California Brian Hall
Note: D.C. United win series 2–1
Conference finals
October 10, 1996 Game 1 D.C. United 4–1 Tampa Bay Mutiny Washington, D.C.
Díaz Arce 36', 58', 60'
Rammel 54'		 Lassiter 42' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott
Note: D.C. United lead the series 1–0
October 12, 1996 Game 2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1–2 D.C. United Tampa, Florida
Ralston 14' Williams 49'
Díaz Arce 82'		 Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady
Note: D.C. United wins series 2–0
MLS Cup
Further information: MLS Cup '96
October 20, 1996 Final LA Galaxy 2–3 (a.e.t.) D.C. United Foxborough, Massachusetts
Hurtado 5'
Armas 56'		 Sanneh 72'
Medved 81'
Pope gold-colored soccer ball 94' 		Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 34,643
Referee: Esfandiar Baharmast

U.S. Open Cup

September 4, 1996 Quarterfinals Carolina Dynamo North Carolina 0–2 Washington, D.C. D.C. United Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Rammel 50', 83' Stadium: Klöckner Stadium
Attendance: 1,829
Referee: Arizona Ruben Rodhas
October 27, 1996 Semifinals D.C. United Washington, D.C. 2–0 Texas Dallas Burn Dallas, Texas, USA
7:30 PM EDT Moreno 12', 82' Report Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 1,958
Referee: Ohio Kevin Terry
October 30, 1996 Final Rochester Raging Rhinos New York (state) 0–3 Washington, D.C. D.C. United Washington, D.C., USA
Report Díaz Arce 45'
Pope 63'
Moreno 89'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 7,234
Referee: California Esse Baharast

League standings

Conference

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

Overall

Pos Team
 Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny (S) 32 19 1 12 66 51 +15 58
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 4 13 59 49 +10 49 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
3 D.C. United (C) 32 15 1 16 62 56 +6 46
4 Dallas Burn 32 12 5 15 50 48 +2 41
5 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 5 15 61 63 −2 41
6 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 3 17 45 47 −2 39
7 San Jose Clash 32 12 3 17 50 50 0 39
8 Columbus Crew 32 11 4 17 59 60 −1 37
9 New England Revolution 32 9 6 17 43 56 −13 33
10 Colorado Rapids 32 9 2 21 44 59 −15 29
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

Transfers

In

Date Player Previous Club Fee/Notes Ref
January 24, 1996 United States Jeff Agoos Germany Wehen Allocated
January 24, 1996 Bolivia Marco Etcheverry Colombia América de Cali Allocated
January 24, 1996 United States John Harkes England West Ham United Allocated
January 24, 1996 Bolivia Berthy Suárez Bolivia Guabirá Allocated
February 6, 1996 El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce El Salvador Luis Ángel Firpo Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Shawn Medved United States Seattle Sounders Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Erik Imler United States Raleigh Flyers Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Richie Williams United States Richmond Kickers Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Thor Lee United States Wichita Wings Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Brian Kamler United States Richmond Kickers Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Mile Milovac United States Indianapolis Twisters Drafted
February 6, 1996 United States Kris Kelderman United States St. Louis Ambush Drafted
February 7, 1996 United States Clint Peay United States Virginia Cavaliers Drafted
February 7, 1996 United States Ben Crawley Germany TuS Celle Drafted
February 7, 1996 Bosnia and Herzegovina Said Fazlagić Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo Drafted
February 7, 1996 Venezuela Daniel de Oliveira El Salvador Luis Ángel Firpo Drafted
February 7, 1996 United States Matthew Olson United States Everett BigFoot Drafted
February 7, 1996 United States Sterling Wescott Hawaii Hawaii Tsunami Drafted
February 7, 1996 United States Garth Lagerwey United States Hampton Roads Mariners Drafted
February 7, 1996 Mexico Carlos Garcia United States Myrtle Beach Boyz Drafted
April 19, 1996 United States Steve Rammel United States Washington Mustangs Loan [3]
July 18, 1996 Bolivia Jaime Moreno England Middlesbrough Lottery

Recognition

References

External videos
video icon San Jose Clash vs D.C. United First-Ever MLS Match on YouTube
  1. ^ "General Overview". Major League Soccer. 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  2. ^ Dure, Beau (2010). Long Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. pp. 21–23. ISBN 978-1-59797-509-4.
  3. ^ http://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp070397.html
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