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D.C. United
1997 season
General managerDave Kasper
Head coach Bruce Arena
Stadium RFK Stadium
MLSConference: 1st
Overall: 1st
MLS CupChampions
U.S. Open CupRunners-Up
CONCACAF Champions' CupThird place
Top goalscorerLeague:
All:
Jaime Moreno (16)
←  1996
1998 →

The 1997 D.C. United season was the clubs' third year of existence, as well as their second season in Major League Soccer. The United successfully defended their MLS Cup title, becoming the first and only club to consecutively win the MLS Cup, until Houston Dynamo in 2007. Additionally, United won their first ever MLS Supporters' Shield in 1997, earning their first league "double" by winning the regular season and the playoffs.

Background

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was both Major League Soccer and D.C. United's debut season, which resulted in United winning the inaugural MLS Cup championship match.

Review

Competitions

Preseason

Major League Soccer

Conference standings

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

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

Results summary

Results by round

Game reports

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

  • The ties were a best of three series.
Conference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup '97
               
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
E D.C. United 2
W 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

October 5 Game 1 D.C. United 4–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
Wegerle 13', 56'
Moreno 65', 76'
Burns 89' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,540
Referee: Tim Weyland
October 8 Game 2 New England Revolution 1–1 ( a.e.t.)
(3–4 SO)
D.C. United Foxborough, Massachusetts
Moore 72' Report Williams 53' Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 16,233
Referee: Tim Weyland

D.C. United win the series 2–0.

Conference finals

October 12 Game 1 D.C. United 3–2 Columbus Crew Washington, D.C.
Sanneh 9', 45'
Díaz Arce 29'
Farrell 57'
Dooley 73'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 11,820
Referee: Kevin Terry

D.C. United win the series 2–0.

MLS Cup

October 26 Final D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C.
Moreno 37'
Sanneh 68'
Paz 75' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 57,431
Referee: Brian Hall

U.S. Open Cup

August 19, 1997 (1997-08-19) Quarterfinals D.C. United Washington, D.C. 2–0 Florida Tampa Bay Mutiny Washington, D.C., United States
Etcheverry 84'
Iroha 89'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
October 29, 1997 (1997-10-29) Final Dallas Burn Texas 0–0 ( a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Washington, D.C. D.C. United Indianapolis
19:00 EDT Stadium: Carroll Stadium
Attendance: 9,766
Referee: Rich Grady
Penalties

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
United States D.C. United 1
Trinidad and Tobago United Petrotrin 0
United States D.C. United 0
United States LA Galaxy 1
United States LA Galaxy 2
El Salvador Luis Ángel Firpo 0
United States LA Galaxy 3
Mexico Cruz Azul 5
Mexico Guadalajara 1
Costa Rica Cartaginés 0
Mexico Guadalajara 2
Mexico Cruz Azul 3
Mexico Cruz Azul 5
Guatemala Comunicaciones 0

Match results

August 12, 1997 (1997-08-12) Quarterfinals D.C. United United States 1–0 Trinidad and Tobago United Petrotrin Washington, D.C., United States
Etcheverry 84' Report Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 22, 1997 (1997-08-22) Semifinals D.C. United United States 0–1 United States LA Galaxy Washington, D.C., United States
Report Jones 10' Stadium: RFK Stadium
August 24, 1997 (1997-08-24) Consolation match D.C. United United States 2–2 Mexico Guadalajara Washington, D.C., United States
Díaz Arce 40'
Iroha 89'
Report Acosta 55'
Sánchez 86' ( pen.)
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Note: Match stood as a draw

Statistics

Transfers

See also