2000 Major League Soccer season

The 2000 Major League Soccer season was the fifth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 88th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 22nd with a national first-division league.

Major League Soccer
Season2000
MLS CupKansas City Wizards (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldKansas City Wizards (1st shield)
CONCACAF Champions' CupKansas City Wizards
Chicago Fire
Matches played192
Goals scored612 (3.19 per match)
Top goalscorerMamadou Diallo
Tampa Bay Mutiny
Goals: 26
Longest winning runMetroStars
Games: 5
(1 Jul – 2 Aug)
Longest unbeaten runKansas City Wizards
Games: 12
(25 Mar – 4 Jun)
Longest losing runSan Jose Earthquakes
Games: 6
(15 Jul – 19 Aug)
Highest attendanceLos Angeles Galaxy
Season: 326,392
Game Avg.: 20,400
Lowest attendanceMiami Fusion
Season: 119,352
Game Avg.: 7,460
Total attendance2,641,085
Average attendance13,756
1999
2001
Locations of teams for the 2000 Major League Soccer season
Western Division   Central Division   Eastern Division

The 2000 season marked the first time in league history (and the first season of American first division soccer since 1974), that ties were allowed to stand. Following a ten-minute sudden death extra time, rather than going to a penalty shoot-out, a point was awarded to both teams. Additionally, the league was divided into three separate divisions, the East, Central and West divisions.

The San Jose Clash rebranded as the Earthquakes, a throwback to the NASL team of the same name.

The regular season began on March 18, and concluded on September 9. The 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 14, and concluded with MLS Cup 2000 on October 15. The Kansas City Wizards won their first MLS Cup with a victory over the Chicago Fire.

Overview

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Season format

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The season began on March 18 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 15. The 12 teams were split into three divisions. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their division four times, for a total of 12 games. The remaining schedule consisted of three games against four select opponents in one of the other divisions, and two games against the remaining four teams.

The eight teams with the most points qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals were played as a best-of-three series, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken by penalty shootout if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.

The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield. The winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Stadiums and locations

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Team Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire Soldier Field 66,944
Colorado Rapids Mile High Stadium 76,273
Columbus Crew Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555
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
Miami Fusion Lockhart Stadium 20,450
New England Revolution Foxboro Stadium 60,292
MetroStars Giants Stadium 80,200
San Jose Earthquakes Spartan Stadium 30,456
Tampa Bay Mutiny Raymond James Stadium 69,218

Personnel and sponsorships

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Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Chicago Fire   Bob Bradley
Colorado Rapids   Glenn Myernick
Columbus Crew   Tom Fitzgerald Snickers
D.C. United   Thomas Rongen MasterCard
Dallas Burn   Dave Dir
Kansas City Wizards   Bob Gansler
Los Angeles Galaxy   Sigi Schmid
MetroStars   Octavio Zambrano   Tab Ramos
Miami Fusion   Ray Hudson
New England Revolution   Fernando Clavijo
San Jose Earthquakes   Lothar Osiander   John Doyle Yahoo! Sports
Tampa Bay Mutiny   Tim Hankinson

Coaching changes

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Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
Miami Fusion   Ivo Wortmann Fired May 8, 2000   Ray Hudson May 8, 2000

Standings

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Eastern Division

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 MetroStars 32 17 12 3 64 56 +8 54 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 New England Revolution 32 13 13 6 47 49 −2 45
3 Miami Fusion 32 12 15 5 54 56 −2 41
4 D.C. United 32 8 18 6 44 63 −19 30
Source: MLS

Central Division

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chicago Fire 32 17 9 6 67 51 +16 57 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 16 12 4 62 50 +12 52
3 Dallas Burn 32 14 14 4 54 54 0 46
4 Columbus Crew 32 11 16 5 48 58 −10 38
Source: MLS

Western Division

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kansas City Wizards 32 16 7 9 47 29 +18 57 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 14 10 8 47 37 +10 50
3 Colorado Rapids 32 13 15 4 43 59 −16 43
4 San Jose Earthquakes 32 7 17 8 35 50 −15 29
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kansas City Wizards (C, S) 32 16 7 9 47 29 +18 57 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 Chicago Fire 32 17 9 6 67 51 +16 57
3 MetroStars 32 17 12 3 64 56 +8 54
4 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 16 12 4 62 50 +12 52
5 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 14 10 8 47 37 +10 50
6 Dallas Burn 32 14 14 4 54 54 0 46
7 New England Revolution 32 13 13 6 47 49 −2 45
8 Colorado Rapids 32 13 15 4 43 59 −16 43
9 Miami Fusion 32 12 15 5 54 56 −2 41
10 Columbus Crew 32 11 16 5 48 58 −10 38
11 D.C. United 32 8 18 6 44 63 −19 30
12 San Jose Earthquakes 32 7 17 8 35 50 −15 29
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (S) Supporters' Shield

Fixtures and results

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Home \ Away CHI COL CLB DAL DC KC LA MIA NE MTS SJ TB
Chicago Fire 1–2 3–1 4–3 3–2 3–2 2–1 1–0 0–1 3–1 4–1 5–1
2–1 3–1 4–0 2–1 0–0*
Colorado Rapids 2–1* 0–0* 1–0 2–5 0–5 1–0* 1–2 2–1 1–3 0–1 1–0
1–1* 1–1* 1–0* 3–1 2–0
Columbus Crew 0–2 2–3 2–1 1–1* 2–0 2–2* 2–0 3–1 0–2 2–1* 1–2
2–3 1–1* 4–1 2–1 3–4
Dallas Burn 4–2 0–1 2–1 3–0 4–1 1–1* 1–1* 2–1 4–6 2–1 1–0
3–0 3–2 1–0 4–2 2–3
D.C. United 3–2 1–1* 1–2 3–2 0–0* 0–4 2–1* 1–3 2–3* 0–1 2–2*
2–0 1–2 2–6 2–0 3–2*
Kansas City Wizards 4–3 3–0 3–1 0–0* 2–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–0
3–1 1–5 0–1 2–0 1–0
Los Angeles Galaxy 1–1* 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–0* 2–0 2–2* 0–2 1–1* 2–1
1–0* 0–1 1–2 1–1* 2–1
Miami Fusion 0–3 2–0 2–4 0–3 1–0* 0–0* 3–5 1–1* 3–1 0–0* 2–3
4–2 4–1 3–1 2–1 4–1
New England Revolution 1–1* 3–4 1–1* 1–2 2–1* 0–1 2–1 1–1* 0–2 2–1 2–1
2–1 1–0 2–0 4–3 3–0
MetroStars 4–1 5–3 0–1 2–1 3–2 1–2 0–1 4–2 4–2 0–0* 3–2*
2–2* 0–0* 2–1 2–1* 0–3
San Jose Earthquakes 1–1* 4–2 1–2 5–0 2–2* 0–0* 0–0* 3–1 2–2* 2–0 1–2
1–2 3–0 0–3 0–3 1–2
Tampa Bay Mutiny 0–1 4–2 5–1 3–1 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–4 1–0 0–2 4–0
3–3* 3–1 2–1 2–2* 4–3*
Source: FBREF.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Note: * = Match required extra time

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Bracket

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Quarterfinals Semifinals MLS Cup
             
1 Kansas City Wizards (7 Points) 1 0 3
8 Colorado Rapids (1 Points) 0 0 2
1 Kansas City Wizards (SDET**) (4 Points) 0 1 1**
5 Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET*) (4 Points) 0 2* 0
4 Tampa Bay Mutiny (0 Points) 0 2 x
5 Los Angeles Galaxy (6 Points) 1 5 x
1 Kansas City Wizards 1
2 Chicago Fire 0
2 Chicago Fire (6 Points) 2 1 6
7 New England Revolution (3 Points) 1 2 0
2 Chicago Fire (6 Points) 3 0 3
3 MetroStars (3 Points) 0 2 2
3 MetroStars (ASDET*) (6 Points) 2* 2 x
6 Dallas Burn (0 Points) 1 1 x
  • Points system
    Win = 3 Pts.
    Loss = 0 Pts.
    Draw = 1 Pt.
  • ASDET*=Added Sudden Death Extra Time (Game tie breaker)
    SDET**=Sudden Death Extra Time (Series tie breaker)
    Teams will advance at 5 points.

Quarterfinals

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Colorado Rapids0–1Kansas City Wizards
Molnar   18'
Colorado Rapids2–3Kansas City Wizards
Bravo   70',   90+' (pen.) Henderson   11'
Molnar   65'
Gomez   69'

Kansas City Wizards advance 7–1 on points.


New England Revolution1–2Chicago Fire
Harris   50' Wright   54' (o.g.)
Kovalenko   73'
Chicago Fire1–2New England Revolution
Kovalenko   83' Wynalda   18'
Wright   86'
New England Revolution0–6Chicago Fire
Razov   5',   65'
Stoichkov   14',   17'
Nowak   45'+
George   75'

Chicago Fire advance 6–3 on points.


Dallas Burn1–1 (AET)
0–1 (ASDET)
MetroStars
Rhine   57' Mathis   34'
Valencia   100'
MetroStars2–1Dallas Burn
Mathis   53',   81' Rodríguez   82' (pen.)
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 7,555

MetroStars advance 6–0 on points.


Los Angeles Galaxy1–0Tampa Bay Mutiny
Vanney   61' (pen.)
Tampa Bay Mutiny2–5Los Angeles Galaxy
Diallo   21', 67' Hendrickson   14'
Kelly   19'
Hernández   48'
Cienfuegos   51'
Jones   85'

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6–0 on points.

Semifinals

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MetroStars0–3Chicago Fire
Stoichkov   21'
Kovalenko   35'
Razov   84'
Chicago Fire0–2MetroStars
Chung   40'
Valencia   84'
MetroStars2–3Chicago Fire
Valencia   32',   36' Brown   4'
Stoichkov   31'
Razov   88'

Chicago Fire advance 6-3 on points.


Los Angeles Galaxy0–0Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards1–1 (AET)
0–1 (ASDET)
Los Angeles Galaxy
McKeon   29' Jones   16'
Califf   93'
Los Angeles Galaxy0–1Kansas City Wizards
Molnar   22' (pen.)
 0–1 series (SDET) 
Molnar   6'

Kansas City Wizards advance 1–0 in series overtime (SDET) after 4–4 tie on points.

MLS Cup

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Kansas City Wizards1–0Chicago Fire
Molnar   11'
RFK Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 39,159

Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Mamadou Diallo Tampa Bay Mutiny 26
2   Ante Razov Chicago Fire 18
3   Clint Mathis Los Angeles Galaxy
MetroStars
16
  Diego Serna Miami Fusion
  Adolfo Valencia MetroStars
6   Ariel Graziani Dallas Burn 15
  Dante Washington Columbus Crew
  Wolde Harris New England Revolution
9   Alex Comas MetroStars 13
10   Miklos Molnar Kansas City Wizards 12
  Jaime Moreno D.C. United

Hat-tricks

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Player Club Against Result Date
  Ante Razov Chicago Fire Miami Fusion 3–0 May 6
  Jaime Moreno D.C. United Colorado Rapids 5–2
  Diego Serna Miami Fusion Tampa Bay Mutiny 4–1 June 21
  Mamadou Diallo Tampa Bay Mutiny MetroStars 4–3 August 16
  Clint Mathis5 MetroStars Dallas Burn 6–4 August 26
  Mamadou Diallo Tampa Bay Mutiny Columbus Crew 4–3 August 30
  Diego Serna4 Miami Fusion MetroStars 4–1 September 2
  Diego Serna Miami Fusion D.C. United 6–2 September 9
  Alex Comas MetroStars New England Revolution 3–4

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny 21
2   Clint Mathis Los Angeles Galaxy,
MetroStars
13
3   Eric Quill Tampa Bay Mutiny 11
4   Martín Machón Miami Fusion 10
  Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
6   Preki Kansas City Wizards 9
  Diego Serna Miami Fusion
8   Mark Chung MetroStars 8
  Jason Kreis Dallas Burn
  Adolfo Valencia MetroStars
  Robert Warzycha Columbus Crew

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards 16
2   Joe Cannon San Jose Earthquakes 7
  Kevin Hartman LA Galaxy
  Matt Jordan Dallas Burn
5   Scott Garlick Tampa Bay Mutiny 6
6   Zach Thornton Chicago Fire 5
7   Tim Howard MetroStars 4
  David Kramer Colorado Rapids
9   Jeff Causey New England Revolution 3
  Mark Dougherty Columbus Crew

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
Defender of the Year   Peter Vermes Kansas City Wizards
Goalkeeper of the Year   Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
Coach of the Year   Bob Gansler Kansas City Wizards
Rookie of the Year   Carlos Bocanegra Chicago Fire
Comeback Player of the Year   Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
Scoring Champion   Mamadou Diallo Tampa Bay Mutiny
Fair Play Award   Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
Humanitarian of the Year   Abdul Thompson Conteh San Jose Earthquakes
Goal of the Year   Marcelo Balboa Colorado Rapids

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Tony Meola, Kansas City   Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy
  Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy
  Peter Vermes, Kansas City
  Chris Armas, Chicago
  Piotr Nowak, Chicago
  Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay
  Hristo Stoichkov, Chicago
  Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay
  Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay
  Clint Mathis, MetroStars

Player of the Month

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Week Player Club
April   Miklos Molnar Kansas City Wizards
May   Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
June   Clint Mathis MetroStars
July   Dante Washington Columbus Crew
August   Clint Mathis MetroStars
September   Diego Serna Miami Fusion

Attendance

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Team Games Total Average
Los Angeles Galaxy 16 326,392 20,400
D.C. United 16 297,279 18,580
MetroStars 16 281,938 17,621
New England Revolution 16 247,409 15,463
Columbus Crew 16 247,220 15,451
Chicago Fire 16 214,189 13,387
Dallas Burn 16 209,637 13,102
Colorado Rapids 16 201,280 12,580
San Jose Earthquakes 16 199,364 12,460
Tampa Bay Mutiny 16 151,232 9,452
Kansas City Wizards 16 145,793 9,112
Miami Fusion 16 119,352 7,460
Totals 192 2,641,085 13,756

References

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