2004 Major League Soccer season

The 2004 Major League Soccer season was the ninth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 92nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 26th with a national first-division league.

2004 Major League Soccer season
Season2004
MLS CupD.C. United (4th title)
Supporters' ShieldColumbus Crew (1st shield)
2005 CONCACAF Champions' CupD.C. United
Kansas City Wizards
Matches played150
Goals scored392 (2.61 per match)
Top goalscorerBrian Ching
San Jose Earthquakes Goals: 12
Eddie Johnson
Dallas Burn
Goals: 12
Biggest home winNE 6–1 COL
Biggest away winLA 0–3 NY
DAL 0–3 NE
CHI 0–3 COL
Highest scoringSJ 5–5 NY
Longest winning runColumbus Crew
Games: 4
(05/15 – 06/06)
Columbus Crew
Games: 4
(09/04 – 09/25)
Longest unbeaten runColumbus Crew
Games: 18
(07/03/2004)
Longest losing runDallas Burn
Games: 4
(05/08 – 05/29)
Highest attendanceLos Angeles Galaxy
Season: 357,137
Game Avg.: 23,809
Lowest attendanceDallas Burn
Season: 136,319
Game Avg.: 9,088
Total attendance2,333,797
Average attendance15,559
2003
2005

After playing one season in the suburb of Southlake, the Dallas Burn returned to the Cotton Bowl.

D.C. United signed 14-year-old prodigy Freddy Adu, who made his debut as a substitute in their season opener becoming the youngest player in North American sports history. The Columbus Crew emerged as a dominant team in the second half of the regular season, running off an MLS-record 18-game unbeaten streak en route to winning the Supporters' Shield.

The regular season began on April 3, and concluded on October 17. The 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 22, and concluded with MLS Cup 2004 on November 14. D.C. United won their record 4th league title by defeating the Kansas City Wizards in MLS Cup.

Overview

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Season format

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The season began on April 3 and concluded with MLS Cup on November 14. The 10 teams were split evenly into two conferences. Each team played 30 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their conference, and two designated opponents from the opposite conference, four times, and the remaining teams in the opposite conference twice.

The top four teams from each conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. In the first round, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners. The conference finals were played as a single match, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks 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. Additionally, 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 61,500
Colorado Rapids Invesco Field at Mile High 76,125
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 Home Depot Center 27,000
MetroStars Giants Stadium 80,200
New England Revolution Gillette Stadium 68,756
San Jose Earthquakes Spartan Stadium 30,456

Personnel and sponsorships

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Team Head coach Captain Manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Chicago Fire   Dave Sarachan Puma Honda
Colorado Rapids   Tim Hankinson Atletica
Columbus Crew   Greg Andrulis   Robin Fraser Adidas Sierra Mist
D.C. United   Piotr Nowak Adidas
Dallas Burn   Colin Clarke Atletica RadioShack
Kansas City Wizards   Bob Gansler Adidas U.S. Soccer Foundation
Los Angeles Galaxy   Sigi Schmid Nike Budweiser
MetroStars   Bob Bradley   Eddie Pope Nike
New England Revolution   Steve Nicol Reebok Sierra Mist
San Jose Earthquakes   Dominic Kinnear   Jeff Agoos Nike Yahoo! en Español

Coaching changes

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Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
Los Angeles Galaxy   Sigi Schmid Fired August 16, 2004   Steve Sampson August 18, 2004

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew 30 12 5 13 40 32 +8 49 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 D.C. United 30 11 10 9 43 42 +1 42
3 MetroStars 30 11 12 7 47 49 −2 40
4 New England Revolution 30 8 13 9 42 43 −1 33
5 Chicago Fire 30 8 13 9 36 44 −8 33
Source: MLS

Western Conference

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kansas City Wizards 30 14 9 7 38 30 +8 49 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 30 11 9 10 42 40 +2 43
3 Colorado Rapids 30 10 9 11 29 32 −3 41
4 San Jose Earthquakes 30 9 10 11 41 35 +6 38
5 Dallas Burn 30 10 14 6 34 45 −11 36
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew (S) 30 12 5 13 40 32 +8 49
2 Kansas City Wizards 30 14 9 7 38 30 +8 49 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
3 Los Angeles Galaxy 30 11 9 10 42 40 +2 43
4 D.C. United (C) 30 11 10 9 43 42 +1 42 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
5 Colorado Rapids 30 10 9 11 29 32 −3 41
6 MetroStars 30 11 12 7 47 49 −2 40
7 San Jose Earthquakes 30 9 10 11 41 35 +6 38
8 Dallas Burn 30 10 14 6 34 45 −11 36
9 New England Revolution 30 8 13 9 42 43 −1 33
10 Chicago Fire 30 8 13 9 36 44 −8 33
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

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Bracket

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Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
          
E1 Columbus 0 1
E4 New England (wins 2–1 agg.) 1 1
E4 New England 3
Eastern Conference
E2 D.C. United (wins 4–3 on PK's) 3*
E2 D.C. United (wins 4–0 agg.) 2 2
E3 MetroStars 0 0
E2 D.C. United 3
W1 Kansas City 2
W1 Kansas City (wins 3–2 agg.) 0 3
W4 San Jose 2 0
W1 Kansas City 2
Western Conference
W2 Los Angeles 0
W2 Los Angeles (wins 2–1 agg.) 0 2
W3 Colorado 1 0

Conference semifinals

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Columbus Crew0–1New England Revolution
Report John   25'
Attendance: 5,679
Referee: N/A
New England Revolution1–1Columbus Crew
Twellman   81' Report Buddle   90+2'
Attendance: 15,224
Referee: Alex Prus

New England Revolution advance 2–1 on aggregate.


D.C. United2–0MetroStars
Stewart   67'
Eskandarian   88'
Report
Attendance: 11,161
Referee: Kevin Stott
MetroStars0–2D.C. United
Report Moreno   85'
Namoff   89'
Attendance: 15,763
Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela

D.C. United advance 4–0 on aggregate.


San Jose Earthquakes0–3Kansas City Wizards
Report Stephenson   26'
Ching   48' (o.g.)
Jewsbury   90+2'
Attendance: 10,022
Referee: Terry Vaughn

Kansas City Wizards advance 3–2 on aggregate.


Los Angeles Galaxy0–1Colorado Rapids
Report Peguero   30'
Attendance: 8,028
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Colorado Rapids0–2Los Angeles Galaxy
Report Ruiz   30'
Marshall   45+3'
Attendance: 20,026
Referee: Michael Kennedy

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 2–1 on aggregate.


Conference finals

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Los Angeles Galaxy0–2Kansas City Wizards
Report Arnaud   24', 68'
Attendance: 11,931
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja

New England Revolution3–3 (AET)D.C. United
Twellman   17'
Ralston   44' (pen.)
Noonan   85'
Report Eskandarian   11'
Moreno   21'
Gomez   67'
Penalties
Ralston  
Reis  
Twellman  
Heaps  
Joseph  
Dempsey  
3–4   Olsen
  Quaranta
  Adu
  Eskandarian
  Moreno
  Carroll
Attendance: 21,201
Referee: Terry Vaughn

D.C. United advance 4–3 on penalties (3–3 after full time).


MLS Cup

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Kansas City Wizards2–3D.C. United
Burciaga Jr.   6'
Wolff   58' (pen.)
Report Eskandarian   19'   23'
Zotinca   26' (o.g.)
Kovalenko   57'
Attendance: 25,797
Referee: Michael Kennedy

Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Brian Ching San Jose Earthquakes 12
  Eddie Johnson Dallas Burn
3   Edson Buddle Columbus Crew 11
  Pat Noonan New England Revolution
  Damani Ralph Chicago Fire
  Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy
7   Alecko Eskandarian D.C. United 10
  Amado Guevara MetroStars
  Josh Wolff Kansas City Wizards
  John Wolyniec MetroStars

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   José Cancela New England Revolution 8
  Simon Elliott Columbus Crew
  Amado Guevara MetroStars
4   Landon Donovan San Jose Earthquakes 7
5   Andreas Herzog Los Angeles Galaxy 6
  Chris Klein Kansas City Wizards
  Dema Kovalenko D.C. United
  Jaime Moreno D.C. United
  Richard Mulrooney San Jose Earthquakes
  Ronnie O'Brien Dallas Burn
  Andy Williams Chicago Fire

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Jon Busch Columbus Crew 10
  Joe Cannon Colorado Rapids
3   Kevin Hartman Los Angeles Galaxy 7
  Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
  Henry Ring Chicago Fire
6   Pat Onstad San Jose Earthquakes 6
7   Bo Oshoniyi Kansas City Wizards 5
  Jonny Walker MetroStars
9   Jeff Cassar Dallas Burn 4
  Scott Garlick Dallas Burn
  Nick Rimando D.C. United

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Amado Guevara MetroStars
Defender of the Year   Robin Fraser Columbus Crew
Goalkeeper of the Year   Joe Cannon Colorado Rapids
Coach of the Year   Greg Andrulis Columbus Crew
Rookie of the Year   Clint Dempsey New England Revolution
Comeback Player of the Year   Brian Ching San Jose Earthquakes
Scoring Champion   Amado Guevara
  Pat Noonan
MetroStars
New England Revolution
Goal of the Year   Dwayne De Rosario San Jose Earthquakes
Fair Play Award   Eddie Pope MetroStars
Humanitarian of the Year   Chris Henderson Colorado Rapids

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Joe Cannon, Colorado   Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City
  Robin Fraser, Columbus
  Ryan Nelsen, D.C. United
  Eddie Pope, MetroStars
  Eddie Gaven, MetroStars
  Amado Guevara, MetroStars
  Ronnie O'Brien, Dallas
  Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City
  Brian Ching, San Jose
  Jaime Moreno, D.C. United

Attendance

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Club Games Total Average
Los Angeles Galaxy 15 357,137 23,809
D.C. United 15 258,484 17,232
MetroStars 15 257,923 17,195
Chicago Fire 15 257,295 17,153
Columbus Crew 15 253,079 16,872
Kansas City Wizards 15 222,235 14,816
Colorado Rapids 15 212,925 14,195
San Jose Earthquakes 15 195,015 13,001
New England Revolution 15 183,385 12,226
Dallas Burn 15 136,319 9,088
Totals 150 2,333,797 15,559

References

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