The 1996 Dallas Burn season was the inaugural season of the Major League Soccer team. It was the first time since 1981 that the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex had a professional soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
| 1996 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Major League Soccer | ||
| Head coach | Dave Dir | ||
| Stadium | Cotton Bowl | ||
| MLS | Conference: 2nd Overall: 4th | ||
| MLS Cup | Lost Semifinals vs. Kansas City Wiz (1–2) | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Lost Semifinals vs. D.C. United | ||
| Highest home attendance | 35,250 vs. Columbus Crew (May 5, 1996) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 7,338 vs. Columbus Crew (August 14, 1996) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 16,012 (regular season) 9,964 (playoffs) | ||
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Final standings edit
Western Conference edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 59 | 49 | +10 | 49 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 41 | |
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 61 | 63 | −2 | 41 | |
| 4 | San Jose Clash | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 39 | |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 9 | 2 | 21 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 29 |
Source: MLS
Overall table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Regular season edit
Results by round edit
Match Results edit
| April 14, 1996 1 | Dallas Burn | 0–0 (2–1 SO) | San Jose Clash | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 27,779 Referee: Kevin Terry | |||
| Shootout | ||||
| April 18, 1996 2 | Dallas Burn | 3–0 | Kansas City Wiz | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap |
|
Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,405 Referee: Kevin Stott |
| April 21, 1996 3 | Colorado Rapids | 3–1 | Dallas Burn | Denver, Colorado |
| Recap | Stadium: Mile High Stadium Attendance: 21,711 Referee: Esse Baharmast |
| April 28, 1996 4 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1–2 | Dallas Burn | Tampa, Florida |
|
Recap | Stadium: Tampa Stadium Attendance: 14,084 Referee: Raul Dominguez |
| May 1, 1996 5 | D.C. United | 3–1 | Dallas Burn | Washington, D.C. |
|
Recap | Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,253 Referee: Byungil Noh |
| May 5, 1996 6 | Dallas Burn | 0–0 (3–1 SO) | Columbus Crew | Dallas, Texas |
|
Recap |
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Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 35,250 Referee: Brian Hall | |
| Shootout | ||||
| May 11, 1996 7 | Kansas City Wiz | 2–3 | Dallas Burn | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Recap | Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 17,706 Referee: Ted Covaciu |
| May 18, 1996 8 | Dallas Burn | 3–2 | D.C. United | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 23,251 Referee: Arturo Angeles |
| May 23, 1996 9 | Dallas Burn | 0–1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 11,457 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| May 29, 1996 10 | Colorado Rapids | 2–0 | Dallas Burn | Denver, Colorado |
| Recap | Stadium: Mile High Stadium Attendance: 10,971 Referee: Brian Hall |
| June 2, 1996 11 | Dallas Burn | 0–1 | New York/New Jersey Metrostars | Dallas, Texas |
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Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 10,610 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| June 8, 1996 12 | Dallas Burn | 4–1 | San Jose Clash | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 25,187 Referee: Esse Baharmast |
| June 15, 1996 13 | Dallas Burn | 1–1 (4–2 SO) | Colorado Rapids | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap |
|
Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,704 Referee: Rich Grady | ||
| Shootout | ||||
| June 19, 1996 14 | New York/New Jersey Metrostars | 0–0 (2–0 SO) | Dallas Burn | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Recap | Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 14,322 Referee: Esse Baharmast | |||
| Shootout | ||||
| June 23, 1996 15 | New England Revolution | 1–4 | Dallas Burn | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Recap | Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 17,066 Referee: Edwin Resendes |
| June 29, 1996 16 | Dallas Burn | 0–1 | Kansas City Wiz | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,615 Referee: Joshua Patlak |
| July 4, 1996 17 | Dallas Burn | 1–1 (3–1 SO) | D.C. United | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 16,177 Referee: Tim Weyland | |||
| Shootout | ||||
| July 7, 1996 18 | D.C. United | 6–1 | Dallas Burn | Washington, D.C. |
| Recap |
|
Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,244 Referee: Paul Tamberino |
| July 10, 1996 19 | New York/New Jersey Metrostars | 3–2 | Dallas Burn | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Recap | Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 17,416 Referee: Ruben Rodhas |
| July 17, 1996 20 | Dallas Burn | 5–2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 17,665 Referee: Rich Grady |
| July 20, 1996 21 | Kansas City Wiz | 1–2 | Dallas Burn | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Recap | Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 11,592 Referee: Brian Hall |
| July 27, 1996 22 | Dallas Burn | 3–0 | Colorado Rapids | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,081 Referee: Arturo Angeles |
| July 31, 1996 23 | Columbus Crew | 1–2 | Dallas Burn | Columbus, Ohio |
| Recap | Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 13,190 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| August 10, 1996 24 | Dallas Burn | 2–1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 12,503 Referee: Kevin Stott |
| August 14, 1996 25 | Dallas Burn | 2–2 (2–3 SO) | Columbus Crew | Dallas, Texas |
|
Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 7,338 Referee: Zimmerman Boulos | ||
| Shootout | ||||
| August 22, 1996 26 | San Jose Clash | 0–0 (3–2 SO) | Dallas Burn | San Jose, California |
| Recap | Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 13,359 Referee: Tim Weyland | |||
| Shootout | ||||
| August 25, 1996 27 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2–3 | Dallas Burn | Pasadena, California |
| Recap |
|
Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 19,279 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| September 4, 1996 28 | New England Revolution | 2–1 | Dallas Burn | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Recap | Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 12,933 Referee: Robert Sheker |
| September 7, 1996 29 | Dallas Burn | 0–2 | New England Revolution | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 18,582 Referee: Kevin Stott |
| September 11, 1996 30 | San Jose Clash | 2–2 (1–3 SO) | Dallas Burn | San Jose, California |
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Recap | Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 10,894 Referee: Frank Gorog | ||
| Shootout | ||||
| September 19, 1996 31 | Dallas Burn | 1–2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap |
|
Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 12,569 Referee: Ali Saheli |
| September 22, 1996 32 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2–1 | Dallas Burn | Pasadena, California |
| Recap | Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 18,347 Referee: Joshua Patlak |
MLS Cup Playoffs edit
Western Conference semifinals edit
| September 26, 1996 Game 1 | Kansas City Wiz | 3–2 | Dallas Burn | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Recap | Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 4,466 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| September 29, 1996 Game 2 | Dallas Burn | 2–1 | Kansas City Wiz | Dallas, Texas |
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Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 10,125 Referee: Esse Baharmast |
| October 2, 1996 Game 3 | Dallas Burn | 2–2 (2–3 SO) | Kansas City Wiz | Dallas, Texas |
| Recap | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,802 Referee: Rich Grady | |||
| Shootout | ||||
U.S. Open Cup edit
| September 16, 1996 Quarterfinal | Dallas Burn  | 3–2 |  Seattle Sounders | Dallas, Texas |
| Report | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 1,305 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| October 27, 1996 Semifinal | Dallas Burn | 0–2 |  D.C. United | Dallas, Texas |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 1,958 Referee: Kevin Terry |