1997 D.C. United season

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.

D.C. United

1997 season
General manager	Dave Kasper
Head coach	Bruce Arena
Stadium	RFK Stadium
MLS	Conference: 1st Overall: 1st
MLS Cup	Champions
U.S. Open Cup	Runners-Up
CONCACAF Champions' Cup	Third place
Top goalscorer	League: All: Jaime Moreno (16)
Home colors Away colors Third colors

Background

Main article: 1996 D.C. United season

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.

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Further information: 1997 Major League Soccer season

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

MLS Cup Playoffs

Further information: 1997 Major League Soccer season § 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

D.C. United v New England Revolution

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

New England Revolution v D.C. United

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

D.C. United v Columbus Crew

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 v Columbus Crew

October 15 Game 2	D.C. United	1–0	Columbus Crew	Columbus, Ohio
	Díaz Arce 47'			Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 9,506 Referee: Arturo Angeles

D.C. United win the series 2–0.

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup '97

D.C. United v Colorado Rapids

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

Further information: 1997 U.S. Open Cup

D.C. United v Tampa Bay Mutiny

August 19, 1997 (1997-08-19) Quarterfinals	D.C. United	2–0	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C., United States
	Etcheverry 84' Iroha 89'			Stadium: RFK Stadium

San Francisco Bay Seals v D.C. United

September 3, 1997 (1997-09-03) Semifinals	San Francisco Bay Seals	1–2	D.C. United	Stockton, California
	White 84'		Moreno 2' (pen.) Díaz Arce 62'	Stadium: Stagg Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,470

Dallas Burn v D.C. United

October 29, 1997 (1997-10-29) Final	Dallas Burn	0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	D.C. United	Indianapolis
19:00 EDT				Stadium: Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,766 Referee: Rich Grady
	Penalties
	Damián Kreis Sutter Peinado Rodríguez		Etcheverry Díaz Arce Moreno Iroha

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Further information: 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Bracket

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
		D.C. United	1
		United Petrotrin	0
							D.C. United	0
							LA Galaxy	1
		LA Galaxy	2
		Luis Ángel Firpo	0
												LA Galaxy	3
												Cruz Azul	5
		Guadalajara	1
		Cartaginés	0
							Guadalajara	2
							Cruz Azul	3
		Cruz Azul	5
		Comunicaciones	0

Match results

D.C. United v United Petrotrin

August 12, 1997 (1997-08-12) Quarterfinals	D.C. United	1–0	United Petrotrin	Washington, D.C., United States
	Etcheverry 84'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

D.C. United v LA Galaxy

August 22, 1997 (1997-08-22) Semifinals	D.C. United	0–1	LA Galaxy	Washington, D.C., United States
		Report	Jones 10'	Stadium: RFK Stadium

D.C. United v Guadalajara

August 24, 1997 (1997-08-24) Consolation match	D.C. United	2–2	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

See also

• 1997 in American soccer
• 1997 Major League Soccer season
• List of D.C. United seasons