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2003 Major League Soccer season

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The 2003 Major League Soccer season was the eighth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 91st season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 25th with a national first-division league.

2003 Major League Soccer season
Season2003
MLS CupSan Jose Earthquakes (2nd title)
Supporters' ShieldChicago Fire (1st shield)
2004 CONCACAF Champions' CupSan Jose Earthquakes
Chicago Fire
Matches played150
Goals scored433 (2.89 per match)
Top goalscorerCarlos Ruiz
Los Angeles Galaxy
Goals: 15
Taylor Twellman
N.E. Revolution
Goals: 15
Biggest home winCHI 4–0 COL
CLB 6–2 CHI
Biggest away winSJ 1–4 CHI
DAL 0–3 SJ
Highest scoringNY 4–4 SJ
CLB 6–2 CHI
Longest winning runColorado Rapids
Games: 5
(07/04 – 08/09)
MetroStars
Games: 5
(04/26 – 05/24)
Longest unbeaten runChicago Fire
Games: 7
(07/19 – 08/24)
Colorado Rapids
Games: 7
(08/16 – 10/01)
Longest losing runColorado Rapids
Games: 4
(05/03 – 05/25)
Dallas Burn
Games: 4
(07/19 -08/13)
Highest attendanceLos Angeles Galaxy
Season: 329,752
Game Avg.: 21,983
Lowest attendanceDallas Burn
Season: 118,585
Game Avg.: 7,906
Total attendance2,234,747
Average attendance14,898
← 2002
2004 →
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Locations of teams for the 2003 Major League Soccer season
Western Conference   Eastern Conference

The Los Angeles Galaxy moved into the league's second soccer-specific stadium when the Home Depot Center opened on June 1, 2003. The Chicago Fire continued to play at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville but returned to the newly renovated Soldier Field for their final regular season game.

The number of games was increased to 30 after a reduction to 28 for the 2002 season. Instead of a best-of-three series, the playoffs were tweaked so that the conference semifinals would be determined by a home-and-away aggregate score over two matches. Additionally, the two conference finals became one match fixtures instead of two legs.

The regular season began on April 5, and concluded on October 26. The 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs began on November 1, and concluded with MLS Cup 2003 on November 23. The San Jose Earthquakes won their second MLS Cup in three years with a victory over Chicago.

Overview

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Season format

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The season began on April 5 and concluded with MLS Cup on November 23. 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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Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire Cardinal Stadium
Soldier Field 		15,000
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 Dragon Stadium 11,000
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 Shirt sponsor
Chicago Fire   Dave Sarachan —
Colorado Rapids   Tim Hankinson
Columbus Crew   Greg Andrulis Pepsi
D.C. United   Ray Hudson —
Dallas Burn   Mike Jeffries
Kansas City Wizards   Bob Gansler —
Los Angeles Galaxy   Sigi Schmid Budweiser
MetroStars   Bob Bradley   Eddie Pope
New England Revolution   Steve Nicol —
San Jose Earthquakes   Frank Yallop   Jeff Agoos Yahoo! en Español

Coaching changes

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Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
Dallas Burn   Mike Jeffries Fired September 15, 2003   Colin Clarke September 15, 2003

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chicago Fire 30 15 7 8 53 43 +10 53 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 New England Revolution 30 12 9 9 55 47 +8 45
3 MetroStars 30 11 10 9 40 40 0 42
4 D.C. United 30 10 11 9 38 36 +2 39
5 Columbus Crew 30 10 12 8 44 44 0 38
Source: MLS

Western Conference

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Jose Earthquakes 30 14 7 9 45 35 +10 51 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 48 44 +4 42
3 Colorado Rapids 30 11 12 7 40 45 −5 40
4 Los Angeles Galaxy 30 9 12 9 35 35 0 36
5 Dallas Burn 30 6 19 5 35 64 −29 23
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chicago Fire (S) 30 15 7 8 53 43 +10 53 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 San Jose Earthquakes (C) 30 14 7 9 45 35 +10 51
3 New England Revolution 30 12 9 9 55 47 +8 45
4 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 48 44 +4 42
5 MetroStars 30 11 10 9 40 40 0 42
6 Colorado Rapids 30 11 12 7 40 45 −5 40
7 D.C. United 30 10 11 9 38 36 +2 39
8 Columbus Crew 30 10 12 8 44 44 0 38
9 Los Angeles Galaxy 30 9 12 9 35 35 0 36
10 Dallas Burn 30 6 19 5 35 64 −29 23
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 Chicago (wins 4–0 agg.) 2 2
E4 D.C. United 0 0
E1 Chicago 1
Eastern Conference
E3 New England 0
E2 New England (wins 3–1 agg.) 2 1
E3 MetroStars 0 1
E1 Chicago 2
W1 San Jose 4
W1 San Jose (wins 5–4 agg.) 0 5*
W4 Los Angeles 2 2
W1 San Jose 3
Western Conference
W3 Kansas City 2
W3 Kansas City (wins 3–1 agg.) 1 2
W2 Colorado 1 0

Eastern Conference semifinals

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Chicago Fire2–0D.C. United
Williams   4'
Razov   94'
Attendance: 15,202
D.C. United0–2Chicago Fire
Ralph   17'
Razov   55'
Attendance: 15,312

Chicago Fire won 4–0 on aggregate.

New England Revolution2–0MetroStars
Fabbro   17'
Noonan   65'
Attendance: 10,211
MetroStars1–1New England Revolution
Guevara   45' (pen.) Noonan   21'
Attendance: 14,823

New England Revolution won 3–1 on aggregate.

Western Conference semifinals

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San Jose Earthquakes0–2Los Angeles Galaxy
Victorine   59'
Ruiz   62'
Attendance: 20,201
Los Angeles Galaxy2–5 (a.e.t.)San Jose Earthquakes
Ruiz   7'
Vagenas   13'		 Agoos   21'
Donovan   35'
Walker   50'
Roner   90'
Faria   96'
Attendance: 14,145

San Jose Earthquakes won 5–4 on aggregate after golden goal extra time.

Kansas City Wizards1–1Colorado Rapids
Harris   3' Borchers   53'
Attendance: 6,434
Colorado Rapids0–2Kansas City Wizards
Simutenkov   45'
Klein   63'
Attendance: 10,712

Kansas City Wizards won 3–1 on aggregate.

Conference finals

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Eastern Conference

New England Revolution0–1 (a.e.t.)Chicago Fire
Armas   101'
Attendance: 14,610

Western Conference

Kansas City Wizards2–3 (a.e.t.)San Jose Earthquakes
Simutenkov   57'
Klein   72'		 Lagos   61'
Mullan   83'
Donovan   117'
Attendance: 16,108

MLS Cup

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Main article: MLS Cup 2003
Chicago Fire2–4San Jose Earthquakes
Beasley   49'
Roner   54' (o.g.)		 Ekelund   5'
Donovan   38', 71'
Mulrooney   50'
Attendance: 27,000

Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy 15
  Taylor Twellman New England Revolution
3   Ante Razov Chicago Fire 14
  John Spencer Colorado Rapids
5   Landon Donovan San Jose Earthquakes 12
  Brian McBride Columbus Crew
  Preki Kansas City Wizards
8   Mark Chung Colorado Rapids 11
  Damani Ralph Chicago Fire
10   Edson Buddle Columbus Crew 10
  Pat Noonan New England Revolution

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   Preki Kansas City Wizards 12
2   Amado Guevara MetroStars 9
3   Mark Lisi MetroStars 6
  Ross Paule Columbus Crew
  Steve Ralston New England Revolution
6   Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy 5
  Manny Lagos San Jose Earthquakes
  Brian Mullan San Jose Earthquakes
  Richard Mulrooney San Jose Earthquakes
  Pat Noonan New England Revolution
  Eric Quill Kansas City Wizards
  Andy Williams Chicago Fire

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Scott Garlick Colorado Rapids 9
  Pat Onstad San Jose Earthquakes
3   Zach Thornton Chicago Fire 8
4   Nick Rimando D.C. United 7
5   Adin Brown New England Revolution 4
  Jon Busch Columbus Crew
  Kevin Hartman LA Galaxy
  Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
  Jonny Walker MetroStars
10   D.J. Countess Dallas Burn 3
  Tim Howard MetroStars

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Preki Kansas City Wizards
Defender of the Year   Carlos Bocanegra Chicago Fire
Goalkeeper of the Year   Pat Onstad San Jose Earthquakes
Coach of the Year   Dave Sarachan Chicago Fire
Rookie of the Year   Damani Ralph Chicago Fire
Comeback Player of the Year   Chris Armas Chicago Fire
Scoring Champion   Preki Kansas City Wizards
Goal of the Year   Damani Ralph Chicago Fire
Fair Play Award   Brian McBride Columbus Crew
Humanitarian of the Year   Ben Olsen D.C. United

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Tim Howard, MetroStars   Wade Barrett, San Jose
  Carlos Bocanegra, Chicago
  Alexi Lalas, LA Galaxy 		  Mark Chung, Colorado
  Ronnie Ekelund, San Jose
  Óscar Pareja, Dallas
  Steve Ralston, New England 		  Jeff Cunningham, Columbus
  Carlos Ruiz, LA Galaxy
  Taylor Twellman, New England

Attendance

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Club Games Season Game Avg.
Los Angeles Galaxy 15 329,752 21,983
Colorado Rapids 15 251,578 16,772
Columbus Crew 15 243,756 16,250
MetroStars 15 237,326 15,822
Kansas City Wizards 15 233,594 15,573
D.C. United 15 233,476 15,565
New England Revolution 15 219,611 14,641
Chicago Fire 15 210,080 14,005
San Jose Earthquakes 15 156,989 10,466
Dallas Burn 15 118,585 7,906
Totals 150 2,234,747 14,898

References

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