1996 D.C. United season

External video
	San Jose Clash vs D.C. United First-Ever MLS Match on YouTube

D.C. United
1996 season
General Manager	Dave Kasper
Head Coach	Bruce Arena
Stadium	RFK Stadium
MLS	3rd
MLS Cup	Champions
U.S. Open Cup	Champions
Top goalscorer	League: ; Raúl Díaz Arce (23); All: ; Raúl Díaz Arce (24)
Highest home attendance	32,864 vs New England; (April 27, 1996)
Average home league attendance	15,585
Home colors	Away colors

The 1996 D.C. United season was the clubs' second year of existence, as well as their debutant season in Major League Soccer. United would become the first club to win the MLS Cup this year.

Background

Prior to Major League Soccer's inaugural season, it had been six years since the Washington Metropolitan Area had a professional soccer club play within the region. The last team, was the late 1980s/early 1990s version of the Washington Diplomats. The Diplomats, played in the American Soccer League, which at the time was, by de facto, the top division of soccer in the United States although it was not sanctioned by U.S. Soccer or FIFA as a top tier soccer league. With the installation of the D.C. United franchise, it was the first time since the 1981 that a top division pro soccer club played in the region.

The foundation of the team came on June 15, 1994, when Major League Soccer selected Washington, D.C. out of twenty-two applicants to host one of the first seven teams, with three more added before the league's launch.[1]

Club name

Once an MLS franchise was awarded to Washington, the new club management sought a name for the club. Attempting to allude to the American sporting culture, original suppositions included the area's name followed by a mascot for the club. Some ideas included the "Spies", "Americans" and "Eagles". Eventually, the idea of simply naming the team "D.C. United" was decided upon as the club name. The moniker "United" alluded to European club names such as Leeds and Manchester United, as well as reflecting on being based in capital of the United States.[2]

MLS Playoffs

The final month of D.C. United's inaugural season saw the club compete in the first ever MLS Cup Playoffs, eventually being crowned the MLS Cup champions. Ten days later, United would earn the double by winning the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the United States' domestic knockout cup competition. Such a feat would not be accomplished again until the Chicago Fire did so in 1998. To date, only four other MLS sides have ever achieved any sort of "double", being regular season, playoffs, or cup competition.

Playoff play continued into October with game three of the conference semifinal series, with kickoff on October 2. United, tied with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars were level 1–1 in the series. Played in front of a crowd of 20,423, United would emerge victorious in the match and in the series winning the match and series by a 2–1 scoreline. In game three, Steve Rammel opened the scoring in the 67th minute, giving United a crucial 1–0 victory. Inside 20 minutes later, the MetroStars leveled things up off an 86th-minute strike from NY/NJ's Antony de Ávila. The match, looking destined for sudden death extra time was abruptly halted when a penalty was called against NY/NJ in the box. The call resulted with United's Raúl Díaz Arce notching the eventual match winner in the 89th minute of play. The win booked United into the 1996 MLS Eastern Conference Finals.

D.C. United took on the Supporters' Shield winners, Tampa Bay Mutiny on October 10 to open up the Eastern Conference Finals. The first match of the three-game series was held at RFK Stadium, where United posted a 4–1 victory. The score was United's largest margin of victory throughout the playoffs. The match saw Díaz Arce notch a hat trick, making him the first player in MLS Cup Playoffs history to score a hat trick in a playoff match. Díaz Arce scored in the 38th minute to give United the go-ahead lead, only for Tampa Bay's Roy Lassiter to equalize in the 42nd minute. United's Steve Rammel score what would eventually be the match-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give United a 2–1 lead over the Mutiny. Díaz Arce would score insurance goals for United in a three-minute span, scoring in the 58th and 60th minutes of play.

Held two days later, game two of the conference finals took place at Houlihan's Stadium near Tampa, Florida. With a crowd of 9,339 on hand, Tampa Bay took a 1–0 lead against D.C. inside 15 minutes, thanks to a strike from Steve Ralston. Ralston's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides for the remainder of the first half. However, four minutes into the second half of play, United's Richie Williams netted the equalizer. Díaz Arce would, once again, provide last minute heroics scoring in the 82nd minute to give United the 2–1 lead, and to book themselves in the inaugural MLS Cup championship.

Match Results

Legend

Major League Soccer

Regular season

April 6 Matchday 1	San Jose Clash	1–0	D.C. United	San Jose, California
	Wynalda 88'	Report		Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 31,683

April 13 Matchday 2	D.C. United	0–4	Columbus Crew	Columbus, Ohio
		Report	Lee 18' (o.g.) McBride 29', 86' Marino 48'	Stadium: Crew Stadium Attendance: 25,266

April 20 Matchday 3	LA Galaxy	2–1	D.C. United	Washington, D.C.
	Cienfuegos 21' (pen.) Salcedo 72'	Report	Diaz Arce 7'	Stadium: RFK Attendance: 35,032

April 27 Matchday 4	D.C. United	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p)	New England Revolution	Foxborough, Massachusetts
	Diaz Arce 69'	Report	Aunger 78' (pen.)	Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 32,864
	Penalties

May 1 Matchday 5	Dallas Burn	1–3	D.C. United	Washington, D.C.
	Rodriguez 43' (pen.)	Report	Diaz Arce 15' (pen.) Etcheverry 53' Rammel 64'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,253

May 5 Matchday 6	D.C. United	1–3	LA Galaxy	Washington, D.C.
	Rammel 28'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 20,471

May 12 Matchday 7	NY/NJ MetroStars	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–1 p)	D.C. United	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	Savarese 64'	Report	Harkes 11'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 14,722
	Penalties

May 15 Matchday 8	Columbus Crew	2–5	D.C. United	Columbus, Ohio
	McBride 74' Paz 86'	Report	Rammel 28', 49', 57' Diaz Arce 67', 70'	Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 7,422

May 18 Matchday 9	D.C. United	2–3	Dallas Burn	Washington, D.C.
	Sanneh 65' Agoos 90'	Report	Kreis 40', 82' Sánchez 88'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 23,351

May 30 Matchday 10	D.C. United	2–1	NY/NJ MetroStars	Washington, D.C.
	Rammel 19' Sanneh 32'	Report	Wood 27'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 25,322

June 2 Matchday 11	Colorado Rapids	2–2 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p)	D.C. United	Denver, Colorado
	Trittschuh 67' Harbor 77'	Report	Diaz Arce 34' Maessner 88'	Stadium: Mile High Stadium Attendance: 8,517
	Penalties

June 5 Matchday 12	D.C. United	3–1	San Jose Clash	Washington, D.C.
	Diaz Arce 23' Rammel 35', 49'	Report	Butler 68'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 15,845

June 20 Matchday 13	Kansas City Wiz	5–1	D.C. United	Kansas City, Missouri
	Preki 6' Takawira 28' Chung 30', 54' Sorber 35'	Report	Sanneh 42'	Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 9,458

June 23 Matchday 14	San Jose Clash	2–1	D.C. United	San Jose, California
	Espinoza 41' Baicher 66'	Report	Díaz Arce 50'	Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 14,088

June 30 Matchday 15	D.C. United	3–1	New England Revolution	Washington, D.C.
	Rammel 1' Díaz Arce 46' Harkes 89'	Report	Naveda 38'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 19,355

July 4 Matchday 16	Dallas Burn	1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p)	D.C. United	Dallas, Texas
9:30 PM	Kreis 33'	Report	Díaz Arce 61'	Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 16,177

July 7 Matchday 17	D.C. United	6–1	Dallas Burn	Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM	Díaz Arce 3', 48', 61', 63' Rammel 18', 77'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,244

July 12 Matchday 18	D.C. United	1–0	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM	Etcheverry 72'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 20,014

July 20 Matchday 19	New England Revolution	2–0	D.C. United	Foxborough, Massachusetts
12:00 PM	Sawatzky 54', 78'	Report		Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 18,347

July 28 Matchday 20	D.C. United	2–0	Columbus Crew	Washington, D.C.
4:00 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

July 31 Matchday 21	D.C. United	2–3	Kansas City Wiz	Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

August 4 Matchday 22	D.C. United	2–4	Kansas City Wiz	Washington, D.C.
3:00 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

August 7 Matchday 23	Tampa Bay Mutiny	1–3	D.C. United	Tampa, Florida
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium

August 10 Matchday 24	Columbus Crew SC	3–2	D.C. United	Columbus, Ohio
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: Ohio Stadium

August 18 Matchday 25	D.C. United	2–1	LA Galaxy	Washington, D.C.
8:30 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

August 21 Matchday 26	NY/NJ MetroStars	2–3	D.C. United	East Rutherford, New Jersey
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: Giants Stadium

August 25 Matchday 27	D.C. United	3–0	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C.
3:00 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

August 29 Matchday 28	Colorado Rapids	1–2	D.C. United	Denver, Colorado
10:30 PM		Report		Stadium: Mile High Stadium

September 6 Matchday 29	D.C. United	1–2	NY/NJ MetroStars	Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

September 14 Matchday 30	Tampa Bay Mutiny	2–0	D.C. United	Tampa, Florida
5:00 PM		Report		Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium

September 17 Matchday 31	D.C. United	3–2	New England Revolution	Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

September 21 Matchday 32	D.C. United	3–1	Colorado Rapids	Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

Playoffs

Conference semifinals

September 24, 1996 Game 1	NY/NJ MetroStars	2–2 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p)	D.C. United	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	De Ávila 38' Savarese 75'		Díaz Arce 24' Moreno 56'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 14,416 Referee: Esse Baharmast
	Penalties

Note: MetroStars lead the series 1–0

September 27, 1996 Game 2	D.C. United	1–0	NY/NJ MetroStars	Washington, D.C.
	Etcheverry 72'			Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 21,442 Referee: Paul Tamberino
Note: Series tied 1–1

October 2, 1996 Game 3	D.C. United	2–1	NY/NJ MetroStars	Washington, D.C.
	Rammel 67' Díaz Arce 89' (pen.)		de Ávila 86'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 20,423 Referee: Brian Hall
Note: D.C. United win series 2–1

Conference finals

October 10, 1996 Game 1	D.C. United	4–1	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C.
	Díaz Arce 36', 58', 60' Rammel 54'		Lassiter 42'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 23,566 Referee: Kevin Stott
Note: D.C. United lead the series 1–0

October 12, 1996 Game 2	Tampa Bay Mutiny	1–2	D.C. United	Tampa, Florida
	Ralston 14'		Williams 49' Díaz Arce 82'	Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium Attendance: 9,339 Referee: Rich Grady
Note: D.C. United wins series 2–0

MLS Cup

October 20, 1996 Final	LA Galaxy	2–3 (a.e.t.)	D.C. United	Foxborough, Massachusetts
	Hurtado 5' Armas 56'		Sanneh 72' Medved 81' Pope 94'	Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 34,643 Referee: Esfandiar Baharmast

U.S. Open Cup

September 4, 1996 Quarterfinals	Carolina Dynamo	0–2	D.C. United	Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
			Rammel 50', 83'	Stadium: Klöckner Stadium Attendance: 1,829 Referee: Ruben Rodhas

October 27, 1996 Semifinals	D.C. United	2–0	Dallas Burn	Dallas, Texas, USA
7:30 PM EDT	Moreno 12', 82'	Report		Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 1,958 Referee: Kevin Terry

October 30, 1996 Final	Rochester Raging Rhinos	0–3	D.C. United	Washington, D.C., USA
		Report	Díaz Arce 45' Pope 63' Moreno 89'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 7,234 Referee: Esse Baharast

League standings

Conference

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	SOW	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Tampa Bay Mutiny	32	19	12	1	66	51	+15	58	Playoffs
2	D.C. United	32	15	16	1	62	56	+6	46
3	NY/NJ MetroStars	32	12	17	3	45	47	−2	39
4	Columbus Crew	32	11	17	4	59	60	−1	37
5	New England Revolution	32	9	17	6	43	56	−13	33

Source: MLS

Overall

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	SOW	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Tampa Bay Mutiny (X)	32	19	12	1	66	51	+15	58
2	Los Angeles Galaxy	32	15	13	4	59	49	+10	49	1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup[lower-alpha 1]
3	D.C. United (C)	32	15	16	1	62	56	+6	46	1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup[lower-alpha 1]
4	Dallas Burn	32	12	15	5	50	48	+2	41
5	Kansas City Wiz	32	12	15	5	61	63	−2	41
6	San Jose Clash	32	12	17	3	50	50	0	39
7	NY/NJ MetroStars	32	12	17	3	45	47	−2	39
8	Columbus Crew	32	11	17	4	59	60	−1	37
9	New England Revolution	32	9	17	6	43	56	−13	33
10	Colorado Rapids	32	9	21	2	44	59	−15	29

Source: MLS
(C) Champion; (X) Supporters' Shield winner.
Notes:

Qualified as 1996 MLS Cup finalists

Transfers

In

Date	Player	Previous Club	Fee/Notes	Ref
January 24, 1996	Jeff Agoos	Wehen	Allocated
January 24, 1996	Marco Etcheverry	América de Cali	Allocated
January 24, 1996	John Harkes	West Ham United	Allocated
January 24, 1996	Berthy Suárez	Guabirá	Allocated
February 6, 1996	Raúl Díaz Arce	Luis Ángel Firpo	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Shawn Medved	Seattle Sounders	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Erik Imler	Raleigh Flyers	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Richie Williams	Richmond Kickers	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Thor Lee	Wichita Wings	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Brian Kamler	Richmond Kickers	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Mile Milovac	Indianapolis Twisters	Drafted
February 6, 1996	Kris Kelderman	St. Louis Ambush	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Clint Peay	Virginia Cavaliers	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Ben Crawley	TuS Celle	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Said Fazlagić	Sarajevo	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Daniel de Oliveira	Luis Ángel Firpo	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Matthew Olson	Everett BigFoot	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Sterling Wescott	Hawaii Tsunami	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Garth Lagerwey	Hampton Roads Mariners	Drafted
February 7, 1996	Carlos Garcia	Myrtle Beach Boyz	Drafted
April 19, 1996	Steve Rammel	Washington Mustangs	Loan	[3]
July 18, 1996	Jaime Moreno	Middlesbrough	Lottery

Recognition

References

"General Overview". Major League Soccer. 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
Dure, Beau (2010). Long Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. pp. 21–23. ISBN 978-1-59797-509-4.
http://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp070397.html

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[table_note_res_CCC0.56896105016068-3] Qualified as 1996 MLS Cup finalists

[overview-1] "General Overview". Major League Soccer. 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2009.

[dc_united_name-2] Dure, Beau (2010). Long Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. pp. 21–23. ISBN 978-1-59797-509-4.

[4] ttp://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp070397.html