The 2002 Major League Soccer season was the seventh season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 90th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 24th with a national first-division league.
According to FC Dallas president Dan Hunt, the entire league nearly folded during the 2001 offseason.[1] The owners agreed to shut down the league on a conference call in November 2001, but within two days Lamar Hunt convinced the other owners to give the league another year.
On January 8, 2002, the league folded two of its teams, both of which were in Florida. The Miami Fusion ceased operations after only four years of existence due to low attendance and an unfavorable stadium deal. The Tampa Bay Mutiny also ceased operations due to the lack of local ownership. Additionally, the league eliminated the Central Division and returned to the original two-conference alignment.
In an effort to lower costs, the number of games was reduced from 32 to 28, marking the fewest games played in league history. The playoffs were also reformatted as the teams with the 8 highest point totals qualified regardless of conference affiliation.
The regular season began on March 23, and concluded on September 22. The 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 25, and concluded with MLS Cup 2002 on October 20. After three previous losses in the final, the Los Angeles Galaxy won their first MLS Cup with a victory over the New England Revolution.
The season began on March 23 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 20. The 10 teams were split evenly into two conferences. Each team played 28 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their conference, and one designated opponent from the opposite conference, four times, and the remaining teams in the opposite conference twice.
The top eight teams regardless of conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The first round and conference finals were played as a three game series, and the first team to 5 points advanced. The winners of the conference finals advanced to MLS Cup.
^Yousuf, Saad (April 16, 2016). "MLS nearly folded in 2001 - FC Dallas president Dan Hunt". ESPN.com.
External linksedit
MLS Site
May 07, 2024
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The 2002 Major League Soccer season was the seventh season of Major League Soccer It was also the 90th season of FIFA sanctioned soccer in the United States and the 24th with a national first division league 2002 Major League Soccer seasonSeason2002MLS CupLos Angeles Galaxy 1st title Supporters ShieldLos Angeles Galaxy 2nd shield 2003 CONCACAF Champions CupLos Angeles GalaxyNew England RevolutionSan Jose EarthquakesMatches played140Goals scored421 3 01 per match Top goalscorerCarlos RuizLos Angeles GalaxyGoals 24Highest attendanceColorado RapidsSeason 289 663Game Avg 20 690Lowest attendanceSan Jose EarthquakesSeason 156 104Game Avg 11 150Total attendance2 215 019Average attendance15 822 20012003 D C UnitedMetroStarsColumbusChicagoNew EnglandColoradoDallasLos AngelesKansas CitySan Joseclass notpageimage Locations of teams for the 2002 Major League Soccer season Western Conference Eastern Conference According to FC Dallas president Dan Hunt the entire league nearly folded during the 2001 offseason 1 The owners agreed to shut down the league on a conference call in November 2001 but within two days Lamar Hunt convinced the other owners to give the league another year On January 8 2002 the league folded two of its teams both of which were in Florida The Miami Fusion ceased operations after only four years of existence due to low attendance and an unfavorable stadium deal The Tampa Bay Mutiny also ceased operations due to the lack of local ownership Additionally the league eliminated the Central Division and returned to the original two conference alignment Two new stadiums opened this season The Colorado Rapids moved into Invesco Field at Mile High and the New England Revolution moved into CMGI Field which was renamed Gillette Stadium on August 5 Additionally due to renovations at Soldier Field the Chicago Fire played at Cardinal Stadium in the western suburb of Naperville In an effort to lower costs the number of games was reduced from 32 to 28 marking the fewest games played in league history The playoffs were also reformatted as the teams with the 8 highest point totals qualified regardless of conference affiliation The regular season began on March 23 and concluded on September 22 The 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 25 and concluded with MLS Cup 2002 on October 20 After three previous losses in the final the Los Angeles Galaxy won their first MLS Cup with a victory over the New England Revolution Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Season format 1 2 Stadiums and locations 1 3 Personnel and sponsorships 1 4 Coaching changes 2 Standings 2 1 Eastern Conference 2 2 Western Conference 2 3 Overall standings 3 MLS Cup Playoffs 3 1 Bracket 3 2 Quarterfinals 3 3 Semifinals 3 4 MLS Cup 4 Player statistics 4 1 Goals 4 2 Assists 4 3 Clean sheets 5 Awards 5 1 Individual awards 5 2 Best XI 6 Attendance 7 References 8 External linksOverview editSeason format edit The season began on March 23 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 20 The 10 teams were split evenly into two conferences Each team played 28 games that were evenly divided between home and away Each team played every other team in their conference and one designated opponent from the opposite conference four times and the remaining teams in the opposite conference twice The top eight teams regardless of conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs The first round and conference finals were played as a three game series and the first team to 5 points advanced The winners of the conference finals advanced to MLS Cup 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 edit Main article List of Major League Soccer stadiums Team Stadium Capacity Chicago Fire Cardinal Stadium 15 000 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 Rose Bowl 92 542 MetroStars Giants Stadium 80 200 New England Revolution CMGI Field 68 756 San Jose Earthquakes Spartan Stadium 30 456 Personnel and sponsorships edit Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Chicago Fire nbsp Bob Bradley Colorado Rapids nbsp Tim Hankinson Columbus Crew nbsp Greg Andrulis Pepsi D C United nbsp Ray Hudson Dallas Burn nbsp Mike Jeffries Kansas City Wizards nbsp Bob Gansler Los Angeles Galaxy nbsp Sigi Schmid MetroStars nbsp Octavio Zambrano nbsp Tab Ramos New England Revolution nbsp Fernando Clavijo San Jose Earthquakes nbsp Frank Yallop nbsp Jeff Agoos Yahoo Sports Coaching changes edit Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment New England Revolution nbsp Fernando Clavijo Fired May 23 2002 nbsp Steve Nicol May 23 2002Standings editEastern Conference edit Pos Teamvte Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1 New England Revolution 28 12 14 2 49 49 0 38 MLS Cup Playoffs 2 Columbus Crew 28 11 12 5 44 43 1 38 3 Chicago Fire 28 11 13 4 43 38 5 37 4 MetroStars 28 11 15 2 41 47 6 35 5 D C United 28 9 14 5 31 40 9 32Source MLS Western Conference edit Pos Teamvte Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 28 16 9 3 44 33 11 51 MLS Cup Playoffs 2 San Jose Earthquakes 28 14 11 3 45 35 10 45 3 Dallas Burn 28 12 9 7 44 43 1 43 4 Colorado Rapids 28 13 11 4 43 48 5 43 5 Kansas City Wizards 28 9 10 9 37 45 8 36Source MLS Overall standings edit Pos Teamvte Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1 Los Angeles Galaxy C S 28 16 9 3 44 33 11 51 CONCACAF Champions Cup 2 San Jose Earthquakes 28 14 11 3 45 35 10 45 3 Dallas Burn 28 12 9 7 44 43 1 43 4 Colorado Rapids 28 13 11 4 43 48 5 43 5 New England Revolution 28 12 14 2 49 49 0 38 CONCACAF Champions Cup 6 Columbus Crew 28 11 12 5 44 43 1 38 7 Chicago Fire 28 11 13 4 43 38 5 37 8 Kansas City Wizards 28 9 10 9 37 45 8 36 9 MetroStars 28 11 15 2 41 47 6 35 10 D C United 28 9 14 5 31 40 9 32Source MLSRules for classification 1 points 2 head to head record 3 goal difference 4 number of goals scored C Champions S Supporters ShieldMLS Cup Playoffs editBracket edit QuarterfinalsSemifinalsMLS Cup 1Los Angeles Galaxy ASDET 6 Points 3 158Kansas City Wizards 3 Points 2421Los Angeles Galaxy 6 Points 41x5Colorado Rapids 0 Points 00x4Dallas Burn 4 Points 4015Colorado Rapids SDET 4 Points 211 1Los Angeles Galaxy ASDET 12New England Revolution02New England Revolution 6 Points 2127Chicago Fire 3 Points 0202New England Revolution 5 Points 0126Columbus Crew 2 Points 0023San Jose Earthquakes 0 Points 11x6Columbus Crew 6 Points 22x Points systemWin 3 Pts Loss 0 Pts Draw 1 Pt ASDET Added Sudden Death Extra Time Game tie breaker SDET Sudden Death Extra Time Series tie breaker Teams will advance at 5 points Quarterfinals edit September 25 2002Kansas City Wizards2 3 AET Los Angeles GalaxyPreki nbsp 25 Brown nbsp 70 Ruiz nbsp 62 pen nbsp 99 Jones nbsp 85 Rose BowlPasadena CaliforniaAttendance 14 585 September 28 2002Los Angeles Galaxy1 4Kansas City WizardsAlbright nbsp 71 Simutenkov nbsp 19 Quill nbsp 37 Preki nbsp 70 Fabbro nbsp 73 Arrowhead StadiumKansas City MissouriAttendance 9 484 October 2 2002Kansas City Wizards2 5Los Angeles GalaxyKlein nbsp 47 Preki nbsp 72 Ruiz nbsp 34 nbsp 66 Jones nbsp 45 nbsp 62 Tennyson nbsp 90 3 Rose BowlPasadena CaliforniaAttendance 14 713 Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6 3 on points September 26 2002Chicago Fire0 2New England RevolutionTwellman nbsp 13 Hernandez nbsp 60 Gillette StadiumFoxborough MassachusettsAttendance 6 306 September 29 2002New England Revolution1 2Chicago FireKamler nbsp 28 Razov nbsp 43 pen nbsp 76 Cardinal StadiumNaperville IllinoisAttendance 9 434 October 2 2002Chicago Fire0 2New England RevolutionKamler nbsp 12 Twellman nbsp 65 Gillette StadiumFoxborough MassachusettsAttendance 6 954 New England Revolution advance 6 3 on points September 26 2002Columbus Crew2 1San Jose EarthquakesBuddle nbsp 38 Garcia nbsp 81 Donovan nbsp 54 Spartan StadiumSan Jose CaliforniaAttendance 8 069 September 28 2002San Jose Earthquakes1 2Columbus CrewGraziani nbsp 58 Garcia nbsp 50 McBride nbsp 81 Columbus Crew StadiumColumbus OhioAttendance 13 004 Columbus Crew advance 6 0 on points September 25 2002Colorado Rapids2 4Dallas BurnValderrama nbsp 2 Spencer Pen nbsp 75 Morrow nbsp 26 Kreis nbsp 49 Deering nbsp 68 Martinez nbsp 70 Cotton BowlDallas TexasAttendance 6 360 September 28 2002Dallas Burn0 1Colorado RapidsCarrieri nbsp 78 INVESCO Field at Mile HighDenver ColoradoAttendance 9 637 October 2 2002Colorado Rapids1 1Dallas BurnSpencer nbsp 22 Rhine nbsp 6 Cotton BowlDallas TexasAttendance 8 008 1 0 series OT ASDET Chung nbsp 1 Colorado Rapids advance in series sudden death overtime after 4 4 tie on points Semifinals edit October 5 2002Colorado Rapids0 4Los Angeles GalaxyCaliff nbsp 21 Ruiz nbsp 24 nbsp 84 Hendrickson nbsp 71 Rose BowlPasadena CaliforniaAttendance 24 742 October 9 2002Los Angeles Galaxy1 0Colorado RapidsRuiz nbsp 64 INVESCO Field at Mile HighDenver ColoradoAttendance 12 367 Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6 0 on points October 6 2002Columbus Crew0 0New England RevolutionGillette StadiumFoxborough MassachusettsAttendance 11 387 October 9 2002New England Revolution1 0Columbus CrewHeaps nbsp 3 Columbus Crew StadiumColumbus OhioAttendance 10 245 October 12 2002Columbus Crew2 2New England RevolutionMcBride nbsp 80 Washington nbsp 85 Ralston nbsp 17 Harris nbsp 47 Gillette StadiumFoxborough MassachusettsAttendance 9 216 New England Revolution advance 5 2 on points MLS Cup edit Main article MLS Cup 2002 October 20 2002 2002 10 20 Los Angeles Galaxy1 0 2OT New England RevolutionRuiz nbsp 113 ReportGillette StadiumFoxborough MassachusettsAttendance 61 316Referee Kevin TerryPlayer statistics editGoals edit Rank Player Club Goals 1 nbsp Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy 24 2 nbsp Taylor Twellman New England Revolution 23 3 nbsp Jeff Cunningham Columbus Crew 16 4 nbsp Ante Razov Chicago Fire 14 nbsp Ariel Graziani San Jose Earthquakes 6 nbsp Jason Kreis Dallas Burn 13 7 nbsp Mamadou Diallo New England Revolution MetroStars 12 nbsp Rodrigo Faria MetroStars 9 nbsp Chris Carrieri Colorado Rapids 11 nbsp Mark Chung Colorado Rapids nbsp Chris Henderson Colorado Rapids Assists edit Rank Player Club Assists 1 nbsp Andy Williams MetroStars 13 2 nbsp Steve Ralston New England Revolution 12 3 nbsp Preki Kansas City Wizards 8 4 nbsp Mark Chung Colorado Rapids 7 nbsp Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy nbsp Antonio Martinez Dallas Burn nbsp Carlos Valderrama Colorado Rapids 8 nbsp Ramiro Corrales San Jose Earthquakes 6 nbsp Dwayne De Rosario San Jose Earthquakes nbsp Simon Elliott Los Angeles Galaxy nbsp Bobby Rhine Dallas Burn nbsp Joselito Vaca Dallas Burn Clean sheets edit Rank Player Club Cleansheets 1 nbsp Joe Cannon San Jose Earthquakes 8 2 nbsp Nick Rimando D C United 7 nbsp Zach Thornton Chicago Fire 4 nbsp Adin Brown New England Revolution 5 nbsp Jon Busch Columbus Crew nbsp Kevin Hartman Los Angeles Galaxy 7 nbsp Scott Garlick Colorado Rapids 4 nbsp Tim Howard MetroStars 9 nbsp Matt Jordan Dallas Burn 3 nbsp Tony Meola Kansas City WizardsAwards editIndividual awards edit Award Player Club Most Valuable Player nbsp Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy Defender of the Year nbsp Carlos Bocanegra Chicago Fire Goalkeeper of the Year nbsp Joe Cannon San Jose Earthquakes Coach of the Year nbsp Steve Nicol New England Revolution Rookie of the Year nbsp Kyle Martino Columbus Crew Comeback Player of the Year nbsp Chris Klein Kansas City Wizards Scoring Champion nbsp Taylor Twellman New England Revolution Goal of the Year nbsp Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy Fair Play Award nbsp Mark Chung Colorado Rapids Humanitarian of the Year nbsp Steve Jolley MetroStars Best XI edit Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards nbsp Tim Howard MetroStars nbsp Wade Barrett San Jose nbsp Carlos Bocanegra Chicago nbsp Alexi Lalas LA Galaxy nbsp Mark Chung Colorado nbsp Ronnie Ekelund San Jose nbsp oscar Pareja Dallas nbsp Steve Ralston New England nbsp Jeff Cunningham Columbus nbsp Carlos Ruiz LA Galaxy nbsp Taylor Twellman New EnglandAttendance editClub Games Total Average Colorado Rapids 14 289 663 20 690 Los Angeles Galaxy 14 266 664 19 047 MetroStars 14 254 174 18 155 Columbus Crew 14 243 999 17 429 New England Revolution 14 236 973 16 927 D C United 14 231 264 16 519 Dallas Burn 14 183 702 13 122 Chicago Fire 14 180 908 12 922 Kansas City Wizards 14 171 568 12 255 San Jose Earthquakes 14 156 104 11 150 Totals 140 2 215 019 15 822References edit Yousuf Saad April 16 2016 MLS nearly folded in 2001 FC Dallas president Dan Hunt ESPN com External links editMLS Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2002 Major League Soccer season amp oldid 1219453703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
