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2002 Major League Soccer season

(Redirected from 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs)

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 season
Season2002
Teams10
MLS CupLos Angeles Galaxy (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldLos Angeles Galaxy (2nd shield)
2003 CONCACAF Champions' CupLos Angeles Galaxy
New England Revolution
San Jose Earthquakes
Matches140
Goals421 (3.01 per match)
Top goalscorerCarlos Ruiz
Los Angeles Galaxy
Goals: 24
Highest attendanceColorado Rapids
Season: 289,663
Game Avg.: 20,690
Lowest attendanceSan Jose Earthquakes
Season: 156,104
Game Avg.: 11,150
Total attendance2,215,019
Average attendance15,822
← 2001
2003 →

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.

Overview

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Season format

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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

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Personnel and sponsorships

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Coaching changes

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TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
New England Revolution United States Fernando Clavijo Fired May 23, 2002 Scotland Steve Nicol May 23, 2002

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Pos Team
 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 32
Source: MLS

Western Conference

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Pos Team
 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 36
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team
 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 32
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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Quarterfinals Semifinals MLS Cup
             
1 Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET)* (6 Points) 3* 1 5
8 Kansas City Wizards (3 Points) 2 4 2
1 Los Angeles Galaxy (6 Points) 4 1 x
5 Colorado Rapids (0 Points) 0 0 x
4 Dallas Burn (4 Points) 4 0 1
5 Colorado Rapids (SDET)** (4 Points) 2 1 1**
1 Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET)* 1
2 New England Revolution 0
2 New England Revolution (6 Points) 2 1 2
7 Chicago Fire (3 Points) 0 2 0
2 New England Revolution (5 Points) 0 1 2
6 Columbus Crew (2 Points) 0 0 2
3 San Jose Earthquakes (0 Points) 1 1 x
6 Columbus Crew (6 Points) 2 2 x
  • Points system
    Win = 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

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Kansas City Wizards2–3 (AET)Los Angeles Galaxy
Preki 25'
Brown 70'		 Ruiz 62' (pen.) gold-colored football 99'
Jones 85'
Attendance: 14,585
Kansas City Wizards2–5Los Angeles Galaxy
Klein 47'
Preki 72'		 Ruiz 34' 66'
Jones 45'+, 62'
Tennyson 90+3'
Attendance: 14,713
  • Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6-3 on points.
New England Revolution1–2Chicago Fire
Kamler 28' Razov 43' (pen.), 76'
Attendance: 9,434
  • New England Revolution advance 6–3 on points.
  • Columbus Crew advance 6–0 on points.
Colorado Rapids2–4Dallas Burn
Valderrama 2'
Spencer (Pen) 75'		 Morrow 26'
Kreis 49'
Deering 68'
Martínez 70'
Attendance: 6,360
Colorado Rapids1–1Dallas Burn
Spencer 22' Rhine 6'
Attendance: 8,008
 1–0 series OT (ASDET) 
Chung gold-colored football 1'
  • Colorado Rapids advance in series (sudden death) overtime, after 4–4 tie on points.

Semifinals

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Colorado Rapids0–4Los Angeles Galaxy
Califf 21'
Ruiz 24' 84'
Hendrickson 71'
Attendance: 24,742
  • Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6–0 on points.
  • New England Revolution advance 5–2 on points.

MLS Cup

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Los Angeles Galaxy1–0 (2OT)New England Revolution
Ruiz gold-colored football 113' Report
Attendance: 61,316
Referee: Kevin Terry

Player statistics

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Goals

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Hat-tricks

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Assists

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Clean sheets

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Awards

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Individual awards

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Best XI

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Attendance

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Club 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 15,822

References

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  1. ↑ Yousuf, Saad (April 16, 2016). "MLS nearly folded in 2001 - FC Dallas president Dan Hunt". ESPN.com.
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