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DC United Overview
As a charter member of
MLS, D.C. United first stepped on the pitch
in 1996, and the team from the Nation's Capital
would quickly set the standard for excellence
in the league on the field and in the stands.
In its short, seven-year history, D.C. United
has earned more domestic and international honors
than any other American side, done battle against
some of the world's most famous clubs and built
a fiercely loyal and dedicated fan base that
understands and appreciates world-class soccer.
The
club's inaugural season in 1996 would prove
to be a fruitful one for the "Black-and-Red."
After a slow start in league play, United found
the right balance and went into the post-season
as the team to beat. They proved to be the team
that no one could beat, defeating the Los Angeles
Galaxy 3-2 on a 'golden goal' header by defender
Eddie Pope in overtime to capture the first
MLS Cup title on October 20. One title wasn't
enough for the Black-and-Red that fall, as three
days later United would blank the Rochester
Rhinos of the A-League 3-0 to win the U.S. Open
Cup, the country's oldest soccer tournament.
The Black-and-Red became the first club, and
only one since, to capture America's version
of the "double."
1997 would prove to be another banner year for
the Black-and-Red in MLS, as the team rolled
through the regular season with a league-best
record of 21-11. United went a perfect 5-0 in
the MLS Cup playoffs, which culminated in a
2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in MLS
Cup '97 in front of a record, and rabid, home
crowd of 57,431 at RFK Stadium.
The
following year United would fail to capture
domestic honors for the first time, losing to
the Chicago Fire 2-0 in MLS Cup '98. Though
United would be disappointed on the home front,
their previous success gave them the opportunity
to seek honors on a larger stage. After reaching
the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup
in 1997, the Black-and-Red made it one step
further to the finals in 1998, where they faced
Mexican 'supercampeon' Toluca. A dramatic 1-0
victory at RFK Stadium not only gave the Black-and-Red
their first international trophy, but also a
chance for a second by earning a berth in the
1998 Interamerican Cup. Legendary Brazilian
side Vasco da Gama would be South America's
representative, and they would prove to be a
formidable one after taking leg one of the championship
at RFK Stadium by a 1-0 score. However, United
would shock the Brazilian team, and much of
the soccer world, by winning the away leg at
Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale by a 2-1
margin. Thanks to the pair of road goals, United
broke the aggregate goals draw and came away
with the Interamerican Cup trophy and the title
of "Champion of the Americas."
That
contest would prove to be a fitting farewell
for head coach Bruce Arena, who left the District
to conquer further international battles as
the head coach of the United States Men's National
Team. Arena left behind a legacy that would
prove to be hard to follow, as he guided the
Black-and-Red to an impressive 87-37-1 mark
(.700) in all competitions in his three years
at the helm.
The 1999 season would feature a new coach, as
former Tampa Bay and New England head coach
Thomas Rongen took over the United sideline.
United would still produce the same successful
results their supporters now demanded, as the
squad earned their second Supporters Shield
for the league's best regular season record
(23-9) and once again represented the Eastern
Conference in MLS Cup. Just as in 1996, MLS
Cup '99 would feature the Black-and-Red and
the Galaxy in Foxboro, but this time dramatics
were not necessary as a pair of first half goals
gave United a 2-0 victory and their third Alan
I. Rothenberg Trophy in four seasons.
As
the 1990's left, so did the groundbreaking success
that United enjoyed in their first four seasons
in MLS. The 2000 and 2001 seasons provided a
few bright moments, mostly through the play
of a pair of teenaged stars-in-the-making: midfielder
Bobby Convey and forward Santino Quaranta. In
2000, the then 16-year-old Convey became the
youngest player to suit up for an MLS side when
he took the pitch in the season opener against
Los Angeles on March 25. That record would stand
for little more than a year, when a younger
16-year-old Quaranta would not only become the
youngest player in MLS history, but would also
be named the youngest All-Star selection and
Player of the Week in league history.
After
two disappointing seasons, the Black-and-Red
got an early start to the 2002 campaign by naming
former Miami Fusion F.C. head man Ray Hudson
as the club's third head coach on January 8.
Hudson saw his new club's push for the post-season
last until the final match of the schedule,
but the Black-and-Red missed out on the MLS
Cup playoffs for the third straight season.
However, 2002 did have some bright spots with
a trio of club and league firsts. Domestically,
United hosted the 2002 MLS All-Star Game at
RFK Stadium for the first time and also won
the inaugural Atlantic Cup trophy in what is
to become an annual competition with their chief
rival, the MetroStars. Internationally, the
Black-and-Red became the first MLS side to travel
to England when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur,
1-0, in a tribute match at the famed White Hart
Lane in October.
Throughout
its seven years, the Black-and-Red have earned
the right to square off against some of the
world's most recognizable clubs in both international
competition and friendly contests. Since 1997,
D.C. United has traveled across the globe and
done battle against 25 clubs from 13 countries.
The list of clubs is an impressive one, including
Germany's Beyer Leverkusen, Mexico's Club America
and Toluca, Vasco da Gama of Brazil, Argentina's
Boca Juniors and Leeds United, Newcastle United
and Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premiership.
Just
as impressive as the roll call of international
competition D.C. United has faced over the years
is the roster of talented players that have
donned the Black-and-Red jersey. The list of
world-class players that have called RFK Stadium
home over the years includes a legacy of great
defenders that have represented the United States
in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals: Eddie
Pope (1996-2002), Jeff Agoos (1996-2000) and
Carlos Llamosa (1997-2000). The United midfield
has been anchored from the start by Bolivian
legend and 1998 MLS MVP Marco Etcheverry (1996-present),
and also seen U.S. internationals John Harkes
(1996-98), Tony Sanneh (1996-98) and Ben Olsen
(1998-present) contribute to the club's success
during the dynasty years. The front line has
featured a trio of players that find themselves
in the top four of the MLS all-time goals scored
list: Roy Lassiter (1998-99, 2002), Raul Diaz
Arce (1996-97, 2000-01) and United's all-time
leading scorer Jaime Moreno (1996-2002).
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DC
United Info
Stadium:
RFK Stadium
Honours:
MLS
Champions:
1996, 1997, 1999
CONCACAF
Champions Cup:
1998
Interamerican Cup Trophy:
1998
US Open Cup:
1998, 2000
QUICK FACT
The
Cotton Bowl is also a venue for American
Football.
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