1996 MLS Recap

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

1996 Regular Season Standings

Conference champions (*) and playoff qualifiers (†) are noted. SOW refers to shootout wins. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a shootout win. SOW are included in W (win) column. The GF and GA columns refer to Goals For and Goals Against in regulation play.

Eastern Conference
TeamWLPtsGFGASOW
*Tampa Bay20125866511
†D.C. United16164662561
†NY/NJ15173945473
†Columbus15173759604
New England15173343566
Western Conference
TeamWLPtsGFGASOW
*Los Angeles19134959494
†Dallas17154150485
†Kansas City17154161635
†San Jose15173950503
Colorado11212944592

MLS Cup '96

Oct. 20 at Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.

Attendance: 34,643

D.C. United, 3-2 (OT)

Los Angeles Galaxy110—2
D.C. United021—3
First Half—L.A., Eduardo Hurtado (Mauricio Cienfuegos) 5th minute.
Second Half—L.A., Chis Armas (unassisted), 56th; D.C., Tony Sanneh (Marco Etcheverry), 73rd; D.C., Shawn Medved (unassisted), 82nd.
Overtime— D.C., Eddie Pope (Etcheverry), 94th.
MVP: Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United

Annual Awards

  • MVP: Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay
  • Coach of the Year: Thomas Rongen, Tampa Bay
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Mark Dodd, Dallas
  • Tough Defender: John Doyle, San Jose
  • Rookie of the Year: Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay
  • Goal of the Year: Eric Wynalda (S.J. vs. D.C., April 6)

All MLS Team

  • G— Mark Dodd, Dallas
  • D— Robin Fraser, L.A.
  • D— John Doyle, S.J.
  • M— Leonel Alvarez, Dallas
  • M— C. Valderrama, T.B.
  • M— Preki, Kansas City
  • M— M. Cienfuegos, L.A.
  • M— M. Etcheverry, D.C.
  • M— R. Donadoni, NY/NJ
  • F— Eduardo Hurtado, L.A.
  • F— Roy Lassiter, D.C.

Team-by-Team StatisticsMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Sources +