# 1997 D.C. United season

The 1997 D.C. United season was the clubs' third year of existence, as well as their second season in Major League Soccer. United successfully defended its MLS Cup title, becoming the first club to win consecutive league championships until the Houston Dynamo in 2007. United also won its first Supporters' Shield as the team with the best regular-season record, earning their first league "double" by winning the regular season and playoffs. The team also finished as runners-up in the 1997 U.S. Open Cup final, played in Indinapolis three days after United won MLS Cup 1997 at its home stadium, RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. In international play, United qualified for the 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, which was primarily played in Washington, D.C., and were eliminated in the semifinals by the Los Angeles Galaxy; the team ultimately shared third place with C.D. Guadalajara after a tie in the third-place match.

## Background

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was both Major League Soccer and D.C. United's debut season, which resulted in United winning the inaugural MLS Cup championship match.

## Competitions
### Preseason
### Major League Soccer
#### Conference standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D.C. United | 32 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 70 | 53 | +17 | 55 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 55 | 60 | −5 | 45 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 39 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | New England Revolution | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 37 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 5 | NY/NJ MetroStars | 32 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 35 | |

#### Overall standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D.C. United (C, S) | 32 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 70 | 53 | +17 | 55 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 57 | 51 | +6 | 49 | |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 55 | 60 | −5 | 45 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 55 | 44 | +11 | 44 | |
| 5 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 42 | |
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 39 | |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 38 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 8 | New England Revolution | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 37 | |
| 9 | NY/NJ MetroStars | 32 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 35 | |
| 10 | San Jose Clash | 32 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 55 | 59 | −4 | 30 | |

#### Game reports
### MLS Cup Playoffs
#### Bracket

* The ties were a best of three series.
| Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | MLS Cup '97 | MLS Cup '97 | MLS Cup '97 |
| 1 | D.C. United | 4 | 1 (4) | x | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | New England Revolution | 1 | 1 (3) | x | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | New England Revolution | 1 | 1 (3) | x | 1 | D.C. United | 3 | 1 | x | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 1 | D.C. United | 3 | 1 | x | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 3 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 0 | x | | | |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1 | 0 | x | 3 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 0 | x | | | |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 2 | x | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 2 | x | | | | | | E | D.C. United | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W | Colorado Rapids | 1 |
| 1 | Kansas City Wizards | 0 | 2 | x | | | | | | | | | W | Colorado Rapids | 1 |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 3 | 3 | x | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 3 | 3 | x | 4 | Colorado Rapids | 1 | 2 | x | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 4 | Colorado Rapids | 1 | 2 | x | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 3 | Dallas Burn | 0 | 1 | x | | | |
| 2 | LA Galaxy | 0 (0) | 0 | x | 3 | Dallas Burn | 0 | 1 | x | | | |
| 3 | Dallas Burn | 0 (2) | 3 | x | | | | | | | | |

#### Conference semifinals

D.C. United won the series 2–0.

#### Conference finals

D.C. United won the series 2–0.

#### MLS Cup
### CONCACAF Champions' Cup
#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| D.C. United | 1 | | | | |
| United Petrotrin | 0 | | | | |
| United Petrotrin | 0 | D.C. United | 0 | | |
| | | LA Galaxy | 1 | | |
| LA Galaxy | 2 | LA Galaxy | 1 | | |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 0 | | | | |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 0 | | | LA Galaxy | 3 |
| | | | | Cruz Azul | 5 |
| Guadalajara | 1 | | | | | Cruz Azul | 5 |
| Cartaginés | 0 | | | | |
| Cartaginés | 0 | Guadalajara | 2 | | |
| | | Cruz Azul | 3 | | |
| Cruz Azul | 5 | Cruz Azul | 3 | | |
| Comunicaciones | 0 | | | | |