# 2010 in American soccer

The 2010 Season was the 98th season of competitive soccer in the United States.

## National teams

The home team or the team that is designated as the home team is listed in the left column; the away team is in the right column.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Men
#### Senior
##### 2010 FIFA World Cup

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the United States men's national team was drawn into, and emerged victorious from, Group C.

#### Under-20
##### Dallas Cup

The United States U-20 team participated in the "Super Group" at the 2010 Dallas Cup.

##### Torneo de las Américas
#### Under-17
##### Nike International friendlies
### Women
#### Senior
##### Algarve Cup

The United States women won the 2010 Algarve Cup, their seventh title at the annual tournament.

##### 2011 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA-CONCACAF play-off)
#### Under-20
##### 2010 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship

The United States women's national under-20 soccer team won the 2010 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship, ...

##### La Manga Cup

The women's U-20 team also participated in and won the women's portion of the 2010 La Manga Cup. The women's portion of the tournament was conducted as a four-team group stage.

##### 2010 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup
#### Under-17
##### Nordic Cup
## Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing | Manner | Date | Table | Incoming | Date | Table |
| Philadelphia Union | N/A | N/A | N/A | Off-season | Piotr Nowak | May 29, 2009 | Off-season |
| NSC Minnesota Stars | N/A | N/A | N/A | Off-season | Manny Lagos | February 10, 2010 | Off-season |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | N/A | N/A | N/A | Off-season | Paul Dalglish | November 18, 2009 | Off-season |
| AC St. Louis | N/A | N/A | N/A | Off-season | Claude Anelka | December 8, 2009 | Off-season |
| New York Red Bulls | Richie Williams | Caretaker | August 21, 2009 | 7th East ('09) | Hans Backe | January 7, 2010 | Off-season |
| Rochester Rhinos | Darren Tilley | Contract expiration | September 28, 2009 | 6th USL 1st Division ('09) | Bob Lilley | November 16, 2010 | Off-season |
| D.C. United | Tom Soehn | Resigned | November 3, 2009 | 4th East ('09) | Curt Onalfo | December 28, 2009 | Off-season |
| Chivas USA | Preki | Mutual Consent | November 12, 2009 | 4th West ('09) | Martín Vásquez | December 2, 2009 | Off-season |
| Chicago Fire | Denis Hamlett | Fired | November 24, 2009 | 2nd East ('09) | Carlos de los Cobos | January 11, 2010 | Off-season |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Gene Klein | Promoted within club | January 11, 2010 | 8th USL-2 ('09) | Justin Evans | January 11, 2010 | Off-season |
| D.C. United | Curt Onalfo | Fired | August 4, 2010 | 8th MLS Eastern Conference ('10) | Ben Olsen | August 4, 2010 | 8th MLS Eastern Conference ('10) |

## League tables
### Major League Soccer

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | LA Galaxy (S) | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 59 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 56 | |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 51 | |
| 4 | FC Dallas | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 50 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 5 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 50 | |
| 6 | Seattle Sounders FC | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids (C) | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 46 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 8 | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 46 | |
| 9 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 35 | +1 | 39 | |
| 10 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 37 | 38 | −1 | 36 | |
| 11 | Toronto FC | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 35 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 12 | Houston Dynamo | 30 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 33 | |
| 13 | New England Revolution | 30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 32 | |
| 14 | Philadelphia Union | 30 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 35 | 49 | −14 | 31 | |
| 15 | Chivas USA | 30 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 31 | 45 | −14 | 28 | |
| 16 | D.C. United | 30 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 21 | 47 | −26 | 22 | |

#### Playoffs

| Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | Conference finals | Conference finals | MLS Cup | MLS Cup | MLS Cup |
| E1 | New York | 1 | 1 | | | | | | |
| E4 | San Jose | 0 | 3 | | | | | | |
| E4 | San Jose | 0 | 3 | E4 | San Jose | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E4 | San Jose | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E3 | Colorado | 1 | | | |
| E2 | Columbus | 0 | 2 | E3 | Colorado | 1 | | | |
| E3 | Colorado (5–4, PSO) | 1 | 1 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Colorado (5–4, PSO) | 1 | 1 | | | | E3 | Colorado | 2 |
| | | | | | | | W3 | Dallas | 1 |
| W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | W3 | Dallas | 1 |
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | 1 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | 1 | W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W3 | Dallas | 3 | | | |
| W2 | Salt Lake | 1 | 1 | W3 | Dallas | 3 | | | |
| W3 | Dallas | 2 | 1 | | | | | | |

#### MLS Cup
### USSF Division 2 Professional League

USSF Division 2 Pro League :
| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Rochester Rhinos | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 54 | Conference leaders, qualified for playoffs |
| 2 | Carolina Railhawks FC | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 47 | Conference leaders, qualified for playoffs |
| 3 | Austin Aztex | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 53 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 49 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 45 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 43 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 7 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 40 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders (C) | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 37 | Qualified for playoffs |
| 9 | Miami FC | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 33 | |
| 10 | FC Tampa Bay | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 46 | −5 | 32 | |
| 11 | AC St. Louis | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 29 | |
| 12 | Crystal Palace Baltimore | 30 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 24 | 55 | −31 | 24 | |
* ↑ The remaining six teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also advance to the playoffs.

#### Playoffs

    Each round is a two-game aggregate goal series. Home teams for the first game of each series listed at the bottom of the bracket.
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Rochester Rhinos | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders (aet) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders (aet) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | 2 | Carolina RailHawks | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Austin Aztex | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Carolina RailHawks | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Montreal Impact | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | Carolina RailHawks | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | Montreal Impact | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 7 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Finals
### USL Second Division

USL Second Division :
| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Charleston Battery | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 38 | Regular season champion |
| 2 | Richmond Kickers | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 33 | Playoff spot clinched |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 29 | Playoff spot clinched |
| 4 | Charlotte Eagles | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | |
| 5 | Harrisburg City Islanders | 20 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 19 | |
| 6 | Real Maryland Monarchs | 20 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 18 | |

### Playoffs

| USL-2 Semifinal | USL-2 Semifinal | USL-2 Semifinal | USL-2 Championship | USL-2 Championship | USL-2 Championship |
| | | | 1 | Charleston Battery | 2 |
| 2 | Richmond Kickers | 2 | 2 | Richmond Kickers | 1 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 0 | | | |

#### Final
## U.S. Open Cup

| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final | Final |
| D.C. United | D.C. United | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Richmond Kickers | Richmond Kickers | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Richmond Kickers | Richmond Kickers | 0 | D.C. United | D.C. United | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Harrisburg City Islanders | Harrisburg City Islanders | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Harrisburg City Islanders (AET) | Harrisburg City Islanders (AET) | 1 | Harrisburg City Islanders | Harrisburg City Islanders | 0 | | | | | | | |
| New York Red Bulls | New York Red Bulls | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| New York Red Bulls | New York Red Bulls | 0 | | | | D.C. United | D.C. United | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 2 | | | | |
| Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 2 | | | | | | | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 2 | | | | |
| Rochester Rhinos | Rochester Rhinos | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rochester Rhinos | Rochester Rhinos | 1 | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Charleston Battery | Charleston Battery | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago Fire | Chicago Fire | 0 (0) | Charleston Battery | Charleston Battery | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Charleston Battery (AET/PSO) | Charleston Battery (AET/PSO) | 0 (3) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Charleston Battery (AET/PSO) | Charleston Battery (AET/PSO) | 0 (3) | | | | | | | | Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 1 |
| Portland Timbers | Portland Timbers | 1 (3) | | | | | | | | | | | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew | 1 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 (4) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 (4) | Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Los Angeles Galaxy | Los Angeles Galaxy | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Los Angeles Galaxy | 0 | | | | | | | |
| AC St. Louis | AC St. Louis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| AC St. Louis | AC St. Louis | 0 | | | | Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Chivas USA | Chivas USA | 1 | | | | |
| Houston Dynamo | Houston Dynamo | 1 | | | | | | | Chivas USA | Chivas USA | 1 | | | | |
| Miami FC | Miami FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Miami FC | Miami FC | 0 | Houston Dynamo | Houston Dynamo | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Chivas USA | Chivas USA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Chivas USA | Chivas USA | 1 | Chivas USA | Chivas USA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Austin Aztex | Austin Aztex | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Final
## Honors
### Professional

Men :
| Competition | Competition | Winner |
| U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Major League Soccer | MLS Supporters' Shield | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| Major League Soccer | MLS Cup | Colorado Rapids |
| USSF D2 Pro League | Regular season | Rochester Rhinos |
| USSF D2 Pro League | Playoffs | Puerto Rico Islanders |
| USL Second Division | Regular season | Charleston Battery |
| USL Second Division | Playoffs | Charleston Battery |
Women :
| Competition | Winner |
| Women's Professional Soccer | FC Gold Pride |
| W-League | Buffalo Flash |
| Women's Premier Soccer League | Boston Aztec |

### Amateur

Men :
| Competition | Team |
| USL Premier Development League | Portland Timbers U23's |
| National Premier Soccer League | Sacramento Gold |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | Akron Zips |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | Northern Kentucky Norse |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Messiah Falcons |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Hastings Broncos |
Women :
| Competition | Team |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | Grand Valley State Lakers |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Hardin–Simmons Cowgirls |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Lee (Tn.) Flames |

## American clubs in international competitions

| Club | Competition | Final round |
| Columbus Crew | 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Columbus Crew | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Real Salt Lake | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League | Finals |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League | Group stage |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League | Preliminary round |
| New England Revolution | 2010 SuperLiga | Finals |
| Houston Dynamo | 2010 SuperLiga | Semifinals |
| Chicago Fire | 2010 SuperLiga | Group stage |
| Chivas USA | 2010 SuperLiga | Group stage |

### CONCACAF Champions League
#### 2009–10 Champions League

The Columbus Crew were the only American team to qualify for the Championship Round of the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, the only portion of the competition to occur in the 2010 calendar year. Columbus was drawn against Mexican club Toluca in the quarterfinals. After falling behind at home by two goals in the first half of the first leg, Steven Lenhart notched two second half goals for the Crew to draw even at 2–2. In the return leg in Toluca, the clubs traded goals, with Toluca scoring first and last for the 3–2 victory and 5–4 aggregate victory.

##### Columbus Crew
#### 2010–11 Champions League

The Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles Galaxy, and Seattle Sounders FC qualified for the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. Los Angeles, MLS Supporters' Shield runners-up, and Seattle, 2009 U.S. Open Cup champions, entered in the Preliminary round, the opening round of the tournament; Columbus, winners of the 2009 MLS Supporters' Shield, and Salt Lake, winners of the 2009 MLS Cup, entered in the Group stage.

##### Preliminary round

In the preliminary round, Los Angeles was drawn against the Puerto Rico Islanders, the 2010 Caribbean champions, and Seattle was drawn against Salvadoran club Isidro Metapán. Both American clubs played as hosts during the first leg of their respective two-legged affairs. The Sounders, on the strength of a Fredy Montero goal in the 60th minute, won their home leg 1–0. Los Angeles, however, holders of the best record in Major League Soccer at the time of their matchup, were defeated 4–1 at the Home Depot Center. The Islanders scored two goals in each half before the Galaxy got a consolation own goal by Richard Martinez in the 83rd minute. In the return leg in Bayamón, Los Angeles, needing to win by at least three goals to force penalties, gave up the first goal of the match. The Galaxy eventually scored two goals for the 2–1 victory but still lost 5–3 on aggregate. Seattle, however was able to secure a 1–1 draw in San Salvador for the 2–1 aggregate victory to move into the group stage.

###### Seattle Sounders
##### Group stage

The group stage draw was conducted prior to the preliminary round, so each team knew all of their opponents as soon as the preliminary round ended. The Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle Sounders FC each qualified for the group stage.
Real Salt Lake was drawn into Group A against Mexican club Cruz Azul, winners of the 2009–10 Apertura; Panamanian club Árabe Unido, 2009 Apertura II and 2010 Clausura champions; and fellow MLS club Toronto FC, winners of the 2010 Canadian Championship. Salt Lake hosted Árabe Unido in their first group stage match and defeated los Árabes 2–1 on the strength of two Álvaro Saborío goals, his second coming in the fourth minute of second-half added time. Salt Lake's second match was a dramatic affair in a torrential downpour at Estadio Azul in Mexico City, with hosts Cruz Azul emerging as 5–4 victors.
Columbus was drawn into Group B with Mexican club Santos Laguna, 2009–10 Bicentenario winner; Guatemalan club Municipal, champions of the 2009–10 Liga Nacional Apertura and Clausura tournaments; and Trinidad and Tobago club Joe Public, 2010 Caribbean runners-up and 2009 TT Pro League champions. The Crew hosted Municipal in their first match and won 1–0, the goal scored on a strong individual effort by Emmanuel Ekpo. In their second match, Columbus nearly held on for a scoreless draw but were defeated 1–0 at Santos Laguna when Jorge Iván Estrada scored in the third minute of second half added time.
Seattle was drawn into Group C with Mexican club Monterrey, 2009–10 Apertura champions; Costa Rican club Saprissa, 2009–10 Primera División Campeonato de Verano champions; and Honduran club Marathón, 2009–10 Liga Nacional Torneo Apertura champions. In their first group stage match, Seattle visited Marathón at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, and after scoring the opening goal, conceded two – all scored in the first half – for a 2–1 loss. Seattle's second match saw another loss as visiting Monterrey came away from Qwest Field with a 2–0 victory.

###### Seattle Sounders
### 2010 SuperLiga

The Houston Dynamo, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, and New England Revolution qualified for the 2010 SuperLiga based upon their finish in the 2009 Major League Soccer season as the four highest-finishing teams not to qualify for the 2010–11 Champions League.