# 2000 Major League Soccer season

The 2000 Major League Soccer season was the fifth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 88th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 22nd with a national first-division league.
The 2000 season marked the first time in league history (and the first season of American first division soccer since 1974), that ties were allowed to stand. Following a ten-minute sudden death extra time, rather than going to a penalty shoot-out, a point was awarded to both teams. Additionally, the league was divided into three separate divisions, the East, Central and West divisions.
The San Jose Clash rebranded as the Earthquakes, a throwback to the NASL team of the same name.
The regular season began on March 18, and concluded on September 9. The 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 14, and concluded with MLS Cup 2000 on October 15. The Kansas City Wizards won their first MLS Cup with a victory over the Chicago Fire.

## Overview
### Season format

The season began on March 18 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 15. The 12 teams were split into three divisions. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their division four times, for a total of 12 games. The remaining schedule consisted of three games against four select opponents in one of the other divisions, and two games against the remaining four teams.
The eight teams with the most points qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals were played as a best-of-three series, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken by penalty shootout if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.
The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield. The winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Chicago Fire | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| Colorado Rapids | Mile High Stadium | 76,273 |
| Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew Stadium | 22,555 |
| D.C. United | RFK Stadium | 46,000 |
| Dallas Burn | Cotton Bowl | 92,100 |
| Kansas City Wizards | Arrowhead Stadium | 81,425 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Rose Bowl | 92,542 |
| Miami Fusion | Lockhart Stadium | 20,450 |
| New England Revolution | Foxboro Stadium | 60,292 |
| MetroStars | Giants Stadium | 80,200 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | Spartan Stadium | 30,456 |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | Raymond James Stadium | 69,218 |

### Personnel and sponsorships

| Team | Head coach | Captain | Shirt sponsor |
| Chicago Fire | Bob Bradley | | — |
| Colorado Rapids | Glenn Myernick | | |
| Columbus Crew | Tom Fitzgerald | | Snickers |
| D.C. United | Thomas Rongen | | MasterCard |
| Dallas Burn | Dave Dir | | |
| Kansas City Wizards | Bob Gansler | | — |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Sigi Schmid | | — |
| MetroStars | Octavio Zambrano | Tab Ramos | |
| Miami Fusion | Ivo Wortmann | | — |
| New England Revolution | Fernando Clavijo | | — |
| San Jose Earthquakes | Lothar Osiander | John Doyle | Yahoo! Sports |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | Tim Hankinson | | |

### Coaching changes

| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
| Miami Fusion | Ivo Wortmann | Fired | May 8, 2000 | Ray Hudson | May 8, 2000 |

## Standings
### Eastern Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | MetroStars | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 54 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | New England Revolution | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 45 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Miami Fusion | 32 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 54 | 56 | −2 | 41 | |
| 4 | D.C. United | 32 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 44 | 63 | −19 | 30 | |

### Central Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 57 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 52 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 46 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 38 | |

### Western Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 57 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 50 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 43 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 29 | |

### Overall standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kansas City Wizards (C, S) | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 57 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 57 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 3 | MetroStars | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 54 | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 52 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 50 | |
| 6 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 46 | |
| 7 | New England Revolution | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 45 | |
| 8 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 43 | |
| 9 | Miami Fusion | 32 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 54 | 56 | −2 | 41 | |
| 10 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 38 | |
| 11 | D.C. United | 32 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 44 | 63 | −19 | 30 | |
| 12 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 29 | |

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | CHI | COL | CLB | DAL | DC | KC | LA | MIA | NE | MTS | SJ | TB |
| Chicago Fire | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 |
| — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | 0–0* |
| Colorado Rapids | 2–1* | — | 0–0* | 1–0 | 2–5 | 0–5 | 1–0* | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| 1–1* | — | — | — | — | 1–1* | 1–0* | 3–1 | — | — | 2–0 | — |
| Columbus Crew | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–1 | 1–1* | 2–0 | 2–2* | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1* | 1–2 |
| 2–3 | — | — | 1–1* | — | — | — | — | 4–1 | — | 2–1 | 3–4 |
| Dallas Burn | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1* | 1–1* | 2–1 | 4–6 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| 3–0 | — | 3–2 | — | 1–0 | — | 4–2 | — | — | — | — | 2–3 |
| D.C. United | 3–2 | 1–1* | 1–2 | 3–2 | — | 0–0* | 0–4 | 2–1* | 1–3 | 2–3* | 0–1 | 2–2* |
| — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | 1–2 | 2–6 | 2–0 | 3–2* | — | — |
| Kansas City Wizards | 4–3 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 0–0* | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| — | 3–1 | — | — | — | — | 1–5 | — | — | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–1* | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0* | — | 2–0 | 2–2* | 0–2 | 1–1* | 2–1 |
| — | 1–0* | — | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1* | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | — |
| Miami Fusion | 0–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–3 | 1–0* | 0–0* | 3–5 | — | 1–1* | 3–1 | 0–0* | 2–3 |
| 4–2 | 4–1 | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 4–1 | — | — |
| New England Revolution | 1–1* | 3–4 | 1–1* | 1–2 | 2–1* | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1* | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 2–0 | — | 4–3 | 3–0 | — |
| MetroStars | 4–1 | 5–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 0–0* | 3–2* |
| — | — | — | — | 2–2* | 0–0* | — | 2–1 | 2–1* | — | — | 0–3 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 1–1* | 4–2 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 2–2* | 0–0* | 0–0* | 3–1 | 2–2* | 2–0 | — | 1–2 |
| — | 1–2 | 3–0 | — | — | 0–3 | 0–3 | — | 1–2 | — | — | — |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 0–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | — |
| 3–3* | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | — | 2–2* | — | — | — | 4–3* | — | — |
Note: * = Match required extra time

## MLS Cup Playoffs
### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | MLS Cup | MLS Cup | MLS Cup |
| 1 | Kansas City Wizards (7 Points) | 1 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Colorado Rapids (1 Points) | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Colorado Rapids (1 Points) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Kansas City Wizards (SDET**) (4 Points) | 0 | 1 | 1** | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET*) (4 Points) | 0 | 2* | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Mutiny (0 Points) | 0 | 2 | x | 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET*) (4 Points) | 0 | 2* | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy (6 Points) | 1 | 5 | x | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy (6 Points) | 1 | 5 | x | | | | | | 1 | Kansas City Wizards | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Chicago Fire | 0 |
| 2 | Chicago Fire (6 Points) | 2 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Chicago Fire | 0 |
| 7 | New England Revolution (3 Points) | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | New England Revolution (3 Points) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Chicago Fire (6 Points) | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | MetroStars (3 Points) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 3 | MetroStars (ASDET*) (6 Points) | 2* | 2 | x | 3 | MetroStars (3 Points) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Dallas Burn (0 Points) | 1 | 1 | 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

Kansas City Wizards advance 7–1 on points.
Chicago Fire advance 6–3 on points.
MetroStars advance 6–0 on points.
Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6–0 on points.

### Semifinals

Chicago Fire advance 6-3 on points.
Kansas City Wizards advance 1–0 in series overtime (SDET) after 4–4 tie on points.

### MLS Cup
## Player statistics
### Goals

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Mamadou Diallo | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 26 |
| 2 | Ante Razov | Chicago Fire | 18 |
| 3 | Clint Mathis | Los Angeles Galaxy MetroStars | 16 |
| 3 | Diego Serna | Miami Fusion | 16 |
| 3 | Adolfo Valencia | MetroStars | 16 |
| 6 | Ariel Graziani | Dallas Burn | 15 |
| 6 | Dante Washington | Columbus Crew | 15 |
| 6 | Wolde Harris | New England Revolution | 15 |
| 9 | Alex Comas | MetroStars | 13 |
| 10 | Miklos Molnar | Kansas City Wizards | 12 |
| 10 | Jaime Moreno | D.C. United | 12 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | Club | Against | Result | Date |
| Ante Razov | Chicago Fire | Miami Fusion | 3–0 | May 6 |
| Jaime Moreno | D.C. United | Colorado Rapids | 5–2 | May 6 |
| Diego Serna | Miami Fusion | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 4–1 | June 21 |
| Mamadou Diallo | Tampa Bay Mutiny | MetroStars | 4–3 | August 16 |
| Clint Mathis$^5$ | MetroStars | Dallas Burn | 6–4 | August 26 |
| Mamadou Diallo | Tampa Bay Mutiny | Columbus Crew | 4–3 | August 30 |
| Diego Serna$^4$ | Miami Fusion | MetroStars | 4–1 | September 2 |
| Diego Serna | Miami Fusion | D.C. United | 6–2 | September 9 |
| Alex Comas | MetroStars | New England Revolution | 3–4 | September 9 |

### Assists

| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Carlos Valderrama | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 26 |
| 2 | Clint Mathis | Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars | 13 |
| 3 | Eric Quill | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 11 |
| 4 | Martín Machón | Miami Fusion | 10 |
| 4 | Steve Ralston | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 10 |
| 6 | Preki | Kansas City Wizards | 9 |
| 6 | Diego Serna | Miami Fusion | 9 |
| 8 | Mark Chung | MetroStars | 8 |
| 8 | Jason Kreis | Dallas Burn | 8 |
| 8 | Adolfo Valencia | MetroStars | 8 |
| 8 | Robert Warzycha | Columbus Crew | 8 |

### Clean sheets

| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Tony Meola | Kansas City Wizards | 16 |
| 2 | Joe Cannon | San Jose Earthquakes | 7 |
| 2 | Kevin Hartman | LA Galaxy | 7 |
| 2 | Matt Jordan | Dallas Burn | 7 |
| 5 | Scott Garlick | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 6 |
| 6 | Zach Thornton | Chicago Fire | 5 |
| 7 | Tim Howard | MetroStars | 4 |
| 7 | David Kramer | Colorado Rapids | 4 |
| 9 | Jeff Causey | New England Revolution | 3 |
| 9 | Mark Dougherty | Columbus Crew | 3 |

## Awards
### Individual awards

| Award | Player | Club |
| Most Valuable Player | Tony Meola | Kansas City Wizards |
| Defender of the Year | Peter Vermes | Kansas City Wizards |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | Tony Meola | Kansas City Wizards |
| Coach of the Year | Bob Gansler | Kansas City Wizards |
| Rookie of the Year | Carlos Bocanegra | Chicago Fire |
| Comeback Player of the Year | Tony Meola | Kansas City Wizards |
| Scoring Champion | Mamadou Diallo | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| Goal of the Year | Marcelo Balboa | Colorado Rapids |
| Fair Play Award | Steve Ralston | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| Humanitarian of the Year | Abdul Thompson Conteh | San Jose Earthquakes |

### Best XI

| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| Tony Meola, Kansas City | Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Peter Vermes, Kansas City | Chris Armas, Chicago Piotr Nowak, Chicago Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay Hristo Stoichkov, Chicago Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay | Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay Clint Mathis, MetroStars |

### Player of the Month

| Week | Player | Club |
| April | Miklos Molnar | Kansas City Wizards |
| May | Tony Meola | Kansas City Wizards |
| June | Clint Mathis | MetroStars |
| July | Dante Washington | Columbus Crew |
| August | Clint Mathis | MetroStars |
| September | Diego Serna | Miami Fusion |

## Attendance

| Team | Games | Total | Average |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 16 | 326,392 | 20,400 |
| D.C. United | 16 | 297,279 | 18,580 |
| MetroStars | 16 | 281,938 | 17,621 |
| New England Revolution | 16 | 247,409 | 15,463 |
| Columbus Crew | 16 | 247,220 | 15,451 |
| Chicago Fire | 16 | 214,189 | 13,387 |
| Dallas Burn | 16 | 209,637 | 13,102 |
| Colorado Rapids | 16 | 201,280 | 12,580 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 16 | 199,364 | 12,460 |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 16 | 151,232 | 9,452 |
| Kansas City Wizards | 16 | 145,793 | 9,112 |
| Miami Fusion | 16 | 119,352 | 7,460 |
| Totals | 192 | 2,641,085 | 13,756 |