Major League Soccer 1996
| Major League Soccer 1996 | |
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| master | DC United |
| Cup winners | DC United |
| Teams | 10 |
| Games | 160 |
| Gates | 539 (ø 3.37 per game) |
| spectator | 2,785,001 (ø 17,406 per game) |
| Top scorer |
 Roy Lassiter , 27 goals
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A-League ↓
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The 1st Major League Soccer season began on April 6, 1996 and ended with the final game of the play-offs, the MLS Cup, on October 20, 1996.
DC United was the first team to win the Cup. They beat the LA Galaxy 3-2 at Foxboro Stadium after extra time. The first game in the MLS was played by DC United and the San Jose Clash on April 6th. The Californians won 1-0. First goalscorer in the new league was Eric Wynalda .
Season course
Regular season
| space | Eastern Conference | Sp | S. | (so) | N | (so) | Gates | Goals conceded | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 20th | (1) | 12 | (3) | 66 | 51 | +15 | 58 |
| 2 | DC United | 32 | 16 | (1) | 16 | (3) | 62 | 56 | +6 | 46 |
| 3 | NY / NJ MetroStars | 32 | 15th | (3) | 17th | (2) | 45 | 47 | −2 | 39 |
| 4th | Columbus crew | 32 | 15th | (4) | 17th | (5) | 59 | 60 | −1 | 37 |
| 5 | New England Revolution | 32 | 15th | (6) | 17th | (2) | 43 | 56 | −13 | 33 |
| space | Western Conference | Sp | S. | (so) | N | (so) | Gates | Goals conceded | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 32 | 19th | (4) | 13 | (4) | 59 | 49 | +10 | 49 |
| 2 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 17th | (5) | 15th | (3) | 50 | 48 | +2 | 41 |
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 32 | 17th | (5) | 15th | (2) | 61 | 63 | −2 | 41 |
| 4th | San Jose Clash | 32 | 15th | (3) | 17th | (6) | 50 | 50 | 0 | 39 |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 11 | (2) | 21st | (4) | 44 | 59 | −15 | 29 |
Play-offs
| Conference semifinals | Conference finals | MLS Cup 1996 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 2 | 1 | 4th | |||||||||||
| 4th | Columbus crew | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | DC United | 6th | |||||||||||||
| 2 | DC United | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 3 | NY / NJ MetroStars | 3 * | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| E. | DC United | 3 | |||||||||||||
| W. | LA Galaxy | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 4th | San Jose Clash | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 4th | |||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Dallas Burn | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 3 | 1 | 3 * | |||||||||||
Team awards
- MLS Cup - DC United
- US Open Cup - DC United
- MLS Supporters Shield - Tampa Bay Mutiny
Individual awards
- Most Valuable Player: Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay Mutiny
- Top Scorer: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (58)
- Golden Shoe: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (27)
- Defender of the Year: John Doyle, San Jose Clash
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Mark Dodd, Dallas Burn
- Beginner of the Year: Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay Mutiny
- Trainer of the Year: Thomas Rongen, Tampa Bay Mutiny
- Goal of the Year: Eric Wynalda, San Jose Clash
