MEDIA GUIDE 2018 AUDI FIELD INAUGURAL SEASON 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE CONTENTS STADIUM CLUB HISTORY (1996-2017) Audi Field by the Numbers 3 Regular Season Results by Season 83 Jersey History 6 2016 Statistics 84 Trophy Case 8 2016 Standings 85 RFK in Review 10 2016 MLS Awards 86 A First Time for Everything 12 2016 MLS Postseason Results 86 2016 Game-by-Game Lineups 88 THE CLUB 2015 Season 90 2014 Season 94 Overview 15 2013 Season 98 Front Office / Staff 20 2012 Season 102 Ownership Bios 24 2011 Season 106 Executive Bios 25 2010 Season 110 2009 Season 114 THE TEAM 2008 Season 118 Technical Staff 27 2007 Season 122 Academy Staff Bios 30 2006 Season 126 2018 Alphabetical Roster 34 2005 Season 130 2018 Numerical Roster 36 2004 Season 134 Player Bios & Stats 38 2003 Season 138 2002 Season 142 2018 SEASON 2001 Season 146 2018 Notes 65 2000 Season 150 1999 Season 154 2017 SEASON 1998 Season 158 1997 Season 162 2017 Notes 67 1996 Season 166 2017 Statistics 72 2017 Standings 73 CLUB RECORDS & STATISTICS 2017 MLS Awards 74 2017 MLS Postseason Results 74 All-Time Cup, Tournament, Friendlies Results 171 2017 Game-by-Game Lineups 76 All-Time Postseason Results 175 All-Time Regular Season Results 176 All-Time Results by Opponent 187 MLS Award Winners 212 MLS All-Stars 213 All-Time Player Register 214 All-Time Roster 234 Individual High Statistics 238 Individual Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Statistics 240 Individual International Competitions Statistics 246 Team High & Low Statistics 251 CONTENTS All-Time Player Transactions 253 2018 Schedule 262 Notes 264 All statistics correct to All stats correct to March 2, 2018. © 2018 MLS. Major League Soccer properties used by permission. All rights reserved. 2018 – Elias Sports Bureau. Visit dcunited.com for most up-to-date information. Credits — Editors: Lindsay Simpson, Sam Legg Art Direction & Layout: Ben Mahler 2 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 3 AUDI FIELD BY THE NUMBERS July 14, 2018 Approximately 780’ $500 v. Vancouver 190 Whitecaps million Distance to Bike Valet Spaces Anacostia River Open Date Cost to Build 1.3 GOLD miles Bermuda Distance to National Mall Grass Type LEED Certification 1 4 17 3,306 115 x 75 ft2 Year Months Days Yards Construction Time Video Board Playing Field 22 437,938 8’ ft2 Total Stadium Square Footage Feet Above Sea Level 5,500 15,200 Field Elevation Distance to field Tons Cubic Yards Total Structural Steel Total Concrete 20,000 STADIUM 35º Total Seating Capacity 550 1,500 West 30º 334 Club Seats East 31 LED Angle of Stadium Seating Suites Field Level Seats Sports Lights 4 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 5 6 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 7 JERSEY HISTORY While there have been plenty of kit variations for and other teams soon followed suit. Since then, the Black-and-Red since 1996, the jerseys’ core the designs have changed and the stars above the elements have remained clean, sharp, and at the crest have accumulated, but United’s sharp, direct forefront of MLS designs since the club’s inception. aesthetics have stayed at the forefront of the club’s jersey designs. From the 1996 black shirt with three white horizontal stripes across the chest, to the famous United will don their new gray and black, “Cat in the Hat” blue jersey with red and white horizontally striped primary jerseys during their striped sleeves, United have worn some of the inaugural season at Audi Field. With silver numbers most iconic jerseys in the league over the past 22 and lettering, Audi Field’s coordinates on the neck, seasons. In MLS’ early years, while other clubs and a D.C. boundary stone jock tag, the 2018 jersey were focused on producing a counterculture image honors the club’s history while welcoming the new through bold, flashy designs, the Black-and-Red set era at Audi Field. 2005 2006 2007 2008 the bar for a classic yet easily identifiable kit, 1996 1997 1998 2009 2010 2011 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2002 2003 2004 2015 2016 2017 2018 8 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 9 TROPHY CASE 1998 CONCACAF 2004 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS’ CUP CHAMPIONS D.C. United 3–2 Kansas City Wizards | 11/11/04 D.C. United 1–0 CD Toluca | 8/16/98 D.C. United won their fourth Major League Soccer D.C. United defeated Mexican champion CD Toluca championship in nine seasons with a wildly 1-0 at RFK Stadium to take home the CONCACAF entertaining 3-2 victory against the Kansas City Champions’ Cup. The lone goal of the game came Wizards at the Home Depot Center in Carson, off the sole of Eddie Pope’s cleat in the 41st minute California. Alecko Eskandarian scored in the 19th to lead United in their first international tournament and 23rd minutes, a Kansas City own goal provided triumph. The win also marked the first time that a third and United earned their first MLS Cup since an American club team had won a continental 1999. championship. 2006 MLS SUPPORTERS’ 1998 INTERAMERICAN CUP SHIELD WINNERS CHAMPIONS D.C. United, the most decorated club in American They are also one of only two teams to ever MLS regular season points champion | 55 pts soccer, have won 13 trophies over the past 22 win a CONCACAF regional tournament, D.C. United 0–1 CR Vasco de Gama, 11/14/98 seasons. defeating Club Toluca in the 1998 Champions’ D.C. United 2–0 CR Vasco de Gama, 11/5/98 Cup, the predecessor to the CONCACAF W 2–1 on aggregate 2007 MLS SUPPORTERS’ The Black-and-Red have won the joint-most Champions League. United also won the Copa Supporters’ Shields with four, have won the MLS Interamericana the same year, beating Brazilian In one of the greatest triumphs in the history of SHIELD WINNERS Cup four times and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open side Vasco da Gama. They are the only MLS team U.S. soccer, United posted a continental double MLS regular season points champion | 55 pts Cup three times. to ever win an intercontinental tournament. and earned the right to the title of “Champions of the Americas” with a victory in the Interamerican Cup. Facing South American Champion CR Vasco 2008 LAMAR HUNT de Gama of Brazil, United lost the home leg 1-0 on U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS November 14 at RFK Stadium before 26,213 fans. In the away leg, played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort D.C. United 2–1 Charleston Battery | 9/3/08 1996 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS Rhinos 3-0 at RFK Stadium to win the Lamar Hunt Lauderdale, Fla., Tony Sanneh’s first-half goal drew U.S. Open Cup. Raúl Díaz Arce, Eddie Pope, and the teams level on aggregate before Eddie Pope’s D.C. United won their second Lamar Hunt U.S. D.C. United 3–2 L.A. Galaxy | 10/20/96 Jaime Moreno all scored to help United secure goal in the 77th minute gave United the Open Cup by defeating the USL’s Charleston The first MLS Cup final was held at Foxboro the win, giving the Black-and-Red the first-ever historic victory. Battery 2-1 at RFK Stadium. Luciano Emilio opened Stadium outside of Boston in pouring rain and “double” in U.S. soccer history. up the scoreboard in the 4th minute before Fred with steady winds. D.C. United came back from a 1997 MLS SUPPORTERS’ scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute and two-goal deficit to seal a 3-2 victory over the Los SHIELD WINNERS 1999 MLS SUPPORTERS’ help United secure the win, giving the Black-and- Angeles Galaxy. Tony Sanneh was first to score for SHIELD WINNERS Red their first U.S. Open Cup since 1996. United and then Shawn Medved followed his lead, MLS regular season points champion | 55 pts equalizing the game in the 82nd minute of play. The MLS regular season points champion | 57 pts match entered the golden goal overtime period and The MLS Supporters’ Shield is awarded to the 2013 LAMAR HUNT Eddie Pope drove a header from the near post past team with the most points at the end of the regular U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS Jorge Campos to give United the honor of being season. the first club to raise the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy. 1999 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS D.C. United 1–0 Real Salt Lake | 10/1/13 1997 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS D.C. United 2–0 L.A. Galaxy | 11/21/99 D.C. United won the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on October 1 with a 1-0 1996 LAMAR HUNT D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids | 10/26/97 Jamie Moreno and Ben Olsen each found the back victory–courtesy of a Lewis Neal goal–over Real of the net in the first half of play to lead D.C. United U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT. Jaime Moreno and Tony Sanneh each notched to a 2-0 victory over L.A. Galaxy at Foxboro. United With the win, United claimed their third Lamar D.C. United 3–0 Rochester Rhinos | 10/30/96 a goal to earn United a 2-1 victory over the defended in depth after the first 45 minutes, not Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1996, 2008, 2013) and added Colorado Rapids, leading the team to their second allowing the Galaxy a single shot on goal, while Ten days after their MLS Cup triumph, D.C. United consecutive MLS Cup. A dedicated home crowd of nearly notching additional goals with a number of to the club’s record-setting trophy haul. collected their second trophy of MLS’ inaugural 57,421 packed RFK Stadium to cheer on the Black- quality counter attack chances. The win gave United year by defeating the USL’s Rochester Raging and-Red amidst the pouring rain. their third MLS Cup in four seasons. 10 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 11 RFK IN REVIEW United played the first-ever Major League Soccer champions and the first team to win an MLS Cup match at RFK Stadium on April 20, 1996, at what on home soil. The Black-and-Red also hosted the could be considered the United State’s first home CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, CONCACAF Giants’ for soccer. Over the next 22 seasons, the Black- Cup, Interamerican Cup, and three U.S. Open Cup and-Red built a storied history within the stadium, championships at RFK. becoming MLS’ most-decorated franchise while playing 347 regular season matches, 25 playoff After 22 seasons, United ended their tenure at their games and winning four trophies at RFK. original home on Oct. 22, 2017 with #LastCallatRFK and Legends Weekend. United icons—including The stadium served as the backdrop to many of Jaime Moreno, Marco Etcheverry, John Harkes and the club’s biggest accomplishments between 1996 Hristo Stoichkov—reunited at the historic stadium and 2017. In 1996, United captured their first U.S. for the final time in a Legends Match to celebrate Open Cup at RFK and completed the first American the club’s rich history. D.C. United then played their “double” by winning MLS Cup and the U.S. Open last MLS regular season game against the New Cup in the same year. The next season, United York Red Bulls. became the first team to repeat as MLS Cup 12 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE 13 A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING The 1996 season yielded a variety of firsts for D.C. United at RFK Stadium. The venue served as a 22-year home for Black-and-Red fans who witnessed legendary players compete on the RFK Stadium field. You watched as United icons like Jaime Moreno, Marco Etcheverry and Jeff Agoos completed team and individual “firsts” at RFK Stadium. Who will do it at Audi Field? First goal Raúl Díaz Arce (7’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles Galaxy on 4/20/1996) First goal First goal by an opponent Mauricio Cienfuegos (21’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First goal by an opponent First assist Shawn Medved & Richie Williams (7’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First assist First assist by an opponent Jose Vasquez (72’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First assist by an opponent First win 3-1 win against Dallas Burn on 5/01/1996 First win First loss 2-1 loss against Los Angeles Galaxy on 4/20/1996 First loss First tie 0-0 tie against Kansas City Wizards on 6/10/2000 First tie First yellow card Steve Rammel (39’ in 3-1 win against Dallas Burn on 5/01/1996) First yellow card First yellow card by an opp. Dan Calichman (37’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles Galaxy on 4/20/1996) First yellow card by an opp. First red card Jeff Agoos (43’ in 2-2 [shootout win] with the Tampa Bay Mutiny on 7/29/1998) First red card First red card by an opponent Tab Ramos (77’ in 1-1 [loss in shootout] against NY/NJ MetroStars on 5/12/1996) First red card by an opponent First save Jeff Causey (25’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First save First save by an opponent Jorge Campos (35’ 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First save by an opponent First penalty kick goal Raúl Díaz Arce (15’ in 3-1 win against Dallas Burn on 5/01/1996) First penalty kick goal First pen. kick goal by an opp. Mauricio Cienfuegos (21’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First pen. kick goal by an opp. First penalty kick save Jeff Causey (84’ in 2-1 win against NY/NJ MetroStars on 5/30/1996) First penalty kick save First shutout win 1-0 win against the Tampa Bay Mutiny on 7/12/1996 First shutout win First shutout for an opponent 4-0 loss against the Los Angeles Galaxy on 3/25/2000 First shutout for an opponent First substitution [IN] Brian Kimler [OUT] Mario Gori (46’ in 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on 4/20/1996) First substitution First substitution by an opp. [IN] Jose Vasquez [OUT] Harut Karapetyan (50’ in 2-1 loss against LA on 4/20/1996) First substitution by an opp. First playoff win 1-0 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars on 9/27/1996 First playoff win First playoff loss 2-0 loss against the Chicago Fire on 11/01/2003 First playoff loss First playoff tie win 3-3 tie against the New England Revolution on 11/06/2004 First playoff tie win First playoff goal Jaime Moreno (72’ in 1-0 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars on 9/27/1996) First playoff goal First playoff goal by an opp. Antony De Avila (86’ in 2-1 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars on 10/02/1996) First playoff goal by an opp. First playoff assist Marco Etcheverry (72’ in 1-0 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars on 9/27/1996) First playoff assist First playoff assist by an opp. Roberto Donadoni (86’ in 2-1 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars on 10/02/1996) First playoff assist by an opp. THE CLUB 15 CLUB HISTORY 1996 / 16-16-0 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS, U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS The club’s inaugural season in 1996 proved to be a fruitful one for the Black-and-Red. After a slow start in league play, United found the right balance and went into the postseason as the team to beat. They proved to be just that, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in overtime via a golden goal header by defender Eddie Pope to capture the first MLS Cup title on Oct. 20. One trophy was not enough for the Black-and- Red that fall, as three days later, United shut out the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the A-League (now the USL First Division) 3-0 to win the U.S. Open Cup, the country’s oldest soccer tournament. The Black-and- Red became the first club to capture America’s version of the “double.” 1997 / 21-11-0 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS, SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD WINNERS The team’s second season was another banner year for United, as the team rolled through the regular season with a league-best record of 21-11. D.C. went a perfect 5-0 in the MLS Cup Playoffs, which culminated in a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in MLS Cup ‘97 in front of a record—and boisterous— home crowd of 57,431 at RFK Stadium. MLS Defender of the Year: Eddie Pope MLS Coach of the Year: Bruce Arena MLS Goal of the Year: Marco Etcheverry MLS Top Goalscorer: Jaime Moreno 1998 / 24-8-0 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS’ CUP WINNERS, INTERAMERICAN CUP WINNERS United failed to capture domestic honors for the first time in their short history, losing to the Chicago Fire 2-0 in MLS Cup ‘98. Though United would be disappointed on the home front, their previous success gave them the opportunity to seek honors on a larger stage. After reaching the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 1997, the Black-and-Red made it one step further to the finals in 1998, where they faced Mexican ‘supercampeon’ Toluca. A dramatic 1-0 victory at RFK Stadium not only gave the Black- and-Red their first international trophy, but also the chance for a second by earning a berth to the 1998 InterAmerican Cup. Legendary Brazilian side Vasco da Gama was South America’s representative, and they proved formidable, winning the first leg of the championship at RFK Stadium by a 1-0 score. However, United shocked the Brazilian team, and much of the soccer world, by winning the away leg at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale by a 2-1 margin. Thanks to a pair of road goals, United won the fixture and came away with the InterAmerican Cup trophy and the title “Champion of the Americas.” That contest proved to be a fitting farewell for head coach Bruce Arena, who left the District of Columbia to conquer further international battles as the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. MLS Most Valuable Player: Marco Etcheverry MLS Rookie of the Year: Ben Olsen. 1999 / 23-9-0 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS, SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD WINNERS THE CLUB The 1999 season featured a new coach, as former Tampa Bay Mutiny and New England Revolution Head Coach Thomas Rongen took over on the United sideline. The club produced the same successful results their supporters now demanded, as the squad earned a second Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best regular season record (23-9) and once again represented the Eastern Conference in the MLS Cup. Just as in 1996, MLS Cup ‘99 featured the Black-and-Red and the Galaxy in Foxborough, but this time dramatics were not necessary as a pair of first-half goals gave United a 2-0 victory and their third Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy in four seasons. MLS Top Goalscorer (three-way tie)- Roy Lassiter MLS Goal of the Year: Marco Etcheverry 16 2018 D.C. UNITED MEDIA GUIDE THE CLUB 17 2000 / 8-18-6 2005 / 16-10-6 For the first time in club history, United failed to qualify for postseason competition or capture any sort of In 2005, after a mediocre start to the season, United rebounded and finished second in the Eastern silverware. The team managed a record of just 2-9-1 to start the season and never recovered from their Conference with a record of 16-10-6. The 16 wins were the most since 1999, when the team won 23 games. early struggles, finishing last in the Eastern Division. The team’s midseason 3-1 win over Newcastle United Jaime Moreno again led the Black-and-Red offensively, tallying 16 goals – tied for his career best. The team at RFK Stadium was one of the positives in a difficult campaign. Another bright spot during the 2000 also played in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, Copa Nissan Sudamericana and an international friendly campaign was the debut of 16-year-old midfielder Bobby Convey, who at the time of his first game—March against the reigning English Premier League Champion, Chelsea FC. The club’s MLS season ended with a 25 against the Los Angeles Galaxy—was the youngest player to play in an MLS game. disappointing loss in the first round of MLS Cup Playoffs to the Chicago Fire. 2001 / 8-16-2 2006 / 15-7-10 SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD WINNERS United supporters suffered another difficult year as the club finished last in the Eastern Division and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. For the second year in a row, United had a player debut as D.C. United reasserted themselves as the best team in Major League Soccer in 2006, bringing home their the youngest in league history when Santino Quaranta came on as a substitute against the New England third Supporters’ Shield trophy with a 15-7-10 record. United started off the season in spectacular form Revolution on May 9. The 16-year-old also became the youngest player to be named as a Player of the Week – going unbeaten from May 1 to July 29 – for a team-best 14 straight matches. Christian Gómez led the and an MLS All-Star. league’s most potent offense, chalking up 12 goals and 11 assists on his way to the MLS MVP award. Other highlights for the year included a 4-0 victory over Scotland’s Celtic FC and an impressive 1-1 draw against 2002 / 9-14-5 the famed Real Madrid of Spain. The club’s MLS season ended with a 1-0 loss in the Eastern Conference championship to the visiting New England Revolution. After two disappointing seasons, United named former Miami Fusion skipper Ray Hudson as the club’s third MLS Most Valuable Player: Christian Gómez head coach on Jan. 8. Hudson and his new club’s push for the postseason lasted until the final match of the MLS Defender of the Year: Bobby Boswell schedule, but the Black-and-Red missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for a third straight season. 2002 did MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: Troy Perkins have some bright spots, however, with a trio of club and league firsts. Domestically, United hosted the 2002 MLS All-Star Game at RFK Stadium for the first time and also won the inaugural Atlantic Cup trophy in their 2007 / 16-7-7 yearly season series with New York. Internationally, the Black-and-Red became the first MLS side to travel SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD WINNERS to England when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in a tribute match at the famed White Hart Lane in October. Tom Soehn became the fifth head coach in United history after Peter Nowak left to become an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Soehn, who had served as an assistant under Nowak since 2003 / 10-11-9 2004, got off to a slow start, beginning the season 0-3. The Black-and-Red, however, rebounded and for the second consecutive season had the most potent attack in MLS. United won their fourth Supporters’ Following a third unsuccessful campaign, the club used the time before the start of the 2003 season to Shield, becoming the first team in league history to win the award in back-to-back years. The addition of make drastic changes to the squad. U.S. National Team star Earnie Stewart was allocated to the club, Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred, along with veterans Jaime Moreno, Christian Gómez and Ben Olsen bringing the veteran home from Holland, where he enjoyed unparalleled success for an American expatriate. helped the team score 56 regular season goals. In August, Moreno scored his 109th career regular season Richie Williams, Eddie Pope and Jaime Moreno all headed north to join the New York MetroStars, while goal, breaking the MLS record. He finished the season with 112 career goals. The campaign also featured defender Mike Petke made the reverse journey to join the Black-and-Red. Former Indiana University the club’s participation in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, the inaugural SuperLiga and Copa Nissan standout and MLS All-Star Dema Kovalenko was also brought in to shake things up in the midfield, while Sudamericana. his Fire teammate and Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoitchkov was added as a player/coach. Though United MLS Top Goalscorer: Luciano Emilio struggled early in the season to pick up points, the off-season moves did pay off, as the club posted a MLS Most Valuable Player: Luciano Emilio regular season record of 10-11-9, sending the club back to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since MLS Newcomer of the Year: Luciano Emilio winning the Cup in 1999. However, United fell to the Chicago Fire in the first round of the postseason, ending a run for the team’s fourth MLS Cup. 2008 / 11-15-4 MLS Humanitarian of the Year: Ben Olsen LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS 2004 / 11-10-9 Though United added their 12th major piece of silverware to the trophy case, the campaign was largely a MLS CUP CHAMPIONS disappointment as D.C. missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002. After a terrible 2-7 start in league play, the team found their groove through the middle part of the year, going 8-3-1 from The beginning of 2004 was an exciting time for the Black-and-Red, as head coach Peter Nowak and teen May 4 until Aug. 23. Unfortunately, injuries decimated Tom Soehn’s side and the team’s record down the phenom Freddy Adu both joined the club in January. Nowak became the fourth coach in team history, while stretch was a dismal 1-5-3. Being forced to play the most games in club history – an astonishing 47 fixtures, Freddy was the first overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft. Jaime Moreno returned to D.C. following a complicated matters. The team fell short in international competitions as well, failing to capture hardware in one-year stint with the New York MetroStars. After a 5-5-5 start during the first part of the MLS regular the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, SuperLiga and CONCACAF Champions League. The lone bright spot was season, United began to buy into Coach Nowak’s hardworking, aggressive and team-oriented strategy the team’s second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship, which was captured after a 2-1 win over the and finished the regular season with an 11-10-9 record. In the final game of the regular season, the team Charleston Battery of United Soccer League’s First Division. registered a thrilling 3-2 victory over the MetroStars that vaulted them past New York and into second place in the Eastern Conference standings. United carried their hot streak into the playoffs, eliminating the MetroStars in the first round and the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference championship on the way to their fifth MLS Cup championship game. In the MLS Cup final, United defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3-2 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. to raise the club’s fourth MLS Cup.