1996 D.C. United season

March 2026 August 2023 D.C. United 1996 General manager Dave Kasper Head coach Bruce Arena RFK Stadium MLS 3rd MLS Cup Champions U.S. Open Cup Champions 32,864 vs New England(April 27, 1996) 15,585 Raúl Díaz Arce (23) Raúl Díaz Arce (24) _thinredborder _DCU_96h _thinredborder _DCU_96 _3_stripes_white 000000 FFFFFF 000000 000000 000000 _DCU_96a _DCU_96a _DCU_96a _DCU_96 _3_stripes_black FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FF0000 FFFFFF true 1997 The 1996 D.C. United season was the teams debutant season in Major League Soccer (MLS), and 1996 was the inaugural year of play in MLS competition. United would become the first club to win the MLS Cup this year. This was the first year since 1981 that a pro soccer team from the Washington metropolitan area played in the top tier of the American soccer pyramid. Background Washington Diplomats Washington Diplomats (1988–90) Prior to Major League Soccer's inaugural season, it had been six years since the Washington Metropolitan Area had a professional soccer club play within the region. The last team, was the late 1980s/early 1990s version of the Washington Diplomats. The Diplomats, played in the American Soccer League, which at the time was, by de facto, the top division of soccer in the United States although it was not sanctioned by U.S. Soccer or FIFA as a top tier soccer league. With the installation of the D.C. United franchise, it was the first time since the 1981 that a top division pro soccer club played in the region. The foundation of the team came on June 15, 1994, when Major League Soccer selected Washington, D.C. out of twenty-two applicants to host one of the first seven teams, with three more added before the league's launch. http://web.mlsnet.com/about/ General Overview Major League Soccer 2009 June 26, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20080625214719/http://web.mlsnet.com/about/ June 25, 2008 dead Club name Once an MLS franchise was awarded to Washington, the new club management sought a name for the club. Attempting to allude to the American sporting culture, original suppositions included the area's name followed by a mascot for the club. Some ideas included the "Spies", "Americans" and "Eagles". Eventually, the idea of simply naming the team "D.C. United" was decided upon as the club name. The moniker "United" alluded to European club names such as Leeds and Manchester United, as well as reflecting on being based in capital of the United States.Dure Beau Long Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer 2010 Potomac Books Dulles, Virginia 978-1-59797-509-4 21–23 MLS regular season October 2021 The team got off to a slow start, losing its first three games in April, but improved during the season, including a four-match winning streak in August, and qualified for the playoffs. MLS Playoffs The final month of D.C. United's inaugural season saw the club compete in the first ever MLS Cup Playoffs, eventually being crowned the MLS Cup champions. Ten days later, United earned the double by winning the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the United States' domestic knockout cup competition. Such a feat would not be accomplished again until the Chicago Fire did so in 1998. To date, only four other MLS sides have ever achieved any sort of "double", being regular season, playoffs, or cup competition. Playoff play continued into October with game three of the conference semifinal series, with kickoff on October 2. United, tied with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars were level 1–1 in the series. Played in front of a crowd of 20,423, United would emerge victorious in the match and in the series winning the match and series by a 2–1 scoreline. In game three, Steve Rammel opened the scoring in the 67th minute, giving United a crucial 1–0 victory. Inside 20 minutes later, the MetroStars leveled things up off an 86th-minute strike from NY/NJ's Antony de Ávila. The match, looking destined for sudden death extra time was abruptly halted when a penalty was called against NY/NJ in the box. The call resulted with United's Raúl Díaz Arce notching the eventual match winner in the 89th minute of play. The win booked United into the 1996 MLS Eastern Conference Finals. D.C. United took on the Supporters' Shield winners, Tampa Bay Mutiny on October 10 to open up the Eastern Conference Finals. The first match of the three-game series was held at RFK Stadium, where United posted a 4–1 victory. The score was United's largest margin of victory throughout the playoffs. The match saw Díaz Arce notch a hat trick, making him the first player in MLS Cup Playoffs history to score a hat trick in a playoff match. Díaz Arce scored in the 38th minute to give United the go-ahead lead, only for Tampa Bay's Roy Lassiter to equalize in the 42nd minute. United's Steve Rammel score what would eventually be the match-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give United a 2–1 lead over the Mutiny. Díaz Arce would score insurance goals for United in a three-minute span, scoring in the 58th and 60th minutes of play. Held two days later, game two of the conference finals took place at Houlihan's Stadium near Tampa, Florida. With a crowd of 9,339 on hand, Tampa Bay took a 1–0 lead against D.C. inside 15 minutes, thanks to a strike from Steve Ralston. Ralston's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides for the remainder of the first half. However, four minutes into the second half of play, United's Richie Williams netted the equalizer. Díaz Arce would, once again, provide last minute heroics scoring in the 82nd minute to give United the 2–1 lead, and to book themselves in the inaugural MLS Cup championship. Match results Major League Soccer 1996 Major League Soccer season Regular season Matchday 1 San Jose Clash April 6, 1996 1–0 Report D.C. United Emenalo 44 Wynalda 88 Diaz Arce 5 Gori 44 Harkes 72 Fazlagic 87 Spartan Stadium San Jose, California 31,683 Esse Baharmast L Matchday 2 Columbus Crew April 13, 1996 4–0 Report D.C. United Lee 18 o.g. McBride 29 86 Clark 39 Marino 48 Oshoniyi 79 Williams 19 Lee 33 Etcheverry 66 Crew Stadium Columbus, Ohio 25,266 Raul Dominguez L Matchday 3 D.C. United April 20, 1996 1–2 Report Los Angeles Galaxy Diaz Arce 7 Cienfuegos 21 pen., 89 Calichman 37 Salcedo 72 Vasquez 77 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 35,032 Paul Tamberino L Matchday 4 New England Revolution April 27, 1996 1–1 3–2 Report D.C. United DeBrito 26 Aunger 78 pen. Harkes 24 Diaz Arce 69 Welton Paul Keegan Ukrop Woodring Aunger Sawatzky Crawley Harkes Diaz Arce Kelderman Peay Pope Foxboro Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts 32,864 Esse Baharmast D Matchday 5 D.C. United May 1, 1996 3–1 Report Dallas Burn Diaz Arce 15 pen. Rammel 39, 64 Agoos 52 Etcheverry 53 Puskarich 15 Lozzano 24 Rodriguez 31, 43 pen. Santel 53 Alvarez 62 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 11,253 Byungil Noh W Matchday 6 Los Angeles Galaxy May 5, 1996 3–1 Report D.C. United Vasquez 42 Hurtado 53 Cienfuegos 54 Salcedo 71 Campos 88 Peay 13 Diaz Arce 16 Rammel 28 Crawley 90 Etcheverry 90 Rose Bowl Pasadena, California 20,471 Arturo Angeles L Matchday 7 D.C. United May 12, 1996 1–1 1–2 Report NY/NJ MetroStars Harkes 11 Huwiler 24 Peay 36 Restrepo 21 Ramos 2 36 77 Knowles 52 Savarese 64 Agoos Medved Crawley Diaz Arce Harkes Savarese Vermes Caricola Hernandez Donadoni RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 14,722 Kevin Stott D Matchday 8 D.C. United May 15, 1996 5–2 Report Columbus Crew Rammel 28 49 53 Diaz Arce 67 70, 88 Khumalo 51 McBride 76 Paz 85 pen. RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 7,422 Esse Baharmast W Matchday 9 Dallas Burn May 18, 1996 3–2 Report D.C. United Kreis 40 82 Eck 63 Alvarez 75 Sanchez 88, 90 Harkes 37 Sanneh 65 Agoos 90 Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas 23,351 Arturo Angeles L Matchday 10 NY/NJ MetroStars May 30, 1996 1–2 Report D.C. United Kydes 26 Wood 27 Knowles 45 Rammel 19 Gori 23 Sanneh 32 Williams 38 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 25,322 Zimmerman Boulos W Matchday 11 Colorado Rapids June 2, 1996 2–2 Report D.C. United Kinnear 34 Balboa 44 Trittschuh 67 Harbor 77 Kmosko 84 Diaz Arce 34 Etcheverry 84 Maessner 88 1–3 Henderson Benedetti Wegerle Kinnear Etcheverry Medved Agoos Rammel Imler Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado 8,517 Kevin Stott D Matchday 12 D.C. United June 5, 1996 3–1 Report San Jose Clash Diaz Arce 23 Etcheverry 32 Rammel 36 49 Williams 69 Iroha 33 Emenalo 35 Rodas 43 Butler 68 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 15,845 Paul Tamberino W Matchday 13 Kansas City Wiz June 20, 1996 5–1 Report D.C. United Preki 6 pen. Takawira 28 54 Chung 30 Sorber 35 Johnston 35 Williams 0 5 Sanneh 42 Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri 9,458 Rich Grady L Matchday 14 San Jose Clash June 23, 1996 2–1 Report D.C. United Espinoza 41 Draguicevich 58 Baicher 66 Espinoza 86 Diaz Arce 50 Rammel 51 Sanneh 67 Spartan Stadium San Jose, California 14,088 Frank Gorog L Matchday 15 D.C. United June 30, 1996 3–1 Report New England Revolution Rammel 1 Harkes 30 Diaz Arce 46 Harkes 89 Aunger 30 Naveda 38 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 19,355 Esse Baharmast W Matchday 16 Dallas Burn July 4, 1996 1–1 3–1 Report D.C. United Kreis 33 Santel 39 Sanchez 71 Sanneh 21 Diaz Arce 61, 77 Ashton Santel Sanchez Farrer Imler Kelderman Agoos Sanneh Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas 16,177 Tim Weyland D Matchday 17 D.C. United July 7, 1996 6–1 Report Dallas Burn Diaz Arce 3 48 61 63 Rammel 18 77 Williams 68 Ashton 69 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 11,244 Paul Tamberino W Matchday 18 D.C. United July 12, 1996 1–0 Report Tampa Bay Mutiny Etcheverry 72 Yallop 13 Kooiman 26 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 20,014 Robert Sheker W Matchday 19 New England Revolution July 20, 1996 2–0 Report D.C. United Aunger 44 Lips 44 Woodring 53 Sawatzky 54 77, 70 Paul Keegan 72 Naveda 81 Diaz Arce 2 22 36 Foxboro Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts 18,347 Kevin Stott L Matchday 20 D.C. United July 28, 1996 2–0 Report Columbus Crew Rammel 1 Marsch 83 Warzycha 61 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 11,373 Ruben Rodhas W Matchday 21 D.C. United July 31, 1996 2–3 Report Kansas City Wiz Medved 9 Etcheverry 69 Vaudreuil 19 o.g. Preki 32 Chung 64 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 9,457 Kevin Terry L Matchday 22 D.C. United August 4, 1996 2–4 Report Kansas City Wiz Etcheverry 20 Diaz Arce 32 pen. Gori 47 Chung 16 59 Preki 29 Johnston 30 Bowers 36 Sorber 53 Takawira 66 78 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 12,356 Joshua Patlak L Matchday 23 Tampa Bay Mutiny August 7, 1996 1–3 Report D.C. United McKinley 8 Pittman 31 Lassiter 90 pen. Moreno 4 Agoos 19 Sanneh 39 Diaz Arce 45 p 87 Etcheverry 53 Causey 78 Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, Florida 6,476 Rich Grady W Matchday 24 Columbus Crew August 10, 1996 3–2 Report D.C. United Smith 18 Iribarren 55 McBride 57 Paz 60 Moreno 27 Diaz Arce 31 Pope 75 Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio 18,587 Steve Olson L Matchday 25 D.C. United August 18, 1996 2–1 Report Los Angeles Galaxy Harkes 3 Pope 56 Semioli 64 Hurtado 77 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 24,536 Esse Baharmast W Matchday 26 NY/NJ MetroStars August 21, 1996 2–3 Report D.C. United de Avila 26 65 Ramos 36 Harty 48 Zaun 56 Agoos 27 Williams 34 Etcheverry 45, 79 Diaz Arce 56, 77 Pope 59 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 20,416 Arturo Angeles W Matchday 27 D.C. United August 25, 1996 3–0 Report Tampa Bay Mutiny Rammel 25 Moreno 29 Kelderman 81 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 15,804 Roberto Van de Wyngard W Matchday 28 Colorado Rapids August 29, 1996 1–2 Report D.C. United Harbor 40 Sharpe 56 Medved 3 Rammel 38, 49 Williams 82 Causey 85 Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado 6,368 Ali Saheli W Matchday 29 D.C. United September 6, 1996 1–2 Report NY/NJ MetroStars Sanneh 17, 50 Agoos 31 Rammel 88 Vermes 13 de Avila 18, 76 Joseph 30 Caricola 37 da Silva 45 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 8,053 Zimmerman Boulos L Matchday 30 Tampa Bay Mutiny September 14, 1996 2–0 Report D.C. United Ralston 4 Lassiter 51 Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, Florida 8,135 Paul Tamberino L Matchday 31 D.C. United September 17, 1996 3–2 Report New England Revolution Pope 58 Diaz Arce 62 89 Moore 39 p 78 Okaroh 57 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 7,360 Marcel Yonan W Matchday 32 D.C. United September 21, 1996 3–1 Report Colorado Rapids Diaz Arce 27 53 p Gori 60 Medved 32 McKay 50 Hamlett 53 Henderson 90 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 20,573 Arturo Angeles W Playoffs Conference semifinals Game 1 NY/NJ MetroStars September 24, 1996 2–2 6–5 https://fbref.com/en/matches/88719fdb/NYNJ-MetroStars-DC-United-September-24-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United de Ávila 38 Savarese 75 Díaz Arce 24 Williams 44 Moreno 56 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 14,416 California Esse Baharmast L de Ávila Donadoni Ramos Joseph Knowles Silvera Savarese Zaun Meola Johnson Vermes Agoos Etcheverry Moreno Díaz Arce Sanneh Harkes Gori Williams Peay Pope Causey MetroStars lead the series 1–0 Game 2 D.C. United September 27, 1996 1–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/d303470a/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-27-1996-Major-League-Soccer NY/NJ MetroStars Etcheverry 5, 72 Moreno 0 89 Zaun 47 Caricola 62 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 21,442 Maryland Paul Tamberino W Series tied 1–1 Game 3 October 2, 1996 D.C. United 2–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/a40faa34/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-October-2-1996-Major-League-Soccer NY/NJ MetroStars Peay 61 Rammel 67 Díaz Arce 89 pen. Caricola 38 Joseph 57 de Ávila 86 Meola 89 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 20,423 California Brian Hall W D.C. United win series 2–1 Conference finals Game 1 D.C. United October 10, 1996 4–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/2242f769/DC-United-Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-October-10-1996-Major-League-Soccer Tampa Bay Mutiny Díaz Arce 36 58 60 Rammel 54 Gori 61 Galderisi 34 Lassiter 42 Hunjak 65 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 23,566 Kevin Stott W D.C. United lead the series 1–0 Game 2 Tampa Bay Mutiny October 12, 1996 1–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/48da5340/Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-DC-United-October-12-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United Ralston 14 Vásquez 27 Valderrama 2 28 83 Pittman 54 McKinley 62 Agoos 41 Williams 49 Moreno 54 Vaudreuil 63 Díaz Arce 82 Simpson 90 Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, Florida 9,339 Rich Grady W D.C. United wins series 2–0 MLS Cup MLS Cup 1996 Final LA Galaxy October 20 2–3 yes https://fbref.com/en/matches/053a9edd/LA-Galaxy-DC-United-October-20-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United Hurtado 5, 41 Armas 56 Noamouz 74 Etcheverry 39 Peay 53 Sanneh 72 Medved 81 Pope 94 Foxboro Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts 34,643 Esfandiar Baharmast W U.S. Open Cup 1996 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals D.C. United (MLS) Washington, D.C. September 4 2–0 https://lhusoc.tripod.com/history/1996/1996c.htm North Carolina Carolina Dynamo (USISL) Rammel 50 83 Agoos 87 Allnutt 87 Klöckner Stadium Charlottesville, Virginia 1,829 Ruben Rodhas W Semifinals Dallas Burn (MLS) Texas October 27 0–2 Report Washington, D.C. D.C. United (MLS) Haynes 26 Soehn 58 Farrer 63 Moreno 12 82 Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas 1,958 Kevin Terry W Final October 30 D.C. United (MLS) Washington, D.C. 3–0 Report New York Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L) Díaz Arce 45 Pope 63 Williams 72 Pope 72 Moreno 89 Dauda 77 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 7,234 Esse Baharast W League standings Conference DCU Overall DCU Transfers In Date Player Previous club Fee/notes Ref January 24, 1996 USA Jeff Agoos GER Wehen Allocated January 24, 1996 BOL Marco Etcheverry COL América de Cali Allocated January 24, 1996 USA John Harkes ENG West Ham United Allocated January 24, 1996 BOL Berthy Suárez BOL Guabirá Allocated February 6, 1996 SLV Raúl Díaz Arce SLV Luis Ángel Firpo Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Shawn Medved USA Seattle Sounders Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Erik Imler USA Raleigh Flyers Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Richie Williams USA Richmond Kickers Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Thor Lee USA Wichita Wings Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Brian Kamler USA Richmond Kickers Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Mile Milovac USA Indianapolis Twisters Drafted February 6, 1996 USA Kris Kelderman USA St. Louis Ambush Drafted February 7, 1996 USA Clint Peay USA Virginia Cavaliers Drafted February 7, 1996 USA Ben Crawley GER TuS Celle Drafted February 7, 1996 BIH Said Fazlagić BIH Sarajevo Drafted February 7, 1996 VEN Daniel de Oliveira SLV Luis Ángel Firpo Drafted February 7, 1996 USA Matthew Olson USA Everett BigFoot Drafted February 7, 1996 USA Sterling Wescott Hawaii Hawaii Tsunami Drafted February 7, 1996 USA Garth Lagerwey USA Hampton Roads Mariners Drafted February 7, 1996 MEX Carlos Garcia USA Myrtle Beach Boyz Drafted April 19, 1996 USA Steve Rammel USA Washington Mustangs Loan http://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp070397.html Intermark - Home Page July 18, 1996 BOL Jaime Moreno ENG Middlesbrough Lottery References yuGdfdYkkAw San Jose Clash vs D.C. United First-Ever MLS Match 1996 Dc United Dc United Category:1996 in sports in Washington, D.C. 1996 1996 1996