1997 Major League Soccer season#MLS Cup Playoffs

The season began on March 22 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 26. The 10 teams were split evenly into two conferences. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their conference four times, for a total of 16 games. The rest of the schedule consisted of three games against each team from the opposite conference, with four games against one designated team.

The top four teams from each conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The conference semifinals and finals 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.

{{main|List of Major League Soccer stadiums}}

{{1997 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table}}

{{1997 Major League Soccer Western Conference table}}

{{1997 Major League Soccer season table}}

• The ties were a best-of-three series.

{{8TeamBracket|legs=3/3/1

| RD1=Conference semifinals

| RD2=Conference finals

| RD3=MLS Cup

| RD1-group1=Eastern Conference

| RD1-group2=Western Conference

| score-width=35px

| team-width=170px

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=D.C. United

| RD1-score1-1=4

| RD1-score1-2=1 (4)

| RD1-score1-3=x

| RD1-seed2=4

| RD1-team2=New England Revolution

| RD1-score2-1=1

| RD1-score2-2=1 (3)

| RD1-score2-3=x

| RD1-seed3=2

| RD1-team3=Tampa Bay Mutiny

| RD1-score3-1=1

| RD1-score3-2=0

| RD1-score3-3=x

| RD1-seed4=3

| RD1-team4=Columbus Crew

| RD1-score4-1=2

| RD1-score4-2=2

| RD1-score4-3=x

| RD1-seed5=1

| RD1-team5=Kansas City Wizards

| RD1-score5-1=0

| RD1-score5-2=2

| RD1-score5-3=x

| RD1-seed6=4

| RD1-team6=Colorado Rapids

| RD1-score6-1=3

| RD1-score6-2=3

| RD1-score6-3=x

| RD1-seed7=2

| RD1-team7=LA Galaxy

| RD1-score7-1=0 (0)

| RD1-score7-2=0

| RD1-score7-3=x

| RD1-seed8=3

| RD1-team8=Dallas Burn

| RD1-score8-1=0 (2)

| RD1-score8-2=3

| RD1-score8-3=x

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=D.C. United

| RD2-score1-1=3

| RD2-score1-2=1

| RD2-score1-3=x

| RD2-seed2=3

| RD2-team2=Columbus Crew

| RD2-score2-1=2

| RD2-score2-2=0

| RD2-score2-3=x

| RD2-seed3=4

| RD2-team3=Colorado Rapids

| RD2-score3-1=1

| RD2-score3-2=2

| RD2-score3-3=x

| RD2-seed4=3

| RD2-team4=Dallas Burn

| RD2-score4-1=0

| RD2-score4-2=1

| RD2-score4-3=x

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=D.C. United

| RD3-score1-1=2

| RD3-seed2=4

| RD3-team2=Colorado Rapids

| RD3-score2-1=1

}}

Eastern Conference

{{Football box

|date=October 5, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=D.C. United

|score1=4

|team2=New England Revolution

|score2=1

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/99aeeee2/DC-United-New-England-Revolution-October-5-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Wegerle {{Goal|13||56}}
• Moreno {{Goal|65||76}}

|goals2=

• Burns {{Goal|89}}

|stadium=RFK Stadium

|location=Washington, D.C.

|attendance=12,540

|referee=Tim Weyland

}}

{{Football box

| date = October 8, 1997

| round = Game 2

| team1 = New England Revolution

| score1 = 1

| team2 = D.C. United

| score2 = 1

| report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/2380d931/New-England-Revolution-DC-United-October-8-1997-Major-League-Soccer

| goals1 =

• Moore {{goal|72}}

| goals2 =

• Williams {{goal|53}}

| penalties1=

• Moore {{pengoal}}
• Burns {{pengoal}}
• Chronopoulos {{pengoal}}
• Galderisi {{penmiss}}
• Naveda {{penmiss}}
• Keegan {{penmiss}}
• McKinley {{penmiss}}

| penaltyscore= 3–4

| penalties2=

• {{pengoal}} Etcheverry
• {{pengoal}} Moreno
• {{pengoal}} Kelderman
• {{penmiss}} Agoos
• {{penmiss}} Iroha
• {{penmiss}} Harkes
• {{pengoal}} Llamosa

| stadium = Foxboro Stadium

| location= Foxborough, Massachusetts

| attendance = 16,233

| referee =

}}

• D.C. United advance to the Conference Finals.

----

{{Football box

|date=October 5, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=Tampa Bay Mutiny

|score1=1

|team2=Columbus Crew

|score2=2

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/3cda9f5c/Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-Columbus-Crew-October-5-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Gilmar {{Goal|35}}

|goals2=

• Farrell {{Goal|11}}
• Wood {{Goal|83}}

|stadium=Houlihan's Stadium

|location=Tampa, Florida

|attendance=8,272

|referee= Noel Kenny

}}

{{Football box

|date=October 8, 1997

|round=Game 2

|team1=Columbus Crew

|score1=2

|team2=Tampa Bay Mutiny

|score2=0

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/fe875131/Columbus-Crew-Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-October-8-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• McBride {{Goal|43}}
• Warzycha {{Goal|73}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Ohio Stadium

|location=Columbus, Ohio

|attendance=13,102

|referee=Joshua Patlak

}}

• Columbus Crew advance to the Conference Finals.

----

Western Conference

{{Football box

|date=October 5, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=Los Angeles Galaxy

|score1=0

|team2=Dallas Burn

|score2=0

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/d53e2d39/LA-Galaxy-Dallas-Burn-October-5-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

|goals2=

|penalties1=

• Karapetyan {{penmiss}}
• Armas {{penmiss}}
• Machón {{penmiss}}
• Vanney {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore=0–2

|penalties2=

• {{pengoal}} Sutter
• {{penmiss}} Soehn
• {{penmiss}} Santel
• {{pengoal}} Álvarez

|stadium=Rose Bowl

|location=Pasadena, California

|attendance=18,921

|referee=Kevin Stott

}}

{{Football box

|date=October 8, 1997

|round=Game 2

|team1=Dallas Burn

|score1=3

|team2=Los Angeles Galaxy

|score2=0

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/ea35a670/Dallas-Burn-LA-Galaxy-October-8-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=Washington {{Goal|29||69}}
Peinado {{Goal|86}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Cotton Bowl

|location=Dallas, Texas

|attendance=11,248

|referee=Esse Baharmast

}}

• Dallas Burn advance to the Conference Finals.

----

{{Football box

|date=October 4, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=Kansas City Wizards

|score1=0

|team2=Colorado Rapids

|score2=3

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/d529c2a4/Kansas-City-Wizards-Colorado-Rapids-October-4-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

|goals2=

• Henderson {{Goal|25}}
• Bravo {{Goal|67}}
• Paule {{Goal|75}}

|stadium=Arrowhead Stadium

|location=Kansas City, Missouri

|attendance=10,174

|referee=Brian Hall

}}

{{Football box

|date=October 8, 1997

|round=Game 2

|team1=Colorado Rapids

|score1=3

|team2=Kansas City Wizards

|score2=2

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/ddd2d200/Colorado-Rapids-Kansas-City-Wizards-October-8-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Bravo {{Goal|16||68}}
• Harris {{Goal|83}}

|goals2=

• Takawira {{Goal|9}}
• Preki {{Goal|88}}

|stadium=Mile High Stadium

|location=Denver, Colorado

|attendance=13,117

|referee=Paul Tamberino

}}

• Colorado Rapids advance to the Conference Finals.

Western Conference

{{Football box

|date=October 12, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=Dallas Burn

|score1=0

|team2=Colorado Rapids

|score2=1

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/a6f575bb/Dallas-Burn-Colorado-Rapids-October-12-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

|goals2=

• Henderson {{Goal|42}}

|stadium=Cotton Bowl

|location=Dallas, Texas

|attendance=7,376

|referee=Kevin Stott

}}

{{Football box

|date=October 15, 1997

|round=Game 2

|team1=Colorado Rapids

|score1=2

|team2=Dallas Burn

|score2=1

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/74037041/Colorado-Rapids-Dallas-Burn-October-15-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Patiño {{Goal|22}}
• Henderson {{Goal|87}}

|goals2=

• Álvarez {{Goal|5}}

|stadium=Mile High Stadium

|location=Denver, Colorado

|attendance=18,452

|referee=Noel Kenny

}}

• Colorado Rapids advance to MLS Cup.

----

Eastern Conference

{{Football box

|date=October 12, 1997

|round=Game 1

|team1=D.C. United

|score1=3

|team2=Columbus Crew

|score2=2

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/822ee96e/DC-United-Columbus-Crew-October-12-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Sanneh {{Goal|9||45}}
• Díaz Arce {{Goal|29}}

|goals2=

• Farrell {{Goal|57}}
• Dooley {{Goal|73}}

|stadium=RFK Stadium

|location=Washington, D.C.

|attendance=11,820

|referee=Kevin Terry

}}

{{Football box

|date=October 15, 1997

|round=Game 2

|team1=Columbus Crew

|score1=0

|team2=D.C. United

|score2=1

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/0fdde4e8/Columbus-Crew-DC-United-October-15-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

|goals2=

• Díaz Arce {{Goal|47}}

|stadium=Ohio Stadium

|location=Columbus, Ohio

|attendance=9,506

|referee=Arturo Angeles

}}

• D.C. United advance to MLS Cup.

{{Main|MLS Cup 1997}}

{{Football box

|date=October 26, 1997

|team1=D.C. United

|score1=2

|team2=Colorado Rapids

|score2=1

|report=https://fbref.com/en/matches/3f6c63ce/DC-United-Colorado-Rapids-October-26-1997-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1=

• Moreno {{Goal|37}}
• Sanneh {{Goal|68}}

|goals2=

• Paz {{Goal|75}}

|stadium=RFK Stadium

|location=Washington, D.C.

|attendance=57,431

|referee=Brian Hall

}}

{{Main|List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks}}

{{Main|Major League Soccer attendance}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100801173859/http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/1997-full-season-stats MLS Site]

{{Major League Soccer}}

{{1997 MLS season by team}}

{{Major League Soccer seasons}}

Category:Major League Soccer seasons

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