1998 Major League Soccer season#MLS Cup Playoffs

The season began on March 15 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 25. The 12 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 20 games. The remaining schedule consisted of two games against each team from the opposite conference.

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 and qualified automatically for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, also qualified for the Champions' Cup.

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

{{1998 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table}}

{{1998 Major League Soccer Western Conference table}}

{{1998 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=150px

| RD1-seed1=E1

| RD1-team1=D.C. United

| RD1-score1-1=2

| RD1-score1-2=0 (3)

| RD1-score1-3=x

| RD1-seed2=E4

| RD1-team2=Miami

| RD1-score2-1=1

| RD1-score2-2=0 (2)

| RD1-score2-3=x

| RD1-seed3=E2

| RD1-team3=Columbus

| RD1-score3-1=5

| RD1-score3-2=1 (3)

| RD1-score3-3=x

| RD1-seed4=E3

| RD1-team4=MetroStars

| RD1-score4-1=3

| RD1-score4-2=1 (2)

| RD1-score4-3=x

| RD1-seed5=W1

| RD1-team5=Los Angeles

| RD1-score5-1=6

| RD1-score5-2=3

| RD1-score5-3=x

| RD1-seed6=W4

| RD1-team6=Dallas

| RD1-score6-1=1

| RD1-score6-2=2

| RD1-score6-3=x

| RD1-seed7=W2

| RD1-team7=Chicago

| RD1-score7-1=1 (3)

| RD1-score7-2=1

| RD1-score7-3=x

| RD1-seed8=W3

| RD1-team8=Colorado

| RD1-score8-1=1 (2)

| RD1-score8-2=0

| RD1-score8-3=x

| RD2-seed1=E1

| RD2-team1=D.C. United

| RD2-score1-1=2

| RD2-score1-2=2

| RD2-score1-3=3

| RD2-seed2=E2

| RD2-team2=Columbus

| RD2-score2-1=0

| RD2-score2-2=4

| RD2-score2-3=0

| RD2-seed3=W1

| RD2-team3=Los Angeles

| RD2-score3-1=0

| RD2-score3-2=1 (1)

| RD2-score3-3=x

| RD2-seed4=W2

| RD2-team4=Chicago

| RD2-score4-1=1

| RD2-score4-2=1 (2)

| RD2-score4-3=x

| RD3-seed1=E1

| RD3-team1=D.C. United

| RD3-score1-1=0

| RD3-score1-2=

| RD3-score1-3=

| RD3-seed2=W2

| RD3-team2=Chicago

| RD3-score2-1=2

| RD3-score2-2=

| RD3-score2-3=

}}

Eastern Conference

{{Football box

|date = September 30, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = D.C. United

|score1 = 2

|team2 = Miami Fusion

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/04bb8942/DC-United-Miami-Fusion-September-30-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Lassiter {{goal|28}}
• Moreno {{goal|38}}

|goals2 =

• McLaren {{goal|69}}

|stadium = RFK Stadium

|location = Washington, D.C.

|attendance = 15,187

|referee = Brian Hall

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 4, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = Miami Fusion

|score1 = 0

|team2 = D.C. United

|score2 = 0

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/9322ea60/Miami-Fusion-DC-United-October-4-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|penalties1 =

• Gutierrez {{pengoal}}
• Maessner {{penmiss}}
• Vargas {{penmiss}}
• Cullen {{pengoal}}
• Serna {{penmiss}}
• Boyce {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore = 2–3

|penalties2 =

• {{penmiss}} Wood
• {{pengoal}} Etcheverry
• {{pengoal}} Moreno
• {{penmiss}} Aunger
• {{penmiss}} Harkes
• {{pengoal}} Agoos

|stadium = Lockhart Stadium

|location = Fort Lauderdale, Florida

|attendance = 13,128

|referee= Tim Weyland

}}

• D.C. United advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

----

{{Football box

|date = September 30, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = Columbus Crew

|score1 = 5

|team2 = MetroStars

|score2 = 3

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/5d0ff53e/Columbus-Crew-MetroStars-September-30-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• McBride {{goal|9||12}}
• Smith {{goal|33}}
• Farrell {{goal|38}}
• John {{goal|58}}

|goals2 =

• Hurtado {{goal|53}}
• Sorber {{goal|60|pen.}}
• Joseph {{goal|80}}

|stadium = Ohio Stadium

|location = Columbus, Ohio

|attendance = 10,996

|referee = Ali Saheli

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 3, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = MetroStars

|score1 = 1

|team2 = Columbus Crew

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/beff4a0b/MetroStars-Columbus-Crew-October-3-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Ramos {{goal|13}}

|goals2 =

• John {{goal|22}}

|penalties1 =

• Ramos {{pengoal}}
• Savarese {{penmiss}}
• Duhaney {{penmiss}}
• Sorber {{pengoal}}
• Petke {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore = 2–3

|penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Thompson
• {{penmiss}} Yeagley
• {{pengoal}} Dooley
• {{pengoal}} John
• {{penmiss}} Williams

|stadium = Giants Stadium

|location = East Rutherford, New Jersey

|attendance = 11,686

|referee = Michael Kennedy

}}

• Columbus Crew advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

----

Western Conference

{{Football box

|date = October 1, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = Los Angeles Galaxy

|score1 = 6

|team2 = Dallas Burn

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/ab118f43/LA-Galaxy-Dallas-Burn-October-1-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Pena {{goal|10||69}}
• Hermosillo {{goal|16||32}}
• Cienfuegos {{goal|20}}
• Wélton {{goal|41}}

|goals2 =

• Washington {{goal|47}}

|stadium = Rose Bowl

|location = Pasadena, California

|attendance = 10,047

|referee = Ted Covaciu

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 4, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = Dallas Burn

|score1 = 2

|team2 = Los Angeles Galaxy

|score2 = 3

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/27825f56/Dallas-Burn-LA-Galaxy-October-4-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Haynes {{goal|44}}
• Kreis {{goal|48}}

|goals2 =

• Hendrickson {{goal|80}}
• Caligiuri {{goal|85}}
• Mathis {{goal|88}}

|stadium = Cotton Bowl

|location = Dallas, Texas

|attendance = 8,130

|referee = Brian Hall

}}

• Los Angeles Galaxy advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

----

{{Football box

|date = October 1, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = Chicago Fire

|score1 = 1

|team2 = Colorado Rapids

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/3634464b/Chicago-Fire-Colorado-Rapids-October-1-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Kubík {{goal|50|pen.}}

|goals2 =

• Sáenz {{goal|79}}

|penalties1 =

• Kubík {{penmiss}}
• Soehn {{pengoal}}
• Klopas {{pengoal}}
• Wolff {{penmiss}}
• Kuhn {{penmiss}}
• Marsch {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore = 3–2

|penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Bravo
• {{penmiss}} Sáenz
• {{pengoal}} Henderson
• {{penmiss}} Vaudreuil
• {{penmiss}} Harris
• {{penmiss}} Vermes

|stadium = Soldier Field

|location = Chicago, Illinois

|attendance = 12,610

|referee = Kevin Terry

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 5, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = Colorado Rapids

|score1 = 0

|team2 = Chicago Fire

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/23392e00/Colorado-Rapids-Chicago-Fire-October-5-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Kubík {{goal|24|pen.}}

|stadium = Mile High Stadium

|location = Denver, Colorado

|attendance = 6,582

|referee = Noel Kenny

}}

• Chicago Fire advance 2–0, to the Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference

{{Football box

|date = October 11, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = D.C. United

|score1 = 2

|team2 = Columbus Crew

|score2 = 0

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/2564c85a/DC-United-Columbus-Crew-October-11-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Sanneh {{goal|68}}
• Etcheverry {{goal|78}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = RFK Stadium

|location = Washington, D.C.

|attendance = 17,755

|referee = Kevin Stott

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 18, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = Columbus Crew

|score1 = 4

|team2 = D.C. United

|score2 = 2

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/5807f815/Columbus-Crew-DC-United-October-18-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• McBride {{goal|8||47}}
• Dooley {{goal|37}}
• John {{goal|81}}

|goals2 =

• Sanneh {{goal|65}}
• Lassiter {{goal|77}}

|stadium = Ohio Stadium

|location = Columbus, Ohio

|attendance = 13,193

|referee = Rich Grady

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 21, 1998

|round = Game 3

|team1 = D.C. United

|score1 = 3

|team2 = Columbus Crew

|score2 = 0

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/0bfd1c2c/DC-United-Columbus-Crew-October-21-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Agoos {{goal|12}}
• Lassiter {{goal|44||79}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = RFK Stadium

|location = Washington, D.C.

|attendance = 21,453

|referee = Noel Kenny

}}

• D.C. United advance 2–1, to MLS Cup

----

Western Conference

{{Football box

|date = October 10, 1998

|round = Game 1

|team1 = Los Angeles Galaxy

|score1 = 0

|team2 = Chicago Fire

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/c49915e0/LA-Galaxy-Chicago-Fire-October-10-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Marsch {{goal|86}}

|stadium = Rose Bowl

|location = Pasadena, California

|attendance = 25,107

|referee = Kevin Terry

}}

{{Football box

|date = October 16, 1998

|round = Game 2

|team1 = Chicago Fire

|score1 = 1

|team2 = Los Angeles Galaxy

|score2 = 1

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/4ddadace/Chicago-Fire-LA-Galaxy-October-16-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Nowak {{goal|31}}

|goals2 =

• Pena {{goal|37}}

|penalties1 =

• Nowak {{penmiss}}
• Razov {{penmiss}}
• Soehn {{penmiss}}
• Marsch {{pengoal}}
• Podbrożny {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore = 2–1

|penalties2 =

• {{penmiss}} Jones
• {{pengoal}} Wélton
• {{penmiss}} Machón
• {{penmiss}} Cienfuegos
• {{penmiss}} Vanney

|stadium = Soldier Field

|location = Chicago, Illinois

|attendance = 32,744

|referee = Paul Tamberino

}}

• Chicago Fire advance 2–0, to MLS Cup

{{Main|MLS Cup 1998}}

{{Football box

|date = October 25, 1998

|team1 = Chicago Fire

|score1 = 2

|team2 = D.C. United

|score2 = 0

|report = https://fbref.com/en/matches/0540ce4f/Chicago-Fire-DC-United-October-25-1998-Major-League-Soccer

|goals1 =

• Podbrożny {{goal|29}}
• Gutiérrez {{goal|45}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Rose Bowl

|location = Pasadena, California

|attendance = 51,350

|referee = Kevin Terry

}}

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

{{Main|Major League Soccer attendance}}

• [http://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/1998/reg MLS Site]

{{Major League Soccer}}

{{1998 MLS season by team}}

{{Major League Soccer seasons}}

{{1998 in American soccer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1998 Major League Soccer Season}}

Category:1998 in American soccer leagues

Category:Major League Soccer seasons