1998 D.C. United season

D.C. United
1998 season
General manager	Dave Kasper
Head coach	Bruce Arena
Stadium	RFK Stadium
MLS	2nd
MLS Cup	Runners-Up
CONCACAF Champions Cup	Champions
Copa Interamericana	Champions
Top goalscorer	League: ; All: ; Roy Lassiter (18)
	← 1997 1999 →

The 1998 D.C. United season was the clubs' fourth year of existence, as well as their third season in Major League Soccer.

D.C. United entered their third season as the two-time defending MLS Cup champion, as well as the defending Supporters' Shield titleholder. Finishing as runners-up in MLS Cup '98 and second-place in the regular season standings, United failed to defend both domestic honors. In international play, D.C. United made American soccer history, becoming the first American soccer club to win any CONCACAF club tournament when they won the 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. It was only the third time in CONCACAF history that an American soccer club reached the Champions' Cup final (previously achieved by Los Angeles Galaxy the previous season and New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in 1984 though they were disqualified without playing in the finals).^[1] Besides D.C. United, only the Galaxy have won the Champions' Cup, which they accomplished in 2000. Following the Galaxy's win, no American club reached the North American club final again until 2011 when Real Salt Lake reached the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals.

Background

D.C. United ended their sophomore campaign on a high note, claiming the "league double", earning both the Supporters' Shield (regular season), and the 1997 MLS Cup championship (postseason). During the 1997 campaign, the club nearly earned a tuble, which is to win four or more top tier trophies during a single season, but ultimately fell short of that. In the domestic cup competition, the U.S. Open Cup, D.C. United reached the final of the competition, only to lose against Dallas Burn (now known as FC Dallas). In the continental club tournament, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, United finished in third place, after falling to Los Angeles Galaxy in the semifinals.^[2]

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Standings

Eastern Conference

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	SOW	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	D.C. United	32	17	7	8	74	48	+26	58	MLS Cup Playoffs
2	Columbus Crew	32	15	0	17	67	56	+11	45
3	MetroStars	32	12	3	17	54	63	−9	39
4	Miami Fusion	32	10	5	17	46	68	−22	35
5	Tampa Bay Mutiny	32	11	1	20	46	57	−11	34
6	New England Revolution	32	9	2	21	53	66	−13	29

Source: MLS

Overall table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	SOW	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Los Angeles Galaxy (S)	32	22	2	8	85	44	+41	68	CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2	D.C. United	32	17	7	8	74	48	+26	58
3	Chicago Fire (C)	32	18	2	12	62	45	+17	56
4	Columbus Crew	32	15	0	17	67	56	+11	45
5	Colorado Rapids	32	14	2	16	62	69	−7	44

Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

Results by round

Matchday	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32
Stadium	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	A	H	H
Result	W	W	SO	L	SO	L	SO	W	W	W	W	L	W	SO	W	L	SO	L	W	W	W	W	W	SO	W	W	W	L	L	W	L	SO

Source: FBREF.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; L = Loss; SO = Shootout Win

Match reports

March 15 1	Miami Fusion	0–2	D.C. United	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
	Herrera 24' Kooiman 29'	Report	Williams 16' Aunger 17' Moreno 29' Sanneh 37' Talley 45' Etcheverry 61'	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 20,450 Referee: Brian Hall

March 21 2	D.C. United	3–2	Kansas City Wizards	Washington, D.C.
	Wegerle 13' (p), 38' Olsen 52' Harkes 75'	Report	Johnston 5', 16'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 18,108 Referee: Kevin Terry

March 29 3	D.C. United	1–1 (3–2 SO)	New England Revolution	Washington, D.C.
	Harkes 12' Aunger 20' Etcheverry 64' Kamler 88'	Report	Baba 52', 54'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 22,263 Referee: Noel Kenny
	Shootout
	Wegerle Etcheverry Moreno Kamler		Baba Wise Burns McKinley Díaz Arce

April 4 4	Columbus Crew	2–1	D.C. United	Columbus, Ohio
	John 8' Lapper 13', 21' McBride 56'	Report	Pope 20' 64' Moreno 21', 23'	Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 14,148 Referee: Tim Weyland

April 11 5	D.C. United	3–3 (2–0 SO)	Colorado Rapids	Washington, D.C.
	Williams 38' Etcheverry 45', 45' Moreno 53' Garlick 83'	Report	Balboa 39', 45' Vermes 72' Harris 83' (pen.)	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 14,009 Referee: Brian Hall
	Shootout
	Wegerle Kamler Etcheverry		Paz Harris Bravo Sáenz

April 18 6	New England Revolution	1–1 (3–2 SO)	D.C. United	Foxborough, Massachusetts
	Jair 40'	Report	Etcheverry 33' Aunger 59' Pope 80'	Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 24,133 Referee: Kevin Stott
	Shootout
	Baba McKinley Burns Wise Torres Keegan		Moreno Etcheverry Wegerle Olsen Sanneh Harkes

April 26 7	D.C. United	1–1 (3–2 SO)	Columbus Crew	Washington, D.C.
	Peay 49' Agoos 87' Moreno 89'	Report	John 4' Iribarren 53' Warzycha 84'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,338 Referee: Paul Tamberino
	Shootout
	Etcheverry Moreno Harkes Sanneh Agoos		Carrera Thompson John Yeagley McBride

April 29 8	D.C. United	3–1	San Jose Clash	Washington, D.C.
	Harkes 11', 59' Williams 21' Peay 54' Lassiter 70'	Report	Lozzano 25' Cerritos 55' Draguicevich 60' Figueroa 68'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 9,755 Referee: Marcel Yonan

May 2 9	Chicago Fire	1–3	D.C. United	Chicago, Illinois
	Klopas 9' Kosecki 65'	Report	Sanneh 13' Etcheverry 14', 86' Lassiter 19' Llamosa 25' Talley 85' Olsen 88'	Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 27,136 Referee: Reggie Rutty

May 9 10	D.C. United	2–0	MetroStars	Washington, D.C
	Etcheverry 40' Lassiter 56'	Report	Palacios 89'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 17,027 Referee: Kevin Stott

May 13 11	D.C. United	3–2	New England Revolution	Washington, D.C.
	Olsen 16' Sanneh 46' Lassiter 55'	Report	Jair 50' Chronopoulos 51'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 14,442 Referee: Michael Kennedy

May 16 12	MetroStars	4–3	D.C. United	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	Savarese 21', 64' Hurtado 38', 47' Rooney 42'	Report	Lassiter 12', 76' Etcheverry 40' Sanneh 71' Williams 83' Moreno 86'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 15,322 Referee: Noel Kenny

May 23 13	D.C. United	3–2	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C
	Etcheverry 22', 33' Lassiter 53' Sanneh 65'	Report	Prampin 29' Ramos 32'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 16,991 Referee: Esse Baharmast

May 30 14	Tampa Bay Mutiny	1–1 (1–2 SO)	D.C. United	Tampa, Florida
	Houser 21' Shannon 33' Gilmar 40', 45' Ravelli 45'	Report	Lassiter 45' Williams 57' Moreno 68'	Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium Attendance: 8,324 Referee: Robert Sheker
	Shootout
	Jara Gilmar Kinnear Quill Ramos		Moreno Kamler Sanneh Wood Lassiter

June 3 15	San Jose Clash	0–4	D.C. United	San Jose, California
	Figueroa 37' 75' Doyle 71' Vásquez 88'	Report	Moreno 41' (pen.) Olsen 54' Williams 65' Sanneh 76' Aunger 81'	Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 10,191 Referee: Richard Heron

June 7 16	D.C. United	4–4 (1–3 SO)	Dallas Burn	Washington, D.C.
	Lassiter 19', 70' Etcheverry 31' Soehn 88' (o.g.)	Report	Suarez 24' Farrer 38' Álvarez 56' (pen.) Trotman 88'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 13,454 Referee: Refugio Ramirez
	Shootout
	Moreno Etcheverry Kamler Sanneh		Haynes Farrer Suarez Soehn Eck

June 13 17	Columbus Crew	3–3 (3–4 SO)	D.C. United	Columbus, Ohio
	Farrell 7' John 29' (pen.), 63' Clark 31' West 49' Carrera 59' Iribarren 81' Gregor 90'	Report	Harkes 25' Sanneh 31' Moreno 37' (pen.) Presthus 45' Llamosa 61' Lassiter 67'	Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 13,347 Referee: Marcel Yonan
	Shootout
	John Carrera Cunningham Farrell Elcock Clark		Etcheverry Moreno Wood Sanneh Lassiter Talley

June 25 18	Colorado Rapids	3–1	D.C. United	Denver, Colorado
	Paule 2', 64' Paz 20' Bravo 27'	Report	Peay 45' Aunger 57' Moreno 66' Wood 68'	Stadium: Mile High Stadium Attendance: 9,132 Referee: Ted Covaciu

July 2 19	D.C. United	3–1	Miami Fusion	Washington, D.C.
	Moreno 40', 55' Talley 74' Lassiter 76'	Report	Serna 38' 43' Herrera 42' Vaudreuil 73' Webber 85'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 13,030 Referee: Rich Grady

July 10 20	D.C. United	3–0	Los Angeles Galaxy	Washington, D.C.
	Harkes 23' Lassiter 34', 86' Moreno 49' Williams 60'	Report	Caligiuri 30' Hermosillo 82'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 23,631 Referee: Kevin Stott

July 15 21	New England Revolution	0–1	D.C. United	Foxborough, Massachusetts
	Goulooze 10' Torres 30'	Report	Lassiter 81'	Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 17,206 Referee: Noel Kenny

July 18 22	D.C. United	4–1	Chicago Fire	Washington, D.C.
	Lassiter 53' (p), 69', 90' Williams 56' Moreno 78'	Report	Marsch 38', 49'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 16,779 Referee: Esse Baharmast

July 25 23	Los Angeles Galaxy	0–1	D.C. United	Pasadena, California
	Vanney 14' Pena 24' Jolley 43' Wélton 57'	Report	Gori 7' 16' Etcheverry 31' Fraser 44' (o.g.) Aunger 60'	Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 26,873 Referee: Esse Baharmast

July 29 24	D.C. United	2–2 (4–3 SO)	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Washington, D.C.
	Etcheverry 14', 21', 54' Harkes 36' Agoos 43'	Report	Hejduk 19' Ralston 62' Ramos 88'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 11,062 Referee: Brian Hall
	Shootout
	Etcheverry Moreno Wood Harkes Talley		Salcedo Young Eriksson Yallop Dougherty

August 7 25	Dallas Burn	0–1	D.C. United	Dallas, Texas
	Dade 15' Trotman 35' Rodríguez 48' Dodd 56'	Report	Lassiter 57' (pen.) Pope 84'	Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,437 Referee: Ali Saheli

August 22 26	D.C. United	2–1	MetroStars	Washington, D.C.
	Kamler 57' Moreno 59' Etcheverry 78'	Report	Petke 35' Soñora 41'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 16,729 Referee: Brian Hall

August 26 27	Kansas City Wizards	1–2	D.C. United	Kansas City, Missouri
	Preki 21' (pen.) Okafor 71'	Report	Garlick 21' Pope 22' Olsen 63' Etcheverry 72' Agoos 86'	Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 6,401 Referee: Alex Prus

August 29 28	Tampa Bay Mutiny	2–2 (1–0 SO)	D.C. United	Tampa, Florida
	Prampin 18' Kinnear 87'	Report	Lassiter 39' Pope 85'	Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium Attendance: 12,670 Referee: Kevin Terry
	Shootout
	Salcedo Eriksson Yallop Shannon Young Wise		Etcheverry Wood Aunger Gori Talley Agoos

September 13 29	Miami Fusion	4–3	D.C. United	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
	McLaren 4', 18' Kmosko 28' Webber 30' Gutierrez 34' Serna 42', 64' Parra 89' Valderrama 90'	Report	Moreno 11', 58' Care 37' Gori 64' Harkes 85'	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 8,255 Referee: Kevin Stott

September 16 30	MetroStars	0–5	D.C. United	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	Meloa 3' Vega 7' 7' Lalas 58'	Report	Lassiter 4' (pen.) Moreno 15' (pen.) Olsen 36' Harty 67' (o.g.) Wood 83' Etcheverry 85'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 14,117 Referee: José María García-Aranda

September 19 31	D.C. United	1–3	Miami Fusion	Washington, D.C.
	Lassiter 16' Olsen 35' Moreno 50' Harkes 81'	Report	McLaren 18' Parra 52' Serna 53', 80'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 23,069 Referee: Paul Tamberino

September 27 32	D.C. United	2–2 (3–2 SO)	Columbus Crew	Washington, D.C.
	Wood 42' Llamosa 56' Smith 70' (o.g.)	Report	John 10', 15' Iribarren 43'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 14,440 Referee: Rich Grady
	Shootout
	Agoos Wood Harkes Aunger Lassiter		West McBride John Williams Elcock

MLS Cup Playoffs

Eastern Conference semifinals

September 30 Game 1	D.C. United	2–1	Miami Fusion	Washington, D.C.
	Llamosa 18' Lassiter 28' Moreno 38' Agoos 63'	Report	Parra 59' Serna 63' McLaren 63', 69'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 15,187 Referee: Brian Hall

October 4 Game 2	Miami Fusion	0–0 (2–3 SO)	D.C. United	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
	Webber 3' Parra 25' Serna 34'	Report	Lassiter 3' Williams 71'	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 13,128 Referee: Tim Weyland
	Shootout
	Gutierrez Maessner Vargas Cullen Serna Boyce		Wood Etcheverry Moreno Aunger Harkes Agoos

Eastern Conference finals

October 11 Game 1	D.C. United	2–0	Columbus Crew	Washington, D.C.
	Sanneh 68' Etcheverry 78'	Report	Yeagley 53' Elcock 56' McBride 73'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 17,755 Referee: Kevin Stott

October 18 Game 2	Columbus Crew	4–2	D.C. United	Columbus, Ohio
	McBride 8', 47' Dooley 18', 37' Smith 29' Elcock 75' Iribarren 78' John 81'	Report	Llamosa 47' Aunger 62' Sanneh 65' Lassiter 77' Williams 88'	Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 13,193 Referee: Rich Grady

October 21 Game 3	D.C. United	3–0	Columbus Crew	Washington, D.C.
	Agoos 12' Etcheverry 21' Lassiter 44', 79'	Report	Clark 28' Farrell 56'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 21,453 Referee: Noel Kenny

MLS Cup

October 25 MLS Cup	Chicago Fire	2–0	D.C. United	Pasadena, California
	Podbrożny 29' Razov 31' Gutiérrez 45', 50' Marsch 60'	Report	Sanneh 25' Etcheverry 33'	Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 51,350 Referee: Kevin Terry

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

August 11 Quarterfinals	D.C. United	8–0	Joe Public	Washington, D.C., United States
19:00 UTC−5	Olsen 13', 44' Lassiter 22', 29', 67', 72' Wood 75', 90+2'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 7,117

August 14 Semifinals	D.C. United	2–0	León	Washington, D.C., United States
19:00 UTC−5	Lassiter 12', 61'	Report		Stadium: RFK Stadium

August 16 Final	D.C. United	1–0	Toluca	Washington, D.C., United States
19:00 UTC−5	Pope 41' Garlick 74' Lassiter 89'	Report	Taboada 37' Estay 41' Ruiz 58' Cardozo 86'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 12,607 Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

Copa Interamericana

November 14 First leg	D.C. United	0–1	Vasco da Gama	Washington, D.C., United States
19:00 UTC−5	Pope 17'		Felipe 69'	Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

December 5 Second leg	Vasco da Gama	0–2 (1–2 agg.)	D.C. United	Fort Lauderdale, United States
20:00 UTC−5	Luizão 7' Nasa 70'		Moreno 15' Sanneh 34' Olsen 59' Williams 63' Pope 77'	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 7,283 Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)
Note: Match was played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale instead of Vasco da Gama's regular home ground, Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Transfers

In

Out

Loan in

Loan out

References

^ "PLUS: SOCCER -- CONCACAF CUP; D.C. United Wins Tournament". The New York Times. August 17, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^ "CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1962–2008" (PDF). CONCACAF. CONCACAF.com. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012.

[1] "PLUS: SOCCER -- CONCACAF CUP; D.C. United Wins Tournament". The New York Times. August 17, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2021.

[2] "CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1962–2008" (PDF). CONCACAF. CONCACAF.com. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012.

[1]

[2]

v t e D.C. United seasons
1990s	1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025