2009 Major League Soccer season explained

Competition:Major League Soccer
Season:2009
Mlscup:Real Salt Lake (1st title)
Shield:Columbus Crew (3rd shield)
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Columbus Crew
Real Salt Lake
Los Angeles Galaxy
Seattle Sounders FC
Continentalcup2:SuperLiga
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Houston Dynamo
Chicago Fire
Chivas USA
New England Revolution
League Topscorer:Jeff Cunningham
FC Dallas
Goals: 17
Biggest Home Win:RSL 6–0 NE
(April 25)[1]
DAL 6–0 KC
(August 1)
Biggest Away Win:CHI 0–3 DAL
(May 31)
SJ 0–3 CLB
(August 8)
Highest Scoring:LA 3–6 DAL
(September 12)[2]
Matches:226
Total Goals:571
Longest Wins:5 wins:
Houston Dynamo
(May 23 – Jun 13)
Columbus Crew
(Jul 18 – Aug 15)
Longest Unbeaten:11 matches:
Chicago Fire
(Mar 21 – May 28)
Houston Dynamo
(Apr 11 – Jun 20)
Longest Winless:13 matches:
New York Red Bulls
(May 16 – Aug 15)
Longest Losses:6 losses:
New York Red Bulls
(Jun 24 – Aug 15)
Highest Attendance:CLB @ SJ: 61,572
Lowest Attendance:SJ @ DAL: 5,724
Attendance:3,562,847
Average Attendance:16,037
Prevseason:2008
Nextseason:2010

The 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 97th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 31st with a national first-division league.

The Seattle Sounders FC debuted as the league's 15th club and were the second team in history to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in their inaugural season. The club set a league record for attendance and averaged 30,943 per regular season match at Qwest Field.[3]

After three seasons, the MLS Reserve League was discontinued. As a result, each team's Developmental Roster spots were reduced from 10 to four, and each team's Senior Roster spots were increased from 18 to 20. This had the effect of reducing each team's total roster from 28 to 24 players.

The regular season began on March 19, and concluded on October 25. The 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 29, and concluded with MLS Cup 2009 on November 22. Real Salt Lake won their first MLS Cup by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy in a penalty shootout.

Overview

Season format

The season began on March 19 and concluded with MLS Cup on November 22. The 15 teams were split into two conferences with 7 playing in the Eastern Conference and 8 playing in the Western Conference. Each team played 30 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team twice, home and away, for a total of 28 games. The remaining two games were played against four regional rivals, one at home and one away.

The top two teams from each conference automatically qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. In addition, the four highest remaining point totals, regardless of conference, also qualified. In the first round, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners. The conference finals were played as a single match, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks 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 for the CONCACAF Champions League. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. An additional berth in the Champions League was also awarded to the winner of the U.S. Open Cup. If a team qualified for multiple berths into the Champions League, then additional berths were awarded to the highest overall finishing MLS team(s) not already qualified. Also, Toronto FC, as a Canadian-based team, could not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS, and had to instead qualify through the Canadian Championship.

Automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup was awarded to the top six overall finishers. The rest of the U.S.-based MLS teams had to qualify for the remaining two berths via a series of play-in games.

Qualification for the SuperLiga was awarded to the top four overall finishers not already qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Stadiums and locations

See main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums.

TeamStadiumCapacity
Chicago FireToyota Park20,000
Chivas USAHome Depot Center27,000
Colorado RapidsDick's Sporting Goods Park18,061
Columbus CrewColumbus Crew Stadium22,555
D.C. UnitedRFK Stadium46,000
FC DallasPizza Hut Park21,193
Houston DynamoRobertson Stadium32,000
Kansas City WizardsCommunityAmerica Ballpark10,385
LA GalaxyHome Depot Center27,000
New England RevolutionGillette Stadium68,756
New York Red BullsGiants Stadium80,200
Real Salt LakeRio Tinto Stadium20,213
San Jose EarthquakesBuck Shaw Stadium10,525
Seattle Sounders FCQwest Field68,740
Toronto FCBMO Field21,566

Personnel and sponsorships

TeamHead coachCaptainShirt sponsor
Chicago Fire Denis Hamlett C. J. BrownBest Buy
Chivas USA Preki Claudio SuárezComex
Colorado Rapids Gary Smith Pablo Mastroeni—
Columbus Crew Robert Warzycha Frankie HejdukGlidden
D.C. United Tom Soehn Jaime MorenoVolkswagen
FC Dallas Schellas Hyndman Pablo Ricchetti—
Houston Dynamo Dominic Kinnear Wade Barrett—
Kansas City Wizards Curt Onalfo Jimmy Conrad—
LA Galaxy Bruce Arena Landon DonovanHerbalife
New England Revolution Steve Nicol Steve Ralston—
New York Red Bulls Juan Carlos Osorio Juan Pablo ÁngelRed Bull
Real Salt Lake Jason Kreis Kyle BeckermanXanGo
San Jose Earthquakes Frank Yallop Ramiro CorralesAmway Global
Seattle Sounders FC Sigi Schmid Kasey KellerXbox
Toronto FC John Carver Jim Brennan—

Results table

Abbreviation and Color Key:
Chicago Fire – CHI • Chivas USA – CHV • Colorado Rapids – COL • Columbus Crew – CLB • D.C. United – DC
FC Dallas – DAL • Houston Dynamo – HOU • Kansas City Wizards – KC • Los Angeles Galaxy – LA • New England Revolution – NE
New York Red Bulls – NY • Real Salt Lake – RSL • San Jose Earthquakes – SJ • Seattle Sounders FC – SEA • Toronto FC – TOR
Win Loss Tie Home
ClubMatch
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930<--Win: bgcolor=#DFE7FFscoreLoss: bgcolor=#FFDFDFscoreTie: bgcolor=#FFFDD0score-->
DALDCNYSJKCCLBSEANETORNYCHVDALHOUDCCOLCLBSJSEARSLHOUKCLACOLDCRSLCLBTORLANECHV
3-11-10-13-32-22-21-11-12-01-03-23-01-01-22-10-00-20-00-12-32-02-02-31-01-12-22-20-10-00-1
COLDALCLBLASEATORDALSJRSLDCKCCHISEAHOUCLBLANECOLNYTORRSLLANESEANYDCKCSJCHIHOU
1-22-01-20-00-20-10-21-00-12-21-13-20-10-11-21-00-20-42-0 0-20-40-10-20-01-12-00-22-20-13-2
CHVKCLACLBHOULARSLNESEANYRSLDCDALSEACHIDALDCNYCLBCHVCHIHOUTORTORSJSJKCNEDALRSL
1-21-23-21-10-11-10-21-12-23-21-10-31-10-32-10-11-30-41-00-42-30-10-12-31-11-10-01-11-20-3
HOUTORRSLCHVCOLCHITORKCLASJSEAKCCHVDALNYDCCHIRSLTORCOLSJDALNYHOUCHILASEANEDCNE
1-11-11-41-21-12-21-12-31-11-21-12-01-21-20-11-10-01-32-31-03-00-2 0-11-22-20-21-01-00-11-0
LACHIHOURSLNENYDALKCTORCHVRSLNENYCHISEACOLCLBCOLSJHOUTORLACHIDALKCSEASJCHVCLBKC
2-21-10-11-21-13-21-21-13-32-20-01-20-21-23-30-31-11-32-23-40-20-0 1-02-20-12-12-12-00-12-2
CHICHVNETORTORCHVDCHOUSEALACHISJHOUCLBCOLNYCOLRSLKCHOUCLBNYDCLAKCRSLNESJCOLSEA
3-12-01-21-12-30-21-20-11-11-13-02-23-11-21-11-20-12-40-60-10-22-32-26-32-30-30-12-11-21-2
CLBSJDCNYCOLNEDALNYSJTORCHICHVDALRSLLAKCSEATORNEDCDALCHIRSLSEACOLCLBRSLKCLACHV
1-12-30-10-00-12-00-11-11-30-31-00-13-11-10-11-01-21-11-03-41-02-30-0 1-10-11-22-31-10-03-2
TORCOLSJSEACHINYTORDCCLBRSLCHVLACLBNEHOUNELADALCHISJRSLNEDCNYDALCOLHOUCHVSEADC
3-21-20-21-02-20-10-11-12-32-01-11-12-01-31-00-01-10-62-00-11-04-20-11-02-30-01-10-23-22-2
DCCOLCHVSJCOLNYRSLSEACLBDALKCTORRSLSJHOUNECHVNYKCNESEACHIDCCHVDALTORCLBCHIHOUSJ
2-23-20-01-11-10-12-21-11-11-11-12-12-01-20-10-11-03-11-12-12-0 2-00-00-16-30-20-20-10-00-2
SJNYDALDCRSLHOUCHICOLTORDCNYKCLAKCCHVHOUTORLASEARSLSJKCCHVNYSEADALCOLCLBCHICLB
1-01-11-21-10-62-01-11-11-31-20-41-30-10-00-21-01-12-11-01-31-24-20-21-11-20-11-11-00-01-0
SEANECHIHOURSLKCDCLASJHOUCHICOLDCNETORSEATORCLBDALLACOLCHVDALCLBKCNECHVSJRSLTOR
0-31-10-10-00-20-13-20-11-41-11-03-20-20-41-31-10-20-11-23-10-42-02-30-11-01-11-10-10-20-5
SEACLBDCNYNECOLLACHVKCDCSJCOLLAHOUTORSJCLBDALCHISEAHOUNECHVKCCHIHOUDALNYTORCOL
0-21-41-20-20-60-22-20-12-00-01-21-12-01-10-31-11-32-40-10-10-0 1-30-41-01-12-30-30-20-10-3
NEHOUKCCHILASEACHVNYHOUCLBRSLDALSEALARSLTORCHIDCSEACLBKCNECOLCOLDCNYDALTORCHVLA
1-02-30-23-31-10-21-01-41-31-21-22-21-21-21-13-10-22-20-43-00-11-21-11-12-10-12-11-12-20-2
NYRSLTORKCCHVSJCHILADALCOLCLBCHVSJDCNYCOLHOUCHISJRSLLANEHOUTORDCCHVNECLBKCDAL
0-30-22-01-00-20-21-11-11-12-21-10-11-23-31-10-31-20-00-40-12-01-01-10-02-10-01-21-03-21-2
KCCLBSEADALDALCHVKCCLBDCCHINEHOULANYNYRSLSJHOUCLBNEDCCHVSEACOLCOLLACHISJRSLNY
3-21-12-01-12-30-10-11-13-32-01-30-32-11-20-20-33-11-12-31-10-20-20-00-12-30-22-21-10-10-5

Standings

Overall standings

MLS Cup Playoffs

See main article: 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Player statistics

Goals

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jeff CunninghamFC Dallas17
2Colorado Rapids16
3 Guillermo Barros SchelottoColumbus Crew12
Landon Donovan
Robbie FindleyReal Salt Lake
Fredy Montero
Juan Pablo ÁngelNew York Red Bulls
8 Dwayne De RosarioToronto FC11
Ryan JohnsonSan Jose Earthquakes
Josh Wolff

Assists

Rank Player Club Assists
1 Omar CummingsColorado Rapids11
2FC Dallas10
3 Brad DavisHouston Dynamo9
4 Cuauhtémoc Blanco8
5 Landon DonovanLA Galaxy6
Nate Jaqua
Shalrie JosephNew England Revolution
Claudio LópezKansas City Wizards
Javier MoralesReal Salt Lake
1010 players5

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1 Zach ThorntonChivas USA12
2 Jon BuschChicago Fire10
Kasey KellerSeattle Sounders FC
Pat OnstadHouston Dynamo
5 Donovan RickettsLA Galaxy9
Nick RimandoReal Salt Lake
7 Matt ReisNew England Revolution8
8 Kevin HartmanKansas City Wizards7
Will HesmerColumbus Crew
Matt PickensColorado Rapids

Awards

Individual awards

AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable Player Landon DonovanLA Galaxy
Defender of the Year Chad MarshallColumbus Crew
Goalkeeper of the Year Zach ThorntonChivas USA
Coach of the Year Bruce ArenaLA Galaxy
Rookie of the Year Omar GonzalezLA Galaxy
Newcomer of the Year Fredy MonteroSeattle Sounders FC
Comeback Player of the Year Zach ThorntonChivas USA
Golden Boot Jeff CunninghamFC Dallas
Goal of the Year Landon DonovanLA Galaxy
Save of the Year Pat OnstadHouston Dynamo
Fair Play Award Steve RalstonNew England Revolution
Humanitarian of the YearKansas City Wizards
Chicago Fire

Weekly awards

Save of the week was first introduced during week 10 of the 2009 season.[4]

Monthly awards

Attendance

ClubGamesSeasonGame Avg.
Seattle Sounders FC 15 499,262 30,897
15333,23920,827
Toronto FC 15305,167 20,344
15303,13817,831
15 264,368 17,624
Chivas USA 15 251,611 15,725
D.C. United 15 202,605 15,585
Chicago Fire 15 247,908 15,487
15 226,808 14,175
Colorado Rapids 15 195,282 13,018
New York Red Bulls 15 165,672 12,744
New England Revolution 15 173,985 12,427
San Jose Earthquakes 15 134,283 10,329
Kansas City Wizards 15 150,802 10,053
FC Dallas 15 108,717 9,883
Totals2253,562,84716,120

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RSL's record-setting rout dooms Revs . Coon . John . April 25, 2009 . MLSworks . Major League Soccer . September 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100120005938/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090425&content_id=244091&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp . January 20, 2010 . dead.
  2. News: Dallas earns crucial win over Galaxy. King. Jeffrey J.. September 13, 2009. MLSworks. Major League Soccer. September 17, 2009.
  3. News: Romero . José Miguel . January 27, 2010 . Keeping Sounders FC together is key to long-range success . . June 14, 2023.
  4. Web site: Save of the Week . 2009-05-30 . MLSNet.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20090926171342/http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/save_of_the_week/ . September 26, 2009 . dead . mdy-all .

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