MLS Cup 2004
Event | MLS Cup | ||||||
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Date | November 14, 2004 | ||||||
Venue | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, US | ||||||
Man of the Match | Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United) | ||||||
Attendance | 25,797 | ||||||
Weather | Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C) | ||||||
MLS Cup 2004 was the ninth edition of the
D.C. United won the match 3–2, scoring all three of its goals in a seven-minute span during the first half after the Wizards had taken an early lead.
Venue
The
Road to the final
The
MLS Cup 2004 was contested by
D.C. United
D.C. United won three MLS Cup titles in the first four seasons of the league's existence, only finishing as runners-up in 1998, and established a dynasty under head coaches
In January 2004, D.C. hired recently retired Chicago Fire midfielder
The club earned a 5–5–5 record at the beginning of the season, including a 271-minute scoreless streak and a four-match unbeaten streak that was capped with a 6–2 win over the MetroStars.[19][20] After a four-match winless streak to start the second half of the season,[21] D.C. United found a more consistent rhythm and finished the season with a winning record and a ten-match home unbeaten streak.[22][23] The club signed Argentine midfielder Christian Gómez in the summer transfer window and paired him with forward Alecko Eskandarian, who lead D.C. in goals scored, to close out the season;[24] rookie goalkeeper Troy Perkins was promoted to the starting lineup and played in place of Nick Rimando before he returned later in the season.[25]
By winning five of their final six regular season matches, D.C. United clinched the second-place seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Columbus Crew.[22][26] In the Conference Semifinals, D.C. played host to their Atlantic Cup rivals, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, who they had played in the final week of the season.[27] D.C. United won 2–0 in the first leg at Giants Stadium on second-half goals by Earnie Stewart and Eskandarian.[28] In the second leg of the series at RFK Memorial Stadium, D.C. defeated the MetroStars 2–0, with late goals scored by Moreno and Bryan Namoff, and advanced to the Conference Final on an aggregate score of 4–0.[29]
D.C. United faced the fourth-seeded
Despite several attempts at goal,
Kansas City Wizards
The Kansas City Wizards had won the MLS Cup in 2000, defeating the Chicago Fire, in the same season that they had clinched the Supporters' Shield for the best regular season record.[38] The team qualified for the playoffs in six of their first eight seasons, including four consecutive appearances under manager Bob Gansler. The Wizards finished in second place in the Western Conference at the end of the 2003 season,[39] relying on 40-year-old forward Preki as he led the league in scoring and was named the most valuable player.[40] The team advanced past the Colorado Rapids and qualified for the Conference Finals, where they were defeated 3–2 by the San Jose Earthquakes in extra time.[41]
The Wizards began the 2004 season without Preki, who broke his leg during preseason and replaced with
Kansas City returned from the All-Star break by continuing a four-match winless streak,
The Wizards began their playoff campaign in the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Jose Earthquakes, the defending MLS Cup champions. The team fell 2–0 in the first leg of the series in San Jose, conceding goals to
Summary of results
- Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
D.C. United | Round | Kansas City Wizards
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2nd place in Eastern Conference
Source: MLS Qualified for playoffs |
Regular season | 1st place in Western Conference
Source: MLS Qualified for playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | MLS Cup Playoffs
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Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MetroStars
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4–0 | 2–0 (A) | 2–0 (H) | Conference Semifinals | San Jose Earthquakes | 3–2 | 0–2 (A) | 3–0 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New England Revolution | 3–3 (4–3 p) (H) | Conference Final | Los Angeles Galaxy
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2–0 (H) |
Broadcasting and entertainment
The MLS Cup final was televised in the United States on
Match
Summary
The match kicked off at 12:45 p.m. Pacific Time on November 14, 2004, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, in front of a crowd of 25,797 spectators—including several hundred traveling D.C. United supporters.[68][69] At kickoff, the temperature measured 81 °F (27 °C), setting a new record for hottest MLS Cup final.[70] Kansas City took an early lead in the sixth minute after defender José Burciaga Jr. scored on a shot from 30 yards (27 m), following sustained offensive pressure from kickoff.[71][72]
D.C. United responded with its own offensive pressure and scored three goals within seven minutes to take a 3–1 lead by the 30th minute of play.
D.C. remained ahead by two goals at halftime, but Kansas City began the second half with an offensive push along the wings to narrow the lead.
The resulting penalty kick was scored in the 58th minute by
Details
Kansas City Wizards | ||
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Report |
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MLS Cup Most Valuable Player:
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Assistant referees:
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Post-match
D.C. United won its fourth MLS Cup championship and its first since 1999, solidifying its place as the most successful sports franchise in
Eskandarian was named the match's MVP for his two goals, capping a season of redemption after spending his rookie year on the bench.[86] After the match, he stated, "I didn't even know where the ball hit me. It was just what you learn in youth soccer; you keep going until you hear a whistle."[79] In 2011, Eskandarian publicly acknowledged that there was a handball on the play that led to his second goal in a Twitter roast of retiring defender Jimmy Conrad.[74] Wizards head coach Bob Gansler complimented United's defensive performance and lamented his team's defensive errors that lead to the three conceded goals.[87][88]
Both finalists qualified for the
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