Rahul Sharma (Editor)

2002 Major League Soccer season

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Season
  
2002

Goals scored
  
421

Start date
  
2002

Matches played
  
140

MLS Cup
  
Los Angeles Galaxy (1st title)

Supporters' Shield
  
Los Angeles Galaxy (2nd shield)

Top goalscorer
  
Carlos Ruiz Los Angeles Galaxy Goals: 24

Highest attendance
  
Colorado Rapids Season: 289,663 Game Avg.: 20,690

Lowest attendance
  
San Jose Earthquakes Season: 156,104 Game Avg.: 11,150

Similar
  
2008 Major League Soccer se, 1996 Major League Soccer se, 2012 Major League Soccer se, 2015 Major League Soccer se

The 2002 Major League Soccer season was the seventh season of competition for Major League Soccer.

Contents

On January 8, 2002, MLS folded two of its teams. The Miami Fusion F.C. ceased operations after only four years in existence due to low attendance and an unfavorable stadium deal. The Tampa Bay Mutiny also ceased operations due to the lack of local ownership. MLS eliminated the Central Division and returned to its original two-conference alignment.

Conference

  • Top eight teams with the highest points clinch play-off berth, regardless of conference.
    x = Playoff berth
    y = Conference Winner (Season)
    s = Supporters Shield/Conference winner (Season)
  • New England Revolution wins first tiebreaker vs. Columbus Crew (head-to-head: 2-1-1)
    Dallas Burn wins first tiebreaker vs. Colorado Rapids (head-to-head: 2-1-1)
  • Overall

    Source: MLSSoccer.com
    Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head record; 3rd goal difference; 4th number of goals scored.
    (SS) = MLS Supporters' Shield; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion
    Only applicable when the season is not finished:
    (Q) = Qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, but not yet to the particular round indicated; (E) = Eliminated from playoff-contention.

  • ^Note 1 – Since Los Angeles Galaxy won MLS Cup 2002 and the Supporters' Shield, San Jose Earthquakes qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup by finishing as Supporters' Shield runners-up.
  • ^Note 2 – Since Kansas City Wizards, MetroStars, and D.C. United finished outside of the top seven in the league standings, they enter the U.S. Open Cup in the third round proper rather than fourth.
  • MLS Cup Playoffs

    Playoff bracket

  • Points system
    Win = 3 Pts.
    Loss = 0 Pts.
    Draw = 1 Pt.
  • ASDET*=Added Sudden Death Extra Time (Game tie breaker)
    SDET**=Sudden Death Extra Time (Series tie breaker)
    Teams will advance at 5 points.
  • Conference Semi-finals

  • Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6-3 on points.
  • New England Revolution advance 6-3 on points.
  • Columbus Crew advance 6-0 on points.
  • Colorado Rapids advance in series (sudden death) overtime, after 4-4 tie on points.
  • Conference Finals

  • Los Angeles Galaxy advance 6-0 on points.
  • New England Revolution advance 5-2 on points.
  • CONCACAF Champions' Cup

  • MLS regular-season berths to 2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
    Los Angeles Galaxy qualify as MLS Cup winner
    New England Revolution qualify as MLS Cup runner up
    San Jose Earthquakes qualify as 2002 MLS Supporters Shield runner-up
    Columbus Crew qualify as Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions.
  • Club awards

  • MLS Cup
    Los Angeles Galaxy
  • U.S. Open Cup
    Columbus Crew
  • MLS Supporters' Shield
    Los Angeles Galaxy
  • Top goal scorers

    Played for more than one team – Most Recent Team Listed*

    References

    2002 Major League Soccer season Wikipedia