- 2007 Major League Soccer season
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2007 Major League Soccer season Season 2007 MLS Cup Houston Dynamo Supporters' Shield D.C. United 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Houston Dynamo
D.C. United
N.E. Revolution
Chivas USA2008 SuperLiga D.C. United
Chivas USA
Houston Dynamo
N.E. RevolutionGoals scored 518 Top goalscorer Luciano Emilio
D.C. United
Goals: 20Biggest home win CHV 4-0 RSL
NY 4-0 CLB
TOR 4-0 FCDBiggest away win CHI 0-4 HOU
FCD 0-4 DCUHighest scoring NY 5-4 LA Longest winning run D.C. United
Games: 6
(08/05/ - 09/01)Longest unbeaten run D.C. United
Games: 13
(08/05 - 10/13)Longest losing run Los Angeles Galaxy
Games: 6
(08/09 - 09/01)Highest attendance Los Angeles Galaxy
Season: 363,782
Game Avg.: 24,252Lowest attendance K.C. Wizards
Season:173,784
Game Avg.: 11,586Average attendance MLS
Season: 3,270,210
Game Avg.: 16,770The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C..
For the first time in MLS history, the same two clubs consecutively won the MLS Cup title and the MLS Supporters' Shield honor. The 2007 MLS champions were Houston Dynamo who defeated New England Revolution in the final. D.C. United were the MLS premiers edging Chivas USA by two points for the regular season honor.
New England, Houston, and D.C. United earn berths into the inagural CONCACAF Champions League for their performances in the regular season and playoffs.
Contents
Changes from the 2006 Season
Structural Changes
The 2007 season was often cited as the first season in the modern-era of Major League Soccer. Most notably, the regular season decrease from 32 matches to 30, emphasizing the importance of matches during this time window, as well as boosting the credibility for the MLS Supporters' Shield. This year marked the inagural season for expansion franchise, Toronto FC whom began play in the Eastern Conference.
For the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, the top two clubs in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs, down from four. Additionally, the next four highest remaining point totals, regardless of conference qualified via wild-card berth. The change required a single table to determine the entire playoff field.
Sponsorship Changes
Starting this season, MLS clubs were allowed to sell advertisements on the front of their jerseys. Six MLS clubs took advantage of the opportunity. Local corporations XanGo and Amigo Energy became the kit sponsors of Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo, respectively. More national brands such as BMO, Comex and Herbalife became the sponsors of Toronto FC, Chivas USA and Los Angeles Galaxy, respectively. The international recognized brand, Red Bull became the shirt sponsor of New York Red Bulls, whom they owned.
Player Changes
- The Designated Player Rule was implemented, permitting one big-ticket foreign player to play for each team without going against the team's salary cap.
Six players were signed under the rule for the 2007 season:
New Stadiums
Two new soccer-specific stadiums opened this season. The Colorado Rapids moved into Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver-suburb of Commerce City, Colorado. Before the season began, BMO Field opened for expansion side, Toronto FC.
Competition format
The format for the 2007 season was as follows:
- The season ran from April 7 to November 18.
- The 13 teams were split into two conferences. The Eastern Conference had seven teams with the addition of Toronto FC, while the Western Conference had six teams. Each team played 30 games that were evenly divided between home and away games. Each team played every other team twice, home and away, for a total of 24 games. The remaining six games were played against six regional rivals, three at home and three away.
- The two teams from each conference with the most points qualified for the playoffs. In addition, the next four highest 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 2007. In all rounds, draws were be followed by 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 won the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09. The MLS Cup winner also qualified for the Champions League 2008–09. The MLS Cup runner-up qualified for the Champions League 2008–09. An additional berth in the Champions League was also awarded to the winner of the 2007 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, cannot qualify through MLS for the Champions League, and must instead qualify through the Canadian Championship.
- The four teams with the most points in the regular season, regardless of conference, qualified for SuperLiga 2008.
- The three teams from each conference with the most points also qualified for berths into the 2008 U.S. Open Cup. The rest of the U.S.-based MLS teams had to qualify for the remaining two berths via a series of play-in games.
Tiebreakers
- Head-to-Head (Points only)
- Overall Goal Differential
- Overall Total Goals Scored
- Tiebreakers 1-3 applied only to matches on the road
- Tiebreakers 1-3 applied only to matches at home
- Fewest team disciplinary points in the League Fair Play table
- Coin toss
Standings
Conference standings
Eastern Conference Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD 1 D.C. United 55 30 16 7 7 56 34 22 2 New England Revolution 50 30 14 8 8 51 43 8 3 New York Red Bulls 43 30 12 11 7 47 45 2 4 Chicago Fire 40 30 10 10 10 31 36 -5 5 Kansas City Wizards 40 30 11 12 7 45 45 0 6 Columbus Crew 37 30 9 11 10 39 44 -5 7 Toronto FC[1] 25 30 6 17 7 25 49 -24 Western Conference Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD 1 Chivas USA 53 30 15 7 8 46 28 18 2 Houston Dynamo 52 30 15 8 7 43 23 20 3 FC Dallas 44 30 13 12 5 37 44 -7 4 Colorado Rapids 35 30 9 13 8 29 34 -5 5 Los Angeles Galaxy 34 30 9 14 7 38 48 -10 6 Real Salt Lake 27 30 6 15 9 31 45 -14 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2008 U.S. Open Cup 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card) 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2008 U.S. Open Cup 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card), 2008 U.S. Open Cup - ^1 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team.
If they had qualified for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team in the Eastern Conference not already qualified would have qualified.
Overall standings
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD 1 D.C. United (E1) 55 30 16 7 7 56 34 22 2 Chivas USA (W1) 53 30 15 7 8 46 28 18 3 Houston Dynamo[2] (W2) 52 30 15 8 7 43 23 20 4 New England Revolution[3] (E2) 50 30 14 8 8 51 43 8 5 FC Dallas 44 30 13 12 5 37 44 -7 6 New York Red Bulls 43 30 12 11 7 47 45 2 7 Chicago Fire 40 30 10 10 10 31 36 -5 8 Kansas City Wizards 40 30 11 12 7 45 45 0 9 Columbus Crew 37 30 9 11 10 39 44 -5 10 Colorado Rapids 35 30 9 13 8 29 34 -5 11 Los Angeles Galaxy 34 30 9 14 7 38 48 -10 12 Real Salt Lake 27 30 6 15 9 31 45 -14 13 Toronto FC[4] 25 30 6 17 7 25 49 -24 MLS Supporters' Shield, 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2008, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09[5] 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs - ^2 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Championship.
If they had qualified for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
- ^3 - The winner of the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield (D.C. United) and the winner of MLS Cup 2007 (Houston Dynamo) qualified for the 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup and the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. The runner-up of MLS Cup 2007 and the winner of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup (New England Revolution) qualified for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round. Because New England qualified twice, the additional berth in the Preliminary Round was awarded to the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield runner-up (Chivas USA).
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs
Main article: 2007 MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup 2007 E1 D.C. United 0 2 E4 Chicago Fire 1 2 E4 Chicago Fire 0 Eastern Conference E2 New England Revolution 1 E3 New York Red Bulls 0 0 E2 New England Revolution 0 1 E2 New England Revolution 1 W2 Houston Dynamo 2 W1 Chivas USA 0 0 W4 Kansas City Wizards1 1 0 W4 Kansas City Wizards 0 Western Conference W2 Houston Dynamo 2 W3 FC Dallas 1 1 W2 Houston Dynamo (AET) 0 4 1 The Kansas City Wizards earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference.
They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.Statistics
Budweiser Golden Boot
- Full article: MLS Golden Boot
Rank Player Club Games Goals Asst. 1 
Luciano EmilioD.C. United 29 20 1 2 
Juan Pablo ÁngelNew York Red Bulls 24 19 5 3 
Taylor TwellmanNew England Revolution 26 16 3 4 Eddie JohnsonKansas City Wizards 24 15 6 5 
Maykel GalindoChivas USA 28 12 5 6 Ante RazovChivas USA 26 11 8 7 
Christian GomezD.C. United 27 10 9 8 Jozy AltidoreNew York Red Bulls 22 9 4 9 Landon DonovanLos Angeles Galaxy 24 8 13 10 Robbie FindleyReal Salt Lake 25 8 0 Goalkeeping Leaders
Rank Goalkeeper Club GP MINS SHTS SVS GA GAA W-L-T SHO 1 
Pat OnstadHouston Dynamo 27 2418 109 85 22 0.82 13-8-6 11 2 Brad GuzanChivas USA 27 2430 119 87 25 0.93 14-6-7 13 3 
Bouna CoundoulColorado Rapids 30 2668 158 120 32 1.08 9-12-8 9 4 Jon ConwayNew York Red Bulls 14 1143 79 57 14 1.10 6-5-2 4 5 Troy PerkinsD.C. United 29 2610 155 117 32 1.10 16-6-7 8 Individual awards
Player of the Week
Player of the Month
Month Player of the Month Club April Eddie JohnsonKansas City Wizards May Juan Pablo ÁngelNew York Red Bulls June Juan Pablo ÁngelNew York Red Bulls July Guillermo Barros SchelottoColumbus Crew August Troy PerkinsD.C. United September Luciano EmilioD.C. United October Matt PickensChicago Fire Sierra Mist Goal Of The Week
Team Attendance Totals
Club Games Season Game Avg. Los Angeles Galaxy 15 390,132 26,009 Toronto FC 15 301,793 20,120 D.C. United 15 297,531 19,835 New England Revolution 15 263,706 17,580 Chicago Fire 15 255,511 17,034 Houston Dynamo 15 254,083 16,939 Real Salt Lake 15 242,690 16,179 New York Red Bulls 15 238,925 15,928 Chivas USA 15 226,717 15,114 Columbus Crew 15 219,332 14,622 San Jose Earthquakes 15 416,258 13,875 Colorado Rapids 15 204,884 13,659 Kansas City Wizards 15 160,286 10,686 FC Dallas 15 195,356 13,024 OVERALL 210 3,456,641 16,460 Related Competitions
International Competitions
CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007
Main article: CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007 D.C. United
Defeated
Club Deportivo Olimpia in the Quarterfinals
Lost
Club Deportivo Guadalajara in the Semifinals. Houston Dynamo
Defeated
Puntarenas FC in the Quarterfinals.
Lost C.F. Pachuca in the Semifinals.
SuperLiga 2007
Main article: North American SuperLiga 2007FC Dallas
Finished in fourth place and did not advance from
Group A after going 0-1-2 in group play.D.C. United
Runner-up of Group B after going 1-1-1 in group play.
Lost to Los Angeles Galaxy in Semifinals.Houston Dynamo
Winner of Group B after going 2-0-1 in group play.
Lost to C.F. Pachuca on penalty kicks in the Semifinals.Los Angeles Galaxy
Winner of Group A after going 2-1-0 in group play.
Defeated D.C. United in the Semifinals
Lost to C.F. Pachuca on penalty kicks in the Final.
Copa Sudamericana 2007
Main article: Copa Sudamericana 2007D.C. United
Lost to Club Deportivo Guadalajara on away goals in the Round of 16.
National Competition
2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupEight of the twelve U.S.-based MLS teams entered the tournament in the Third Round.
D.C. United
Lost to Harrisburg City Islanders in the Third Round.Los Angeles Galaxy
Lost to Richmond Kickers in the Third Round.Chicago Fire
Lost to Carolina RailHawks in the Third Round.Houston Dynamo
Lost to Charleston Battery in the Third Round.Chivas USA
Lost to Seattle Sounders (USL) in the Third RoundColorado Rapids
Defeated California Victory in the Third Round.
Lost to Seattle Sounders (USL) in the Quarterfinals.FC Dallas
Defeated Atlanta Silverbacks on penalty kicks in the Third Round,
Defeated Charleston Battery after extra time in the Quarterfinals,
Defeated Seattle Sounders (USL) after extra time in the Semifinals,
Lost to New England Revolution in the Final.New England Revolution
Defeated Rochester Raging Rhinos in the Third Round.
Defeated Harrisburg City Islanders in the Quarterfinals.
Defeated Carolina RailHawks after extra time in the Semifinals.
Defeated FC Dallas in the Final.
All-Star game
MLS All-Star 2007
Main article: MLS All-Star 2007The 2007 MLS All-Star Game was held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park
in Commerce City, Colorado, home of the Colorado Rapids on July 19.
The opponent was Celtic F.C. of the Scottish Premier League.Final Score:
MLS All-Stars 2-0 Celtic F.C.External links
References
Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Western Conference Chicago Fire · Columbus Crew · D.C. United · Houston Dynamo · New England Revolution · New York Red Bulls · Philadelphia Union · Sporting Kansas City · Toronto FC
Former teams Expansion teams Montreal Impact (2012)
League articles MLS Cup (Playoffs) · Supporters' Shield · All-Star Game · Records and statistics · CONCACAF Champions League · U.S. Open Cup · Canadian Championship · Rivalry cups · Current players · Foreign players · Capped players · Designated Player Rule · Coaches · Drafts · Transfers · MLS Players Union · Attendance · Stadiums · Reserve Division · USSF · CSASeasons 2006–07 in North and Central America and Caribbean association football (CONCACAF) « 2005–06Club tournaments in CONCACAF member countries between July 2006 and June 20072007–08 »Domestic leagues Domestic cups CONCACAF competitions 2007–08 in North and Central America and Caribbean association football (CONCACAF) « 2006–07Club tournaments in CONCACAF member countries between July 2007 and June 20082008–09 »Domestic leagues Domestic cups CONCACAF competitions Categories:- 2007 Major League Soccer season
- Major League Soccer seasons
- 2007 domestic association football leagues
- The Designated Player Rule was implemented, permitting one big-ticket foreign player to play for each team without going against the team's salary cap.
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