 | |
| Season | 2010 |
|---|---|
| MLS Cup | Colorado Rapids (1st title) |
| Supporters' Shield | Los Angeles Galaxy (3rd shield) |
| Champions League | Los Angeles Galaxy Colorado Rapids FC Dallas Seattle Sounders FC |
| SuperLiga | Real Salt Lake New York Red Bulls Columbus Crew S.J. Earthquakes |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Goals scored | 591 (2.46 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Chris Wondolowski (18 goals) |
| Biggest home win | NE 0–5RSL (July 2)[1] |
| Biggest away win | CHV 4–0NE (May 5)[citation needed] LA 4–0SEA (May 8)[citation needed] SEA 4–0CLB (Sept 18)[citation needed] |
| Highest scoring | 7 goals: HOU 4–3CHI (August 21)[citation needed] KCW 4–3HOU (September 22)[citation needed] |
| Longest winning run | 5 wins:[citation needed] Real Salt Lake (May 1 – May 29)[citation needed] Seattle Sounders FC (Sep 18 – Oct 15)[citation needed] |
| Longest unbeaten run | 18 matches:[citation needed] FC Dallas (May 27 – Oct 16)[citation needed] |
| Longest winless run | 10 matches:[citation needed] Houston Dynamo (May 22 – Aug 21)[citation needed] |
| Longest losing run | 6 losses:[citation needed] C.D. Chivas USA (May 8 – June 26)[citation needed] |
| Highest attendance | CHI @SEA: 36,386 |
| Lowest attendance | CHV @NE: 5,990 |
| Total attendance | 4,002,053 |
| Average attendance | 16,675 |
←2009 2011 → | |
The2010 Major League Soccer season was the 15th season ofMajor League Soccer. It was also the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in theUnited States, and the 32nd with a national first-division league.
Negotiations between the league and the players' union resulted in a new collective bargaining agreement being agreed to on March 20, 2010. The newDesignated Player Rule permitted teams to sign two such players, up from one under the previous rule, and pay a luxury tax of $250,000 for the right to sign a third.
ThePhiladelphia Union joined the league as its 16th team. The club's first two home games were played atLincoln Financial Field while the construction of their permanent home,PPL Park inChester, was being completed. TheNew York Red Bulls opened their new stadium,Red Bull Arena, on March 27 against theChicago Fire.
The regular season began on March 25, and concluded on October 24. TheLA Galaxy won theSupporters' Shield by one point overReal Salt Lake. The 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 28, and concluded withMLS Cup 2010 on November 21. TheColorado Rapids won their firstMLS Cup by defeating theFC Dallas, 2-1, atBMO Field inToronto. It was the first MLS Cup to be played outside the United States.
The season began on March 25 and concluded withMLS Cup on November 21. The 16 teams were split evenly into two conferences. For the first time in league history, the season had a balanced schedule where each team played every other team in the league once at home and once away for a total of 30 games.
The top two teams from each conference automatically qualified for theMLS 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 toMLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. Theaway goals rule was not used in any round.
The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded theMLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for theCONCACAF Champions League. Additionally, the winner ofMLS 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 theU.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 theCanadian Championship.
Automatic qualification for theU.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.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment | Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | Expansion Team |  Piotr Nowak | May 29, 2009 | Pre-season | |||
| New York Red Bulls |  Richie Williams | End of interim period | August 21, 2009 | 7th East ('09) |  Hans Backe | January 7, 2010 | Pre-season |
| Toronto FC |  Chris Cummins | Contract expiration | October 27, 2009 | 5th East ('09) | Preki | November 18, 2009 | Pre-season |
| D.C. United | Tom Soehn | Resigned | November 3, 2009 | 4th East ('09) | Curt Onalfo | December 28, 2009 | Pre-season |
| Chivas USA | Preki | Mutual consent | November 12, 2009 | 4th West ('09) | Martín Vásquez | December 2, 2009 | Pre-season |
| Chicago Fire |  Denis Hamlett | Fired | November 24, 2009 | 2nd East ('09) |  Carlos de los Cobos | January 11, 2010 | Pre-season |
| D.C. United | Curt Onalfo | Fired | August 4, 2010 | 8th East | Ben Olsen | August 4, 2010 | 8th East |
| Toronto FC | Preki | Fired | September 14, 2010 | 3rd East |  Nick Dasovic | September 14, 2010 | 3rd East |
| Home \ Away | CHI | CHV | COL | CLB | DCU | FCD | HOU | KCW | LAG | NER | NY | PHI | RSL | SJE | SEA | TOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | |
| Chivas USA | 1–4 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | |
| Colorado Rapids | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| Columbus Crew | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | |
| D.C. United | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | |
| FC Dallas | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |
| Houston Dynamo | 4–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Kansas City Wizards | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | |
| LA Galaxy | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | |
| New England Revolution | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | |
| New York Red Bulls | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | |
| Philadelphia Union | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| Real Salt Lake | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | |
| Toronto FC | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Red Bulls | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 51 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 50 | |
| 3 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 35 | +1 | 39 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 37 | 38 | −1 | 36 | |
| 5 | Toronto FC | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 35 | |
| 6 | New England Revolution | 30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 32 | |
| 7 | Philadelphia Union | 30 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 35 | 49 | −14 | 31 | |
| 8 | D.C. United | 30 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 21 | 47 | −26 | 22 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 59 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 56 | |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 50 | |
| 4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 46 | |
| 6 | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 46 | |
| 7 | Houston Dynamo | 30 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 33 | |
| 8 | Chivas USA | 30 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 31 | 45 | −14 | 28 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA Galaxy(S) | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 59 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 56 | |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 51 | |
| 4 | FC Dallas | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 50 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 5 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 50 | |
| 6 | Seattle Sounders FC | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids(C) | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 46 | |
| 8 | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 46 | |
| 9 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 35 | +1 | 39 | |
| 10 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 37 | 38 | −1 | 36 | |
| 11 | Toronto FC | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 35 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 12 | Houston Dynamo | 30 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 33 | |
| 13 | New England Revolution | 30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 32 | |
| 14 | Philadelphia Union | 30 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 35 | 49 | −14 | 31 | |
| 15 | Chivas USA | 30 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 31 | 45 | −14 | 28 | |
| 16 | D.C. United | 30 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 21 | 47 | −26 | 22 |
| Conference semifinals | Conference finals | MLS Cup | |||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | San Jose | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | San Jose | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||
| E3 | Colorado | 1 | |||||||||||||
| E2 | Columbus | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Colorado (5–4,PSO) | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Colorado | 2 | |||||||||||||
| W3 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||
| W3 | Dallas | 3 | |||||||||||||
| W2 | Salt Lake | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Dallas | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||
TheColumbus Crew continued their2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League campaign that began during the previous season. They were defeated by Mexican clubToluca in the quarterfinals, 5–4 on aggregate.
Seattle Sounders FC became the first team to qualify for the2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League by winning the2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. TheColumbus Crew qualified next by winning the 2009MLS Supporters' Shield. TheLos Angeles Galaxy andReal Salt Lake also qualified by being the two2009 MLS Cup finalists, whileToronto FC took the Canadian berth by virtue of theirCanadian Championship win. Los Angeles, Seattle, and Toronto entered the competition in the preliminary round, while RSL and Columbus were seeded directly into the group stage.
Seattle and Toronto won their preliminary round ties, beatingIsidro Metapán ofEl Salvador andMotagua ofHonduras, respectively. Los Angeles crashed out of the preliminary round after losing their home match 4–1 to thePuerto Rico Islanders of theUSSF D-2 Pro League and failing to make up the deficit in the away leg.
The group stage was held August 17 – Oct 21. Real Salt Lake won Group A with 13 points overCruz Azul, Toronto, andArabe Unido ofPanama. Toronto finished in 3rd place with 8 points. Columbus finished 2nd in Group B behindClub Santos Laguna but ahead ofC.S.D. Municipal ofGuatemala andJoe Public F.C. ofTrinidad. Seattle finished 4th in Group C with 3 points behindC.F. Monterrey,C.D. Saprissa ofCosta Rica, andC.D. Marathón ofHonduras.
On November 1, the draw for the Championship round was held. Real Salt Lake will face Columbus in the quarterfinal in February/March 2011, immediately prior to the 2011 MLS Regular Season.
As was the case for the2009 SuperLiga, the top four overall finishers in MLS in 2009 that hadn't already qualified for the Champions League qualified for SuperLiga. This year's competition was contested by theHouston Dynamo, theChicago Fire,Chivas USA, and theNew England Revolution from MLS. The four Mexican teams werePachuca,Morelia,Puebla, andUNAM.[34]
New England, Houston, Morelia and Puebla advanced from their groups, with the Revolution beating Puebla on penalties in one semifinal, and Morelia defeating Houston in the other. Morelia defeated New England 2–1 in the final atGillette Stadium on September 1.
The top six overall teams from the 2009 MLS season (Columbus, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Chicago, and Chivas USA) received automatic berths into the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open Cup, while the eight remaining U.S.-based MLS teams and the expansion Philadelphia Union competed in a single-elimination qualification tournament to determine the MLS's final two official entrants into the competition. Teams were seeded one through nine, with the seventh-place MLS team from2009 earning the first seed (and would play the winner of the eight v. nine play-in game), while each following team would receive its respective seed. The New York Red Bulls and D.C. United earned the final two MLS spots in the third round.
For the first time since2006, the semifinals were contested exclusively by MLS teams, with Seattle beating Chivas USA and Columbus defeating D.C. United. The final was played October 5 atQwest Field in Seattle with thedefending cup holders, the Sounders, defeating the Crew 2–1. The Sounders became the first MLS team ever to successfully defend the U.S. Open Cup, and the first team from any league to do so sinceNew York Pancyprian-Freedoms in 1983.
Toronto FC, as a Canadian-based MLS team, is not eligible to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and instead contested the Canadian Championship with the two Canadian-based teams in theDivision-2 Pro League,Vancouver Whitecaps andMontreal Impact. Toronto FC won the tournament, claiming theVoyageurs Cup and Canada's entry into the preliminary round of the2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League.
