Poll: Greatest MLS Cup Final of All Time?

[Bill-DC]

I usually don't pay much attention to these kind of polls but I am sitting here on a slow day at work so here goes....

On MLSnet.com

Which MLS Cup final was the greatest of all time?
2004 22%
2003 16%
2001 12%
1998 12%
1996 37%

'96 is leading but IMO the greatest final was 1997 here at RFK.

[Clint Eastwood]

I usually don't pay much attention to these kind of polls but I am sitting here on a slow day at work so here goes....

On MLSnet.com

Which MLS Cup final was the greatest of all time?
2004 22%
2003 16%
2001 12%
1998 12%
1996 37%

'96 is leading but IMO the greatest final was 1997 here at RFK.

No doubt it was. I think perhaps non-DC United fans confuse the two.

[John_Harkes_6]

I usually don't pay much attention to these kind of polls but I am sitting here on a slow day at work so here goes....

On MLSnet.com

Which MLS Cup final was the greatest of all time?
2004 22%
2003 16%
2001 12%
1998 12%
1996 37%

'96 is leading but IMO the greatest final was 1997 here at RFK.

While I agree it was great to see DCU win on their home turf - but I don't think you can possibly ever top the come from behind victory in OT at Foxboro in '96

[griffin1108]

'96 absolutely was the best. While 2004 was sweet after the Wrongen and Hudson years, DCU's come from behind in a biblical rainstorm was simply amazing. I don't think the Galaxatives ever recovered from losing an apparently secure lead, remember Hartmann's shank in the '99 cup?

[Bill-DC]

While I agree it was great to see DCU win on their home turf - but I don't think you can possibly ever top the come from behind victory in OT at Foxboro in '96

JMO--If I was there in Foxboro personally, I would probably change my vote as that was a fantastic comeback. To experience that live must have been awesome.

The RFK atmosphere on 10/26/97 was absolutely incredible and when Paz scored for the CRaps with 20 minutes left to cut United's lead to 2-1, it was a very tense rest of the game. Sitting in the SE section that day was fantastic and one of my all time best experiences as a sports fan. It still gets my vote although the NE ECF is right there as well.

[gocaps]

'97 was the best fan experience because of the full stadium, but '96 was the better game. Yeah, it was tense after Paz scored in '97 - but that whole year was about coming to the stadium expecting to win every game. IIRC, the Rapids didn't get much of a sniff after their goal.

FWIW, speaking simply as a soccer fan: the 2003 game (SJ over CHI 4-2) was the most entertaining and well-played of all of them. People forget how turgid the '96 game was because of the puddles all over the field - purely from a soccer standpoint, the match didn't really get good until Sanneh's goal.

[cherno]

'97 was the best fan experience because of the full stadium, but '96 was the better game. Yeah, it was tense after Paz scored in '97 - but that whole year was about coming to the stadium expecting to win every game. IIRC, the Rapids didn't get much of a sniff after their goal.

FWIW, speaking simply as a soccer fan: the 2003 game (SJ over CHI 4-2) was the most entertaining and well-played of all of them. People forget how turgid the '96 game was because of the puddles all over the field - purely from a soccer standpoint, the match didn't really get good until Sanneh's goal.
Now I only watched the game once (live on tv), but I disagree with you here. My recollection of that game was that Chicago played like shite (especially Razov) I remember feeling a bit embarassed for the league that people who didn't watch many games but caught the cup on ABC must have thought that although the Quakes looked pretty good the league must be pretty crappy if that Chicago team was second best.

Cherno

[gocaps]

Now I only watched the game once (live on tv), but I disagree with you here. My recollection of that game was that Chicago played like shite (especially Razov) I remember feeling a bit embarassed for the league that people who didn't watch many games but caught the cup on ABC must have thought that although the Quakes looked pretty good the league must be pretty crappy if that Chicago team was second best.
Razov was crap (and I loved every minute of it). But DaMarcus Beasley had a blinder - he was the most dangerous player on the field other than LD - and Ralph and Andy Williams played very well also.

The Chicago D was exposed, mainly because Donovan was so incredibly good and also because SJ's speed at every forward position exposed the Fire's lack of pace in the middle (especially Curtin, who got burned repeatedly). But Beasley and Ralph did plenty of burning of their own. Those might have been the two best defenses in the league last year, and each got torched because the other team played so well offensively.

The difference between the teams was that one of the four forwards on the field didn't do his job. If not for Razov missing sitters and taking a crap PK, we might have had a 4-4 OT thriller.

[Cweedchop]

Now I only watched the game once (live on tv), but I disagree with you here. My recollection of that game was that Chicago played like shite (especially Razov) I remember feeling a bit embarassed for the league that people who didn't watch many games but caught the cup on ABC must have thought that although the Quakes looked pretty good the league must be pretty crappy if that Chicago team was second best.

Cherno

Rewatch the game if you can.. Chicago hardly played like shite.. The finishing was for shite, but they controlled most of that game.. If Ante Razov had half of his normal shooting boots on Chicago would have walked away with that match..

Chicago was forcing the action with San Jose countering for the most part.. As it happened, San Jose happened to finish their chances while Chicago did not..

I think this match, from start to finish was the best MLS Cup of all time.. The 96' match was only a match after the 70th minute, but what a finish it was..

The 97' match to me still is the standard bearer for atmosphere in a Cup final.. The game itself was mostly under control for United, with the odd shot here and there for the Rapids.. United had two opportunities to go 3-0 up with Marco inexplicably hot dogging a sure fire goal (he attempted a tricky wrap around the heel shot instead of burying the ball one-time) and also Brian Hall refused to call a textbook penalty kick when Jaime Moreno was upended by Scott Garlick in the box..

The goal by Paz definitely made the match more interesting, but United still had control of that match..



I'm going to rank all 9 MLS Cup finals:

1) 2003

2) 1996

3) 1997

4) 2004

5) 2001

6) 1998

7) 1999

8) 2000

9) 2002 - by a country mile - may we never be subjected to a game like that ever again..

[Winoman]

JMO--If I was there in Foxboro personally, I would probably change my vote as that was a fantastic comeback. To experience that live must have been awesome.

The RFK atmosphere on 10/26/97 was absolutely incredible and when Paz scored for the CRaps with 20 minutes left to cut United's lead to 2-1, it was a very tense rest of the game. Sitting in the SE section that day was fantastic and one of my all time best experiences as a sports fan. It still gets my vote although the NE ECF is right there as well.

I would have voted for 1997 if it were an option. (I wonder why it wasn't - it was an excellent match.) As it was, I voted for 1996. Who can forget His Holiness' game-winner in OT?

[CHICO13]

'96... my shoes are STILL dryin' out. I'll never forget when Marco got that look in his eyes. He seemed to say..."Enough of this....let's do it." Sanneh climbing the ladder was unbelievable and then Pope clinching it was euphoric. For sheer drama and exhileration, '96 was the best.

[Darth Norteño]

While I agree it was great to see DCU win on their home turf - but I don't think you can possibly ever top the come from behind victory in OT at Foxboro in '96

True dat. To me it's a religious event; if I'm wearing a hat when I'm watching it, I promptly remove it.

[revelation]

'96... my shoes are STILL dryin' out. I'll never forget when Marco got that look in his eyes. He seemed to say..."Enough of this....let's do it." Sanneh climbing the ladder was unbelievable and then Pope clinching it was euphoric. For sheer drama and exhileration, '96 was the best.

How could you not appreciate Medved's tenacity to just put the ball in the net. Screw looking pretty or even quality, just stuff it in and worry about the beautiful game later... :)

[Cantankerous]

How could you not appreciate Medved's tenacity to just put the ball in the net. Screw looking pretty or even quality, just stuff it in and worry about the beautiful game later... :)
Or Diaz Arce's lovely move in flattening Campos so Medved could do his thing...

[CHICO13]

How could you not appreciate Medved's tenacity to just put the ball in the net.
I was taking a wizz... :D