This idea came to me upon reading the "2014 SKC Schedule" thread above. Basically, it was noted that SKC won the "First Kick" and "Last Kick" of 2013 (coincidentally, both games against Philadelphia Union), en route to their MLS Cup victory. Hence, I went looking-up the past records, to see if anything similar has happened in previous seasons too. To my pleasant surprise, the co-incidence between winning the "First Kicks/Last Kicks", and successes in the race for SS/Playoffs/MLS Cup, have been more prevalent than expected. Take MLS Cup for instance, 8 "First Kick Winners" out of 18 seasons (almost 50% chance) have at least made the MLS Cup Final: 1. Other than 2013 SKC, 5 other "First Kick Winners" have won the MLS Cup eventually as well: 2013 SKC 2011 L.A. 2008 CLB 2004 D.C. 2002 L.A. 2001 S.J. 2. 2 other "First Kick Winners" have made the MLS Cup Final too: 1999 L.A. 1998 D.C. Given that SKC will again enjoy the "privilege" of the "First Kick" and "Last Kick" in 2014 (barring any further changes in schedule), how likely will the feat be repeated by then? We'll see... The full list will be posted shortly, for your reading pleasure please...
To clarify--SKC won their first and last games of 2013, but the latter was not the "Last Kick" of the MLS season; that was SEA vs. LAG. However, as of now, SKC will be playing both the first and last MLS games of 2014.
Ah, you are right, good catch! The other MLS Cup Winners that indeed featured in both the "First Kick" and "Last Kick" of respective seasons: 2011 L.A. - Mar-15: Seattle 0-1 L.A.; Oct-23: Houston 3-1 L.A. 2008 CLB - Mar-29: CLB 2-0 Toronto; Oct-26: CLB 1-0 D.C. 2004 D.C. - Apr-3: D.C. 2-1 S.J.; Oct-17 D.C. 3-2 NYRB
By the way, notice that in 2011, before Seattle 0-1 L.A. on Mar-15, there was an earlier game between Columbus & RSL on Feb-25, though the final score shown as blank. (perhaps a mistake?) What was that game about? I suppose that wasn't the "First Kick" of the season, was it?
First Kick & Last Kick, 1996-98: (posting in sections due to BS image limit) Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 1996 S.J. (Lost Conf. Semis) D.C. (Won MLS Cup) L.A. (SS Runners-up; Lost MLS Cup Final) DAL (Lost Conf. Semis) 1997 S.J. (Won Wooden Spoon) NYRB (Missed Playoffs: Last in the East) COL (Lost MLS Cup) S.J. (Won Wooden Spoon) S.J. featured in both kicks 1998 D.C. (SS Runners-up; Lost MLS Cup Final) MIA (Lost Conf. Semis) L.A. (SS Winners; Lost Conf. Final) CHI (Won MLS Cup)
First Kick & Last Kick, 1999-2002: Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 1999 L.A. (SS Runners-up; Lost MLS Cup Final) COL (Lost Conf. Semis) DAL (Lost Conf. Final) TBM (Lost Conf. Semis) 2000 L.A. (Lost Semi Final) COL (Lost Quarter Final) DAL (Lost Quarter Final) S.J. (Won Wooden Spoon) 2001 S.J. (Won MLS Cup) L.A. (Topped the West; Lost MLS Cup Final) CLB (Lost Quarter Final) TBM (Won Wooden Spoon) 2002 L.A. (SS Winners; Won MLS Cup) D.C. (Won Wooden Spoon) CLB (Lost Semi Final) S.J. (SS Runners-up; Lost Quarter Final)
Snapshot of Poll, as at Dec-18: Yes (Winning Both Kicks) 3 vote(s) 50.0% Yes (Winning First Kick Only) 0 vote(s) 0.0% Yes (Winning Last Kick Only) 0 vote(s) 0.0% None of the above 3 vote(s) 50.0%
First Kick & Last Kick, 2003-2006: ** In case of Tie, the Road Team would be the Designated Winner , while the Home Team would be the Designated Loser (similar to the concepts of "Schedule Adjusted Table: where: Home Wins are "Given", & Road Wins are "Bonus"). Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 2003 L.A. ** (Wooden Spoon Runners-up; Lost Conf. Semis) CLB ** (Missed Playoffs: Last in the East) CLB (Missed Playoffs: Last in the East) CHI (SS Winners; Lost MLS Cup Final) The First "Tied" First Kick; CLB featured in both kicks. 2004 D.C. (Won MLS Cup) S.J. (Lost Conf. Semis) D.C. (Won MLS Cup) N.Y. (Lost Conf. Semis) D.C. was the first team to win both kicks (at home). 2005 D.C. (Lost Conf. Semis) CHV (Missed Playoffs: Won Wooden Spoon) N.Y. (Lost Conf. Semis) CHV (Missed Playoffs: Won Wooden Spoon) CHV was the first team to lose both kicks (at home no less ). 2006 DAL (SS Runners-up; Lost Conf. Semis) CHI (Lost Conf. Semis) RSL ** (Missed Playoffs: Last in the West) CHV ** (Lost Conf. Semis) The First "Tied" Last Kick
First Kick & Last Kick, 2007-2009: ** In case of Tie, the Road Team would be the Designated Winner , while the Home Team would be the Designated Loser similar to the concepts of "Schedule Adjusted Table (courtesy of @DonJuego), where: Home Wins are "Given", & Road Wins are "Bonus"). Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 2007 COL (Missed Playoffs) D.C. (SS Winners: Lost Conf. Semis) CHI (Lost Conf. Final) L.A. (Missed Playoffs) 2008 CLB (SS Winners: Won MLS Cup) TOR (Missed Playoffs: Last in the East) CLB (SS Winners: Won MLS Cup) D.C. (Missed Playoffs) CLB was the first "Winner of Both Kicks" to secure the "Double" of SS & MLS Cup!! 2009 SEA (Lost Conf. Semis) N.Y. (Missed Playoffs: Won Wooden Spoon) N.E. (Lost Conf. Semis) CLB (SS Winners: Lost Conf. Semis)
First Kick & Last Kick, 2010-2012: ** In case of Tie, the Road Team would be the Designated Winner , while the Home Team would be the Designated Loser, similar to the concepts of "Schedule Adjusted Table (courtesy of @DonJuego), where: Home Wins are "Given", & Road Wins are "Bonus"). Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 2010 SEA (Lost Conf. Semis) PHI (Missed Playoffs) L.A. (SS Winners: Lost Conf. Final) DAL (Lost MLS Cup Final) 2011 L.A. (SS Winners: Won MLS Cup) SEA (SS Runners-up: Lost Conf. Semis) HOU (Lost MLS Cup Final) L.A. (SS Winners: Won MLS Cup) L.A. is the first team to play on the road in both kicks! This was the 1st "First Kick" featuring the SS Winners and Runners-up. 2012 COL (Missed Playoffs) CLB (Missed Playoffs) L.A. (Won MLS Cup) SEA (Lost Conf. Final) The 2nd time both teams in "First Kick" missed the playoffs, after 1997.
First Kick & Last Kick, 2013-2014: ** In case of Tie, the Road Team would be the Designated Winner , while the Home Team would be the Designated Loser, similar to the concepts of "Schedule Adjusted Table (courtesy of @DonJuego), where: Home Wins are "Given", & Road Wins are "Bonus"). Season First Kick & Last Kick First Kick Winner First Kick Loser Last Kick Winner Last Kick Loser Remarks 2013 K.C. (SS Runners-up: Won MLS Cup) PHI (Missed Playoffs) L.A. ** (Lost Conf. Semis) SEA ** (Lost Conf. Semis) 2014 TBD TBD TBD TBD More Statistics / Analysis to come later, just stay tuned...
All-Time "Standings" & Statistics for "First Kicks" (1996-2013): @Hachiko: L.A. on Top... @Knave: D.C. in 2nd-place here... #. - Team ------ GP - W - T - L -- Pts - #. - Team --- GP - GF - GA - Pts - GD
All-Time "Standings" & Statistics for "Last Kicks" (1996-2013): @Hachiko: L.A. on Top too!! @Robbo Crewfan, @naas, @puttputtfc & @ZipSix: CLB are very close behind L.A., time to overtake them in the next season(s)... #. - Team ------ GP - W - T - L -- Pts - #. - Team --- GP - GF - GA - Pts - GD
All-Time "Standings" & Statistics for "First & Last Kicks" (1996-2013): @Hachiko: L.A. still on Top here, of course. @Robbo Crewfan, @naas, @puttputtfc & @ZipSix: CLB are 2nd behind L.A. here, time to overtake them in a few more season(s) after next... #. - Team ------ GP - W - T - L -- Pts - #. - Team --- GP - GF - GA - Pts - GD
As you can tell from the All-Time Standings, L.A. have had the most appearances in First Kicks and Last Kicks, almost double/triple of most other teams. So... the league do have a soft spot for L.A. on this? More on that later...