First/Last Kick and Successes in SS/MLSC

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by henryo, Dec 16, 2013.

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Will SKC win the "First Kick" or "Last Kick" in 2014 & Win the MLS Cup?

Poll closed Mar 26, 2014.
  1. Yes (Winning Both Kicks)

    50.0%
  2. Yes (Winning First Kick Only)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Yes (Winning Last Kick Only)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. None of the above

    50.0%
  1. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #1 henryo, Dec 16, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2013
    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... :D
     
  2. aletheist

    aletheist Member+

    Nov 17, 2010
    Olathe, Kansas, USA
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
    henryo repped this.
  3. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    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
     
  4. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    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? o_O
     
  5. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #5 henryo, Dec 17, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2013
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    S.J.

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    D.C.

    (Won MLS Cup)
    L.A.

    (SS Runners-up;
    Lost MLS Cup Final)
    DAL

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    1997 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    D.C.

    (SS Runners-up;
    Lost MLS Cup Final)
    MIA

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    L.A.

    (SS Winners;
    Lost Conf. Final)
    CHI

    (Won MLS Cup)
     
  6. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    L.A.

    (SS Runners-up;
    Lost MLS Cup Final)
    COL

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    DAL

    (Lost Conf. Final)
    TBM

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    2000 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    L.A.

    (Lost Semi Final)
    COL

    (Lost Quarter Final)
    DAL

    (Lost Quarter Final)
    S.J.

    (Won Wooden Spoon)
    2001 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    S.J.

    (Won MLS Cup)
    L.A.

    (Topped the West;
    Lost MLS Cup Final)
    CLB

    (Lost Quarter Final)
    TBM

    (Won Wooden Spoon)
    2002 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    L.A.

    (SS Winners;
    Won MLS Cup)
    D.C.

    (Won Wooden Spoon)
    CLB

    (Lost Semi Final)
    S.J.

    (SS Runners-up;
    Lost Quarter Final)
     
  7. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    Snapshot of Poll, as at Dec-18:
    1. Yes (Winning Both Kicks)
      3 vote(s) 50.0%
    2. Yes (Winning First Kick Only)
      0 vote(s) 0.0%
    3. Yes (Winning Last Kick Only)
      0 vote(s) 0.0%
    4. None of the above
      3 vote(s) 50.0%
     
  8. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #8 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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 :cry:).

    2006 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    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
     
  9. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #9 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    COL

    (Missed Playoffs)
    D.C.

    (SS Winners:

    Lost Conf. Semis)
    CHI

    (Lost Conf. Final)
    L.A.

    (Missed Playoffs)


    2008 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    SEA

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    N.Y.

    (Missed Playoffs:

    Won Wooden Spoon)
    N.E.

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    CLB

    (SS Winners:

    Lost Conf. Semis)

     
  10. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #10 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    SEA

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    PHI

    (Missed Playoffs)
    L.A.

    (SS Winners:

    Lost Conf. Final)
    DAL

    (Lost MLS Cup Final)


    2011 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    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.
     
  11. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    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 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    K.C.

    (SS Runners-up:

    Won MLS Cup)
    PHI

    (Missed Playoffs)
    L.A. **

    (Lost Conf. Semis)
    SEA **

    (Lost Conf. Semis)


    2014 [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    TBD TBD TBD TBD


    More Statistics / Analysis to come later, just stay tuned...
     
  12. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #12 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    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
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Hachiko repped this.
  13. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #13 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    Hachiko repped this.
  14. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    #14 henryo, Dec 19, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
    Robbo Crewfan and Hachiko repped this.
  15. Hachiko

    Hachiko The Akita on Big Soccer

    Jun 8, 2005
    Long Beach, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All right.
     
  16. henryo

    henryo Member+

    Jun 26, 2007
    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? :p

    More on that later... :cool:
     

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