10/26/97: DC United wins their second MLS Cup in the pouring rain at RFK Stadium, beating the Rapids 2-1 before a crowd of over 57,000 people. Seems like yesterday. I got sick a couple days after the game but it was so worth it. I got in from Spain two days prior, went to the CSB at the Lucky Bar and got my tix from a fellow SE there. A buddy of mine drove down from Pittsburgh to catch this and I remember Kevin Payne stopping by the SE tailgate before the game. Let's hope all of us get to experience playoff glory again. Four freaking years is a long time. United's playoff run starts Saturday. Right now I don't care about all the last minute heartbreak United suffered this season, Bob Bradley and the MetroPukes. The injuries suck, but they got to suck it up. The ups and downs this club has had this season is all in the past now. Saturday is it. Was it over when McBride beat us in OT on Sunday? NO! And it ain't over now. Because when the going gets tough.....the tough get going!!!! Who's with me, aaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy! That's my message board version of Belushi's scene from Animal House. Let's get fired up!!!!! Bill
I remember that game very well. I took my new girl friend to the game. It was cold, wet, and wild with 50,000 screaming soccer fanatics. I figured she was such a good sport for putting up with me and going to the game and freezing while cheering for DC Untied that I decided to marry her. -The Far Side
that's a beautiful story! anyway, i'm AT this game ....... no doubt about it! we need to get fired up for this one because if we make the playoffs, you never know what could happen!
Get the SE's, Barra, La Norte and everyone else to sing "All we are saying.....is give us three points...." I know they need one point to clinch but don't give them ideas about bunkering for the tie for this one. Get the three DC.
MLS Cup 97 was the single greatest soccer game I've ever attended - the atmosphere at RFK was amazing. Electric. I don't remember being cold and wet; I just remember being awestruck. Not going to MLS Cup 96 is one of my biggest regrets. And as for Saturday, if they bunker without a three goal lead, I'm walking out. If they don't care enough to play to win, I don't care enough to watch.
If you were at the '96 Cup, it was barely sprinkling and warm for the '97 Cup - I remember it vividly, setting up the grills in the rain, still managing to get evryone fed and happy. So, I wonder, of all the players in that game, who's still in the league, and still with the two teams ..... What a great crowd that was !
Scary 15 plus minutes after Paz scored. Remember the bicycle kick by Balboa? Here is the box score: D.C. UNITED 2 COLORADO RAPIDS 1 Scoring Summary: DC --Moreno (Sanneh, Vaudreuil) 37 DC --Sanneh (Harkes, Williams) 68 COL--Paz (Patino, Kmosko) 75 COLORADO RAPIDS--Marcus Hahnemann, Chris Martinez (Adrian Paz 59), Steve Trittschuh, Peter Vermes, Matt Kmosko, Marcelo Balboa, Sean Henderson (Ross Paule 81), Chris Henderson, Paul Bravo (Wolde Harris 27), David Patino, Steve Rammel TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Henderson 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Balboa 3); FOULS: 14 (Rammel 5); OFFSIDE: 8; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Hahnemann 6; CAUTIONS: Balboa 86; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 47% D.C. UNITED--Scott Garlick, David Vaudreuil, Eddie Pope, Carlos Llamosa, Jeff Agoos, Richie Williams, Tony Sanneh, John Harkes, Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, Raul Diaz Arce TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Sanneh 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Moreno 2, Sanneh 2, Etcheverry 2); FOULS: 14 (Moreno 4, Pope 4); OFFSIDE: 9; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: Garlick 9; CAUTIONS: Garlick 20; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 53% Referee: Brian Hall Referee's Assistants: Steve Olson, Greg Barkey Attendance: 57,431; Weather: Rain, 46 degrees
Euro-snobs who look down on MLS because it doesn't have any tradition should be forced to read this, and reflect on how they are missing out on the opportunity to help create new traditions, right here, right now.
Thanks for reminding me about the '97 MLS Cup, as attending that game is probably my favorite DC United memory.
I remember my son and I sitting in our seats in the temporary bleachers set up on the South End of the Stadium. He was seven and in his second year of fandom and playing soccer. We were soaked but never happier. Sanneh's goal was right in front of us, incredible. Then the 57,000 screaming and yelling when the game ended with the team running the Cup around the Stadium. It's a day I'll never forget. Now let's kick some KC ass this weekend.
Trying to get people to think positive so they can channel that to the team Saturday. Since it's almost six years since this great game took place I thought this was something good to talk about leading up to Saturday. I hope in another month we can be discussing United's fifth MLS Cup appearance. Think positive. Believe in United! Let's Do It!!!!!!!!
Exactly. I've said it before but the real difference between Eurosnobs and MLS devotees is that the former demand tradition now and the latter are eager to create a new one.
I flew up from Miami for this game had great seats behind and to the right of Colorado's bench and saw myself on TV 3 times when I watched it a few days later back in FL 395 was an absolute parking lot coming out of VA into DC so we go to our seats maybe 10 mins before kickoff. Colorado really came to play but our class shone through even with Paz goal to cut the deficit in half. OF course it was like 42 degrees by game's end and I was just hoping the game wouldn't go into OT. to hear 57000+ people singing ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo DC! late in the first half was just awesome.
Re: Re: Six Years Ago Sunday.... I have not watched the tape in quite a while, but I still can tell you the times when you should listen for the amazing songs/chants...CHILLS!!! There is a point in second half, immediately after Sanneh's goal, where the focus in on Tony. You can tell that he's not paying a lick's attention to the game, it is plainly obvious that he is standing there saying to himself..."this is it...this is why I play." I tell you, if you read through these boards, look around the stadium, and generally think about where the team and fans are at today, those days seem pretty damn distant right now. Thanks for the shot in the arm, though Bill. I'll come to RFK with a little more pride on Saturday. As Lanky has pointed out, a lot of changes will occur in this club, but us fans will be there. We may be jaded, but I hope we'll still sing. Tim
Let him go -- he's rolling. My son and I were there. I thought the place was going to come apart when United scored the second goal. I was cold, wet and delirious.
You guys sound like great fans. I would like to think of myself in the same boat as you guys, even though I didn't start going to games until this year. Feeling this strongly about a team is what made the lose to Columbus sting so bad, it's gonna sound redundant but when Petke put the header away I KNEW.... playoffs, and for about 10 minutes it was sssooooo cool. I'm showing up Sat., and hopefully witness for myself some DC United tradition-building.
I'm on board. Let's WIN this one for the great John Belushi! One of the greatest beer drinkers and historians ever to walk this earth When playing KC, players must play like how the US military responded when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!
Damn. It rained so much that day, the blue on my hat ran down the side of my face - looked like I had dyed my non-existent sideburns. It hurts being out here in LA now and not being able to go to RFK this weekend. But I'll be in front of my TV, all phones in the house turned off, beer or two in hand, yelling my ass off. RS
That day, DC also hosted a Redskins - Ravens game at Landover AND the Marine Corps marathon. The Post did a great article weaving together impressions from all three events (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/dcunited/longterm/1997/mlscup/launch/scene27.htm). This quote from the article sums up the day perfectly :