It took some time, but the 2001 write up and tile are finally here. This timeline series was never meant to be a thing of beauty, it’s just a nice little digital museum where folks like me can catch up on the key events that transpired during the early years of MLS. With that begin said, have a look at the 2001 tile and read the full write up below if you like!
Regular Season
The 2001 season is likely best remembered for its premature ending due to the events of 9/11. Of the 12 teams, four played in 27 matches while the other eight played in 26 (teams were scheduled to play 32 matches). As a result, only two teams cracked the 50 point mark – Chicago and Miami finished tied atop the table with 53 points apiece, but more on that below.
2001 was the last season in which a Florida club has competed in an MLS match (that is until Orlando City SC made the jump from USL to MLS for the 2015 MLS season), and both Tampa and Miami went out in historic fashion. Miami finished with 53 points in a shortened season and took the Shield while Tampa struggled to just 14 points in 27 matches. While Miami went out on top, Tampa’s 14 points still holds as the lowest point total in a single MLS season
All Star Game – San Jose, California
This is the way All-Star games were meant to be played: the league’s finest going at it and playing no defense whatsoever. The midseason celebration took place in San Jose and hometown youngster Landon Donovan put on a show for his supporters, scoring a hat trick in the opening 19 minutes of the match and taking MVP honors.
These are highlights you have to see to believe as the defending was nonexistent. After falling behind early, the East found their way back into the contest and even took a 6-5 lead on the strength of a brace from USMNT legend Brian McBride. Landon wasn’t done just yet, though, as he put his fourth past the ‘keeper in the 92nd minute to earn his side the draw, the first in the game’s history.
Donovan’s standout performance in this match was a sign of things to come, not only in 2001, but over the next decade as well, as he would go on to became the undsiputed greatest player in US Soccer history.
Race for the Shield
Due to the 9/11 tragedy, this race didn’t play out in full, but in the end, they had to give the trophy to someone. Miami played attractive and entertaining soccer en route to collecting 53 points in their Swan Song season. They took the Shield from Chicago on a tiebreaker; Miami defeated the Fire in two regular season meetings and played 26 games compared with Chicago’s 27, so they were deserving winners of the regular season hardware. But for Chicago to achieve the high point total in MLS for the second straight year, and miss out on the Shield due to a tiebreaker yet again? That had to be pure devastation for their supporters.
Playoffs
The first round (quarterfinals) was all chalk other than the 4-seed vs. 5-seed matchup, where San Jose made short work of the 4-seed Columbus Crew. But the semifinals must have been an absolute joy for fans of MLS at the time. Regular season juggernaut Chicago played USOC winners LA Galaxy in what looked to be a tight three game series. LA were always in control, though, as they drew Chicago in the first matchup and went on to win the next two. The other semifinal looks pretty epic on the score sheet. I’ll just put it here for you, but, suffice it to say, it went down to the wire:
MLS Cup
San Jose 2 – 1 LAG:
After losing MLS Cup in 1996 and 1999, the Galaxy were determined to take home the precious hardware for the first time. They showed as much, taking a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute. But 2001 was the year of Landon Donovan, and the budding star bagged the equalizer just before halftime. The game went into overtime at 1-1, where MLS legend Dwayne De Rosario scored what has to be the greatest cup winner in league history.
With their third cup final loss in just six years, LA were quickly becoming the bridesmaids of MLS. But as you likely already know, the Galaxy eventually figured out how to win the big one and have now become the Evil Empire of American soccer as we know it.
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
A handful of established MLS clubs fought for the Cup in 2001, with the Galaxy and up and coming New England joining previous winners DC United and the Chicago Fire in the semifinal round. On Oct. 27th, LA Galaxy defeated New England 2-1 in dramatic fashion to take their first ever US Open Cup title.
It was a pretty legendary run for the SoCal side. In the quarters they took down #CaliClasico rivals San Jose in an epic 10-9 penalty shootout. In the semis they defeated Chicago 1-0 on a 94th minute goal from defender Alexi Lalas. Then, in the final, it was Danny Califf who scored the winner in the 92nd minute to secure LA’s first Open Cup title.
Awards
MVP: Alex Pineda Chacón (MF), Miami
Coach of the Year: Frank Yallop, San Jose
Goalkeeper of the Year: Tim Howard, MetroStars
Defender of the Year: Jeff Agoos (D), San Jose
Golden Boot (19): Alex Pineda Chacón (MF), Miami
Goal of the Year: Clint Mathis – Mathis caps off one of the best runs in league history with a ruthless finish: MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn (4/28)
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