Major League Soccer 2007 season
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This article documents a current sports-related event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
The 12th Major League Soccer season will begin on April 7, 2007 and will end with MLS Cup 2007, on November 18, 2007 at RFK Stadium.
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[edit] Changes from 2006 Season
- Toronto FC begins play as an expansion franchise in the Eastern Conference.
- Teams will play a 30 game regular season schedule (down from 32 games) which will be scheduled as detailed below.
- Eight teams will make the playoffs. The top two from each conference plus the next four best teams regardless of conference. Previously, the top four teams in each conference made the playoffs.
- This is the first year that MLS teams will be allowed to have advertising on the front of their jerseys. Real Salt Lake becomes the first team to announce a jersey sponsor (XanGo). Red Bull New York will once again have the energy drink's logo on their shirt. Los Angeles Galaxy has signed a 5-year multimillion dollar deal with nutritional supplement manufacturer Herbalife, and Toronto FC has partnered with BMO.
- The Designated Player Rule will be implemented this season.
- Two new soccer-specific stadiums will open: Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado and BMO Field in Toronto.
[edit] Competition format
The format for the 2007 season is as follows:
- Season runs from April 7, 2007 to a championship match played November 18, 2007.
- 13 teams split into two conferences: the Western Conference will have six teams, while the Eastern Conference will have seven, with Toronto FC as the newest addition. Each team plays 30 games, evenly divided among home and away matches. Each team will play every other team twice, home and away, for a total of 24 games. The remaining 6 games will all be intra-conference, with each team playing its fellow conference members an additional game. In the Western Conference, an additional game will be added to the above, highlighting a local rivalry (Los Angeles vs. Chivas USA Honda SuperClasico, Houston vs. Dallas Texas Derby, Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rocky Mountain Cup).
- At season's end, the top two teams of each conference will make the playoffs; in addition, the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference, will also be in the playoffs. In the first round of this knockout tournament, aggregate goals over two matches determine the winners; the Conference Championships are one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws will be broken with 2 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule is not used.
- The team with the best record in the 30 game regular season wins the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualifies for the next CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The MLS Champion also qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. If the Supporters' Shield winner wins the MLS Cup, the runner-up to the Supporters Shield is the second qualifier.
- The two MLS teams that qualify for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup have the ability to qualify for Copa Sudamericana if they make the final, and the FIFA Club World Cup if they win the championship. If an MLS team were to win Copa Sudamericana, they would also play in Recopa Sudamericana.
- During the season, MLS teams based in the U.S. may compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
- All MLS teams may also compete in select international tournaments, and various exhibitions.
- SuperLiga, a new MLS-Mexican League club competition, will also make up the 2007 season schedule, with most matches occurring midweek in July and August. FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, DC United and Houston Dynamo have been chosen to compete and will play at least three matches each.
- The four MLS teams with the best regular season records in 2007 will qualify for 2008 SuperLiga
[edit] Schedule
MLS unveiled the 2007 season schedule on February 6th.
[edit] Standings
- The top two teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff berths. The next four are decided on the overall combined standings.
[edit] Eastern Conference
| Place | Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Fire | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Columbus Crew | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Kansas City Wizards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | D.C. United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 6 | New England Revolution | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 7 | Toronto FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
[edit] Western Conference
| Place | Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chivas USA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | Colorado Rapids | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Real Salt Lake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Houston Dynamo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
[edit] Scoring
- TBD
[edit] National Competition
- MLS teams that have qualified: Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution.
[edit] International Competition
- D.C. United - beat Olimpia of Honduras in quarterfinals; lost to Guadalajara of Mexico in semifinals
- Houston Dynamo - beat Puntarenas of Costa Rica in quarterfinals; lost to Pachuca of Mexico in semifinals
- Invited MLS teams: D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas.
[edit] External links
- TBA
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