Saturday, March 29, 2008

MLS Opening Day Results since 1996

MLS opens it's season today at 4:00PM Eastern with the Toronto FC-Columbus Crew game, followed by 5 other games this weekend. Finally, it has been a long offseason!

Here, I've compiled the historical opening game MLS standings. There are obvious shortcomings to the standings, due to the different season totals of many of the clubs, but they give a good general idea of opening day form. I've also made an average points per game chart for a different perspective.

I chose to count the early "shootout" results as 1 point draws to keep the point system the same from '96 to now.


Team
W
D
L
Points
Kansas City Wizards
6
3
3
21
San Jose/Houston Dynamo
5
4
3
19
DC United
5
2
5
17
FC Dallas
4
5
3
17
Los Angeles Galaxy
4
5
3
17
Chicago Fire
4
3
3
15
Columbus Crew
4
3
5
15
New York Red Bulls
3
5
4
14
New England Revolution
2
5
5
11
Colorado Rapids
1
5
6
8
Chivas USA
2
0
1
6
Real Salt Lake
0
2
1
2
Toronto FC
0
0
1
0




Kansas City comes out on top, can they continue their good form in a tough home opener this season against DC United?


Since San Jose moved to Houston, the Dynamo have not lost an opening game.


Colorado has been dismal with their only opening day win being last season against DC United.


Suprisingly, New England is also pretty awful on opening day with only 2 wins in 12 years.


Can Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, and the "new" San Jose Earthquakes pick up their first opening day wins this year? I think RSL has the best chance with a home opener against Chicago and a reworked starting eleven.




Team
Avg. Points per Game
Chivas USA
2.00
Kansas City Wizards
1.75
San Jose/Houston Dynamo
1.58
Chicago Fire
1.50
DC United
1.42
FC Dallas
1.42
Los Angeles Galaxy
1.42
Columbus Crew
1.25
New York Red Bulls
1.17
New England Revolution
0.92
Colorado Rapids
0.67
Real Salt Lake
0.67
Toronto FC
0.00

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