MLS Cup '98 was the final playoff match of the 1998 Major League Soccer season, the 3rd season of first-division professional soccer in the United States since the collapse of the original North American Soccer League.
The match took place on Sunday, 25 October 1998, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, between Chicago Fire Soccer Club and D.C. United. It was the third consecutive appearance in the MLS Cup final by D.C. United and the first appearance by an expansion club (Chicago) in the final. Chicago Fire won the match 2-0, with goals from Jerzy Podbrożny and Diego Gutiérrez. In doing so, Chicago became the first expansion club to win MLS Cup, astonishingly in the team's inaugural season. The win also completed a domestic double for the Fire, the first American club to win both a league championship and the U.S. Open Cup in a single season.
As the top two finishers in the MLS Cup Playoffs, both D.C. United and Chicago Fire earned the right to represent the United States in the 1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The clubs faced off once again in the third-place match of the continental tournament, almost a year after meeting in MLS Cup '98. That game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Venue
The Rose Bowl was the venue chosen by Major League Soccer to host the 1998 MLS Cup final. The home ground of Los Angeles Galaxy from 1996 to 2003, the venerable stadium opened in 1922 and previously hosted events for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games. The Rose Bowl was also the site of the final matches for both FIFA World Cup 1994 and FIFA Women's World Cup 1999.
Local side L.A. Galaxy barely missed the opportunity to play for MLS Cup at home after falling to eventual champions Chicago Fire in the Western Conference finals.
Match
The match began with great enthusiasm as D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno threatened early with a shot over Chicago's crossbar within the first minute. Chicago's first goal arrived after 29 minutes, following a quick exchange between Polish international Piotr Nowak and Ante Razov just inside the corner of D.C.'s 18-yard box. The move lured United goalkeeper Tom Presthus off his line, at which point Nowak passed across the box to oncoming Fire midfielder Jerzy Podbrożny who scored an easy tap-in at the back post. Nowak almost scored a second goal when his 45th minute shot deflected off the body of his teammate, Diego Gutiérrez. Nowak was credited with his second assist of the match, and Chicago headed into the second half with all the momentum and maintained the clean sheet on the way to the club's first league championship. Chris Armas played a significant role in his team's victory by neutralizing the playmaking ability of roaming midfielder Marco Etcheverry, a key ball distributor in United's attack and the league leader in assists that season. MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Zach Thornton was prolific with 8 saves on the day, including 3 from previous MLS Golden Boot winner and United's leading scorer, Roy Lassiter.
Details
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Man of the Match:
 Piotr Nowak (Chicago Fire)
Assistant referees:
Chip Reed
Laszio Negy
Fourth official:
Paul Tamberino
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Match rules
- 90 minutes.
- Penalty shoot-out if scores still level after regular time. Outfield player takes the ball 35 yards from goal and is given five seconds to attempt to score on the goalkeeper.
- Maximum of three substitutions.
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Statistics
References
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Major honors (6)
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| MLS Cup (1) |
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| Supporters' Shield (1) |
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| U.S. Open Cup (4) |
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Major League Soccer
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| Seasons (18) |
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| History |
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| Overview |
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| Key personnel |
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| Stadium and facilities |
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| Reserve facilities |
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| Rosters |
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| Affiliated clubs |
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| Culture |
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| Rivalries |
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| MLS Cup (4) |
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| Supporters' Shield (4) |
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| U.S. Open Cup (3) |
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| CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1) |
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| Copa Interamericana (1) |
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International
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| Club competitions |
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| National teams |
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Team seasons
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| MLS |
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| A-League |
- Atlanta Ruckus
- Albuquerque Geckos
- California Jaguars
- Charleston Battery
- Cincinnati Riverhawks
- Connecticut Wolves
- El Paso Patriots
- Jacksonville Cyclones
- Hampton Roads Mariners
- Hershey Wildcats
- Long Island Rough Riders
- Milwaukee Rampage
- Minnesota Thunder
- Montreal Impact
- MLS Project 40
- Nashville Metros
- New Orleans Storm
- Orange County Zodiac
- Raleigh Flyers
- Richmond Kickers
- Rochester Rhinos
- San Diego Flash
- San Francisco Bay Seals
- Seattle Sounders
- Staten Island Vipers
- Toronto Lynx
- Vancouver 86ers
- Worchester Wildfire
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