The 2004 season was the eighth season for D.C. United. It was highlighted by winning their first MLS Cup championship since 1999.
The season was hallmarked by United winning their fourth Major League Soccer championship, winning MLS Cup 2004 3–2 over Kansas City Wizards. To date, this was the last time in franchise history that the team has won an MLS Cup title, or even made the final. Additionally, by winning the championship, some cite that it marked a "second golden age" in United. Following the 2004 title, United would go on to win two MLS Supporters' Shields, to claim the most in the league, as well as their second U.S. Open Cup title.
In terms of player and manager transactions, the offseason saw English head coach Ray Hudson end his two-season stint with the club, as United management fired him out of dissatisfaction with his results as a manager. United signed retired MLS star Piotr Nowak to the role of head coaching duties. Hitherto, no other head coach had been a former MLS player. The signing of Nowak marked a new trend of first-generation MLS players assuming coaching duties for second generation MLS players.
In 2003, United made national and international headlines by drafting 14-year-old prospect Freddy Adu as the first pick of the MLS SuperDraft. MLS orchestrated a series of negotiations between United and Dallas Burn, who had the first overall selection. A series of agreements between the two sides gave Dallas additional allocation from United so that Adu could play for his local club, as he grew up near Potomac, Maryland.
Review and events
Preseason January Freddy Adu signs with D.C. United February March
Regular season April May June July August September Early October
Playoffs Late October November United deft. NE Revs in the 2004 Eastern Conf. championship to go to MLS Cup 2004. Considered best match in MLS history United win their first MLS Cup title since 1999 with a 3–2 win over the Kansas City Wizards at the Home Depot Center
Non-competitive
Midseason exhibitions
Competitive
Major League Soccer
Standings
Results by round
Results
May 15, 2004Kansas City WizardsH1–0MorenoMay 19, 2004Los Angeles GalaxyH2–4Cerritos, AduMay 22, 2004Colorado RapidsA2–1GrosMay 29, 2004New England RevolutionA0–1Kamler (o.g.)June 5, 2004Chicago FireA3–0June 12, 2004Colorado RapidsH0–0June 19, 2004Columbus CrewH3–1Moreno, Eskandarian (2)June 26, 2004Dallas BurnA1–1EskandarianJuly 3, 2004MetroStarsH6–2Nelsen, Moreno, Eskandarian (2)Stewart, OlsenJuly 10, 2004Kansas City WizardsA1–0July 17, 2004Los Angeles GalaxyH1–1NelsenJuly 24, 2004Dallas BurnA5–1Gibbs (o.g.)August 7, 2004San Jose EarthquakesA2–0August 11, 2004Colorado RapidsH3–1Adu, Stewart, Kotschau (o.g.)August 14, 2004New England RevolutionH2–2Moreno (2)August 21, 2004Columbus CrewA2–2Eskandarian, MorenoAugust 28, 2004New England RevolutionA0–0September 4, 2004Chicago FireA3–1StewartSeptember 8, 2004Dallas BurnH3–0Eskandarian (2), AduSeptember 18, 2004Chicago FireH3–1Gomez, Eskandarian, OlsenSeptember 25, 2004Columbus CrewA1–0October 2, 2004MetroStarsA0–1AduOctober 9, 2004New England RevolutionH1–0GomezOctober 17, 2004MetroStarsH3–2Gomez (2), Petke Source: RSSSF
MLS Cup
Conference semifinals
Conference final
MLS Cup
U.S. Open Cup
Club
Roster
Statistics List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition
Transfers
In
Date Position No. Name From Fee/notes Ref. January 16, 2004 MF 9 Freddy Adu IMG Academy Drafted March 2, 2004 MF 6 Kevin Ara Harvard Crimson Drafted March 2, 2004 FW 99 Jaime Moreno MetroStars Traded March 2, 2004 MF 17 Joshua Gros Rutgers Scarlet Knights Drafted March 2, 2004 GK 22 Troy Perkins Evansville Purple Aces Free June 23, 2004DF5 Ezra Hendrickson Charleston BatteryFree July 14, 2004 MF 24 Nana Kuffour Assi IF Free July 23, 2004 FW 3 Jason Thompson Dallas Burn Traded August 1, 2004 MF 13 Christian Gómez Arsenal de Sarandí Undisclosed
SuperDraft picks
Round Selection Player Position School Status11 Freddy AduMFHeights School (MD)Signed with first team 3 24 Kevin AraMFHarvardSigned with first team 4 34 Joshua GrosMFRutgersSigned with first team 5 44 Kevin HudsonMFSMUUnsigned draft pick
Out Sourced list of players sold or loaned out during the season
Awards Only official awards regarding individuals associated with the club
FA Premier League Player of the Month (January): Patrick Scorer FA Premier League Manager of the Month (January): Lucas Boss
See also MLS Cup 2004 2004 U.S. Open Cup 2004 Major League Soccer season
Notes
References