The 2005 season was the ninth season in D.C. United history, as well as their ninth season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer. The season covers the period from November 15, 2004, through October 30, 2005.
Under Piotr Nowak's tenure as head coach, this was the first and only season where he did not lead D.C. United to a trophy of any kind. D.C. United entered the season as the defending MLS Cup champions defeating Kansas City Wizards 3–2 in last season's championship. During Nowak's second season as head coach, he led the team to a slightly better regular season record, finishing third in the overall standings.
D.C. United made their first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (now Champions League) for the first time in three years, earning qualification through winning the 2004 MLS Cup championship. In the continental tournament, D.C. United were the only American club to reach the semifinals of the tournament before losing to Mexico's UNAM Pumas 6–1 on aggregate.
In other external competitions, United finished as runners-up in the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup, reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup and won the Atlantic Cup rivalry series against MetroStars.
Background
D.C. United entered the 2005 season as the defending MLS Cup champions, earning their first league championship since 1999. During the 2004 MLS regular season, United finished second in the Eastern Conference table and fourth in the overall regular standings. Their playoff run included a 4–0 aggregate series victory over their Atlantic Cup rivals, MetroStars in the conference semifinals. In the conference final, United defeated the Eastern Conference regular season champions, New England Revolution in a penalty shoot-out, after a 3–3 draw in regulation and extra time. Their playoff campaign culminated in MLS Cup 2004 defeating Kansas City Wizards 3–2 in the final.
Match results
Legend
WinLossTie
Carolina Challenge Cup
GameDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRef1March 19, 2005San Jose EarthquakesNL0–2 2March 23, 2005Charleston BatteryAT2–2Moreno, Quintanilla 3March 25, 2005Columbus CrewNW3–0Gomez (2), Moreno
CONCACAF Champions' Cup
RoundLegDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRefQF1March 9, 2005 Harbour ViewHW2–1Eskandarian, Gros3,8252March 16, 2005AW2–1Walker, Moreno600SF1April 6, 2005 UNAMHT1–1Gómez21,1852April 13, 2005AL0–522,000
Major League Soccer
Regular season
Regular season results source
GameDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRef1April 2, 2005Chivas USAAW2–0Gros, Gómez18,493 2April 9, 2005Chicago FireHT1–1Petke19,052 3April 15, 2005Columbus CrewAL0–112,449 4April 23, 2005New England RevolutionHL3–4Moreno (2), Quaranta13,691 5April 30, 2005Kansas City WizardsAT0–012,008 6May 7, 2005Columbus CrewHW3–114,894 7May 14, 2005New England RevolutionAL0–113,6628May 21, 2005Kansas City WizardsHW3–218,7319May 28, 2005FC DallasHL0–216,68410June 4, 2005San Jose EarthquakesAT0–011,98911June 12, 2005MetroStarsAT0–015,12512June 15, 2005Chicago FireHW4–314,19813June 18, 2005New England RevolutionHW2–017,61114June 29, 2005Chicago FireAL3–48,20215July 2, 2005Columbus CrewAW1–0Marshall (o.g.)12,98816July 9, 2005Kansas City WizardsHL0–118,37917July 15, 2005San Jose EarthquakesHW3–013,97818July 20, 2005Kansas City WizardsAD1–17,56019July 23, 2005Los Angeles GalaxyAW1–027,00020August 6, 2005Chicago FireAW3–214,47821August 10, 2005MetroStarsHW3–011,88322August 13, 2005Chivas USAHW3–016,16923August 20, 2005Los Angeles GalaxyHL2–316,86324August 27, 2005New England RevolutionAL1–218,04925August 31, 2005Real Salt LakeAW5–111,45526September 3, 2005Colorado RapidsAL0–117,04427September 10, 2005FC DallasAW2–11,308
Playoffs
RoundLegDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRefConf. SF1October 21, 2005Chicago FireAT0–02October 30, 2005HL0–420,089
U.S. Open Cup
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRefR4August 3, 2005Richmond KickersAW3–1Adu, Gómez (2)8,412 QFAugust 24, 2005FC DallasHL1–1(1–4 pen.)Gómez4,258
Copa Sudamericana
RoundLegDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AGoalscorersAttendanceRefR161September 17, 2005 Universidad CatólicaHT1–1Walker2September 23, 2005AL2–3Gomez (2)14,118
League standings
Conference
Club 1New England Revolution32177855371859 2D.C. United 3216106583721543Chicago Fire 32151344950-1494MetroStars321291153494475 Kansas City Wizards321191252448456 Columbus Crew32111653445-1138
1Earns top-seed in MLS Cup Playoffs
Overall
Club 1San Jose Earthquakes 3218410533122642New England Revolution32177855371859 3D.C. United 321610658372154 4Chicago Fire 32151344950-1495FC Dallas 32131095244848 6MetroStars321291153494477 Kansas City Wizards321191252448458Colorado Rapids 321313640373459Los Angeles Galaxy32131364445-14510 Columbus Crew32111653445-113811Real Salt Lake3252253065-352012Chivas USA3242263167-3618
Notes Note 1: The San Jose Earthquakes earn the top-seed in the Western Conference bracket of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Note 2: The Columbus Crew earn the top-seed in the Eastern Conference bracket of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Player details Sources:
Transfers All transactions sourced to:
In
DatePosNameFromFee/notesRef.January 14, 2005MFNick Van SicklenWisconsin BadgersDrafted in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft second round January 14, 2005DFTim MerrittNorth Carolina Tar HeelsDrafted in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft fourth roundFebruary 4, 2005FWMatt NickellDrake BulldogsDrafted in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft first round February 4, 2005GKAndrew TerrisStanford CardinalDrafted in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft third roundFebruary 4, 2005MFShawn KuykendallAmerican EaglesDrafted in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft fourth round
Out
DatePosNameToFee/notesRef.November 19, 2004MFEzra HendricksonChivas USAAcquired through 2004 MLS Expansion Draft November 19, 2004FWThiago MartinsChivas USAAcquired through 2004 MLS Expansion DraftNovember 19, 2004MFKevin AraReal Salt LakeAcquired through 2004 MLS Expansion DraftJanuary 20, 2005MFDoug WarrenNew England RevolutionTraded for fourth round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraftApril 4, 2005POSTim LawesonNo clubWaivedMay 23, 2005DFMike PetkeColorado RapidsTraded for Chris HendersonMay 24, 2005MFChris HendersonColumbus CrewTraded to Columbus for partial allocation moneyMay 24, 2005GKAndrew TerrisNoneReleased
References