2003 D.C. United season
| 2003 season | ||||
| Owner |
 D.C. United Holdings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach |
 Ray Hudson | |||
| MLS | 7th | |||
| MLS Cup | Conference Semifinals | |||
| U.S. Open Cup | Semifinals | |||
| Atlantic Cup | Runners-up | |||
| Top goalscorer |
League: All: Kovalenko Etcheverry (06) | |||
| ||||
| ||||
The 2003 D.C. United season was the clubs' ninth year of existence, as well as their seventh season in Major League Soccer.
Led by Ray Hudson, D.C. United's 2003 campaign was highlighted by the club's return to the MLS Cup Playoffs, their first postseason appearance since 1999. In the playoffs, United who didn't qualify for the playoffs until the final day of the regular season, took on the Eastern Conference regular season champions, Chicago Fire. The Fire defeated United 4–0 on aggregates in the conference semifinals, winning each leg by a 2–0 margin of victory.
Review
November
On November 1, 2003, D.C. United played their first playoff match in nearly four years, entering the 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. In the Conference semifinals, United faced the Eastern Conference regular season champions, Chicago Fire. The two-match, aggregate series was first contested at United's RFK Stadium. The match ended in a 2–0 defeat thanks to goals from the Fire's Andy Williams and Ante Razov in the 4th and 94th minutes, respectively.[1]
A week later, on November 9, 2003, the second leg was played at Chicago Fire's Soldier Field, where the Fire defeated United by the same 2–0 scoreline, thus ultimately winning the series 4–0 on aggregate, and advancing to the Eastern Conference championship. The defeat ended United's playoff campaign and their season altogether.
Competitions
Major League Soccer
Standings
- Eastern Conference
| Pos | Club | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Fire (E1) (SS) | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 43 | 10 | 53 | Supporters' Shield, 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | New England Revolution | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 45 | 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | MetroStars | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 42 | |
| 4 | D.C. United | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 38 | 36 | 2 | 39 | |
| 5 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 38 |
- Overall table
| Pos | Club | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Fire (E1) (SS) | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 43 | 10 | 53 | 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | San Jose Earthquakes (W1) | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 35 | 10 | 51 | |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 45 | 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 48 | 44 | 4 | 42 | |
| 5 | MetroStars | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 42 | |
| 6 | Colorado Rapids | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 40 | 45 | -5 | 40 | |
| 7 | D.C. United | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 38 | 36 | 2 | 39 | |
| 8 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 38 | |
| 9 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 36 | 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 10 | Dallas Burn | 30 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 35 | 64 | -29 | 23 | |
Match results
| April 12, 2003 1 | Kansas City Wizards | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | D.C. United | Kansas City, Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 ET | Preki  3'Klein 61'Brown  92' |
Report | Petke 36' Quaranta 46' |
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium |
| April 19, 2003 2 | D.C. United | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Chicago Fire | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Report | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| April 26, 2003 3 | Colorado Rapids | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | D.C. United | Denver, Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 ET | Spencer 24' (pen.) |
Report | Etcheverry 7' |
Stadium: Invesco Field |
| May 3, 2003 4 | D.C. United | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Dallas Burn | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Spencer 24' (pen.) |
Report | Etcheverry 7' |
Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| May 10, 2003 5 | MetroStars | 1–0 | D.C. United | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Mathis |
Report | Stadium: Giants Stadium |
| May 17, 2003 6 | D.C. United | 1–1 | Kansas City Wizards | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Report | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| May 31, 2003 7 | Dallas Burn | 3–2 | D.C. United | Southlake, Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Report | Stadium: Dragon Stadium |
| June 7, 2003 8 | D.C. United | 2–0 | Chicago Fire | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| June 11, 2003 9 | Colorado Rapids | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | D.C. United | Denver, Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 ET | Stadium: Invesco Field |
| June 14, 2003 10 | D.C. United | 3–0 | Columbus Crew | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| June 21, 2003 11 | D.C. United | 1–1 | New England Revolution | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| June 28, 2003 12 | Columbus Crew | 3–0 | D.C. United | Columbus, Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 ET | Stadium: Crew Stadium |
| July 2, 2003 13 | Dallas Burn | 1–3 | D.C. United | Southlake, Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 ET | Stadium: Dragon Stadium |
| July 5, 2003 14 | D.C. United | 2–3 | MetroStars | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 ET | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
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MLS Cup Playoffs
| November 1, 2003 Conf. SF | D.C. United | 0–2 | Chicago Fire | Washington, D.C. United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Williams 4' Razov 94' |
Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 15,202 Referee: George Gansner |
| November 9, 2003 Conf. SF | Chicago Fire | 2–0 (4–0 agg.) |
D.C. United | Chicago United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 15,312 |
U.S. Open Cup
| July 16, 2003 Third round | D.C. United  |
2–1 |  Pittsburgh Riverhounds |
Germantown, Maryland United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petke 33' Kovalenko 44' |
Report | Wright  37'Tripoli 41'Villar 59'Martins 74'Chulis 83' |
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 3,073 Referee: Hector Tobon |
| August 6, 2003 Fourth round | D.C. United |
1–0 (a.e.t.) |  Virginia Beach Mariners |
Germantown, Maryland United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petke 13' Quintanilla 23'Eskandarian 57'Stokes 90'Stoitchkov 97' |
Report | Lassiter 12' Washington 15'Bilyk 21' |
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 2,870 Referee: Abiodun Okulaja |
| August 27, 2003 Quarterfinals | Wilmington Hammerheads  |
0–1 | D.C. United |
Wilmington, North Carolina United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zarate 55' |
Report | Cerritos 30' |
Stadium: Legion Field Attendance: 5,016 Referee: Gus St. Silva |
| October 1, 2003 Semifinals | MetroStars  |
3–2 | D.C. United |
Piscataway, New Jersey United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,791 Referee: Terry Vaughn |
Friendlies
| May 14, 2003 | D.C. United |
1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
Washington, D.C. United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| July 23, 2003 | D.C. United |
0–0 | Blackburn Rovers |
Washington, D.C. United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| August 31, 2003 | D.C. United |
3–1 |  El Salvador |
Washington, D.C. United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
See also
- 2003 in American soccer
- 2003 Major League Soccer season
- 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- D.C. United
- List of D.C. United seasons
References
- ↑ "Recap: Chicago Fire 2, D.C. United 0". MLSnet.com. DCUnited.com. November 1, 2003. Archived from the original on March 26, 2004. Retrieved April 9, 2012.