2006 Major League Soccer season
The 2006 Major League Soccer season was the 11th season in the history of Major League Soccer. It began on April 1, 2006, and ended with MLS Cup 2006 on November 12, 2006, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, for the second consecutive year.
| Season | 2006 | 
|---|---|
| MLS Cup | Houston Dynamo (1st title) | 
| Supporters' Shield | D.C. United (3rd shield) | 
| Matches played | 192 | 
| Goals scored | 503 (2.62 per match) | 
| Top goalscorer | Jeff Cunningham Real Salt Lake Goals: 16 | 
| Biggest home win | NY 6–0 RSL | 
| Biggest away win | NY 1–4 DCU LA 0–3 RSL DCU 2–5 LA | 
| Highest scoring | NY 5–4 CHV | 
| Longest winning run | D.C. United Wins: 6 (06/21 – 07/15) | 
| Longest unbeaten run | D.C. United Wins: 14 (05/13 – 07/22) | 
| Longest losing run | K.C. Wizards Loss: 7 (06/24 – 07/22) Los Angeles Galaxy Loss: 7 (05/06 -06/08) | 
| Highest attendance | Los Angeles Galaxy Season: 333,016 Game avg.: 20,814 | 
| Lowest attendance | K.C. Wizards Season: 177,322 Game avg.: 11,083 | 
| Average attendance | MLS Season: 2,976,787 Game avg.: 15,504 | 
| ← 2005  2007 →  | |


United

Red Bulls



Fire







Salt Lake
Changes from 2005 season
    
- The MetroStars were bought by Austrian company Red Bull and rebranded as Red Bull New York, with the playing squad known as the New York Red Bulls.
- The San Jose Earthquakes players and head coach Dominic Kinnear moved to Houston, Texas, due to owner AEG being unable to secure a soccer specific stadium in San Jose, California. The team was to be renamed Houston 1836, but later changed its name to the Houston Dynamo.
- In June, the Chicago Fire moved into their new soccer-specific stadium, Toyota Park, in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Final standings
    
    Eastern Conference
    
| Pos | Club | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.C. United | 55 | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 
| 2 | New England Revolution | 48 | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 
| 3 | Chicago Fire | 47 | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 39 | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 
| 5 | Kansas City Wizards | 38 | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 43 | 45 | –2 | 
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 33 | 32 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 42 | –12 | 
| MLS Supporters' Shield, 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | |
| 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | 
Western Conference
    
| Pos | Club | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Dallas | 52 | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 
| 2 | Houston Dynamo | 46 | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 40 | +4 | 
| 3 | Chivas USA | 43 | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 41 | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 49 | –13 | 
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 39 | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 
| 6 | Real Salt Lake | 39 | 32 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 49 | –4 | 
| MLS Supporters' Shield runner up, 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | |
| 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | 
Overall
    
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.C. United (SS, E1) | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 55 | 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup | 
| 2 | FC Dallas (W1) | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 52 | 2007 North American SuperLiga | 
| 3 | New England Revolution | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 47 | 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | 
| 5 | Houston Dynamo | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 40 | +4 | 46 | 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup | 
| 6 | Chivas USA | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 43 | 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs | 
| 7 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 49 | −13 | 41 | |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 39 | |
| 9 | LA Galaxy | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 39 | 2007 North American SuperLiga | 
| 10 | Real Salt Lake | 32 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 39 | |
| 11 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 38 | |
| 12 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 33 | 
MLS Cup playoffs
    
| Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | MLS Cup 2006 | |||||||||||||
| E1 | D.C. United | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | New York | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | D.C. United | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||
| E2 | New England | 1 | |||||||||||||
| E3 | Chicago | 1 | 1 (2) | ||||||||||||
| E2 | New England (p) | 0 | 2 (4) | ||||||||||||
| E2 | New England | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
| W1 | Dallas | 2 | 2 (4) | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Colorado (p) | 1 | 3 (5) | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Colorado | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||
| W3 | Chivas USA | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
Conference semifinals
    
| D.C. United | 1–0 | New York Red Bulls | 
|---|---|---|
| Gómez  73' Namoff  75' Gómez  77' | Report | Mendes  76' Guevara  90+2' | 
| New York Red Bulls | 1–1 | D.C. United | 
|---|---|---|
| Stammler  11' Altidore  70' | Report | Adu  73' Gómez  86' | 
D.C. United advance 2–1 on aggregate.
| New England Revolution | 0–1 | Chicago Fire | 
|---|---|---|
| Heaps  34' John  37' Joseph  57' | Report | Herron  16' Mapp  35' Robinson  61' | 
| Chicago Fire | 1–2 (AET) | New England Revolution | 
|---|---|---|
| Jaqua  18' Segares  31' Robinson  65' Jaqua  116' | (Report) | Larentowicz  10' Hernández  14' Twellman  41' Noonan  58' | 
| Penalties | ||
| Thiago  Gutiérrez  Herron  Guerrero  | 2–4 |  Cancela  Reis  Noonan  Twellman | 
New England Revolution advance 4–2 on penalties (2–2 aggregate after extra time).
| FC Dallas | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids | 
|---|---|---|
| Ruíz  15' Thompson  55' Ruíz  90' | Report | Cooke  23' Gargan  57' Beckerman  86' Martins  88' | 
| Colorado Rapids | 3–2 (AET) | FC Dallas | 
|---|---|---|
| Mastroeni  26' Winger  53' Hernández  57' Hernández  83' Noel  101' Mathis  114' | Report | Gbandi  29' Ruíz  48' Goodson  92' Saragosa  112' | 
| Penalties | ||
| Mathis  Hernández  Kirovski  Beckerman  Karanka  Mastroeni  | 5–4 |  Ruíz  O'Brien  Mulrooney  Vanney  Valakari  Sala | 
Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties (4–4 aggregate after extra time).
| Houston Dynamo | 1–2 | C.D. Chivas USA | 
|---|---|---|
| Onstad  45+1' Ching  75' | Report | Mendoza  38' Razov  45' Palencia  68' | 
| C.D. Chivas USA | 0–2 | Houston Dynamo | 
|---|---|---|
| Vaughn  55' Palencia  57'  58' Regan  63' García  64' | Report | Clark  59' Davis  64' (pen.) Serioux  67' Ching  90+3' | 
Houston Dynamo advance 3–2 on aggregate.
Conference finals
    
New England Revolution advances 1–0 in single elimination.
| Colorado Rapids | 1–3 | Houston Dynamo | 
|---|---|---|
| Kirovski  4' Mathis  17' | Report | Dalglish  10' Clark  17' Dalglish  21' Mullan  71' | 
Houston Dynamo advances 3–1 in single elimination.
MLS Cup 2006
    
| Houston Dynamo | 1–1 (AET) | New England Revolution | 
|---|---|---|
| Davis  23' Cochrane  99' Waibel  103' Ching  114' | (Report) | Franchino  16' Twellman  113' | 
| Penalties | ||
| Gray  Holden  De Rosario  Davis  Ching  | 4–3 |  Joseph  Reis  Noonan  Twellman  Heaps | 
The Houston Dynamo win MLS Cup 4–3 on penalties.
Team awards
    
    
International competition
    
CONCACAF Champions' Cup Los Angeles Galaxy
 Los Angeles Galaxy
Lost  Deportivo Saprissa in quarterfinals.
 Deportivo Saprissa in quarterfinals.
 New England Revolution
 New England Revolution
Lost  LD Alajuelense in quarterfinals.
 LD Alajuelense in quarterfinals.
Individual awards
    
Top goal scorers
    
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Jeff Cunningham | Real Salt Lake | 16 | 
| 2 |  Christian Gómez | D.C. United | 14 | 
|  Ante Razov | C.D. Chivas USA | 14 | |
| 3 |  Carlos Ruíz | FC Dallas | 13 | 
| 4 |  Landon Donovan | Los Angeles Galaxy | 12 | 
| 5 | .svg.png.webp) Jaime Moreno | D.C. United | 11 | 
| .svg.png.webp) Dwayne De Rosario | Houston Dynamo | 11 | |
|  Taylor Twellman | New England Revolution | 11 | |
|  Kenny Cooper | FC Dallas | 11 | |
|  Brian Ching | Houston Dynamo | 11 | 
Goal-scoring totals
    
| Club | Overall Record | Goals For | Goals For Avg. | Goals Against | Goals Against Avg. | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. United | 15–7–10 | 52 | 1.63 (1st) | 38 | 1.19 (3rd) | 
| FC Dallas | 16–12–4 | 48 | 1.50 (2nd) | 44 | 1.38 (9th) | 
| C.D. Chivas USA | 10–9–13 | 45 | 1.41 (3rd) | 42 | 1.31 (7th) | 
| Real Salt Lake | 10–13–9 | 45 | 1.41 (4th) | 49 | 1.53 (11th) | 
| Houston Dynamo | 11–8–13 | 44 | 1.38 (5th) | 40 | 1.25 (4th) | 
| Chicago Fire | 13–11–8 | 43 | 1.34 (6th) | 41 | 1.28 (5th) | 
| Kansas City Wizards | 10–14–8 | 43 | 1.34 (7th) | 45 | 1.41 (10th) | 
| New York Red Bulls | 9–11–12 | 41 | 1.28 (8th) | 41 | 1.28 (5th) | 
| New England Revolution | 12–8–12 | 39 | 1.22 (9th) | 35 | 1.09 (1st) | 
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 11–15–6 | 37 | 1.16 (10th) | 37 | 1.16 (2nd) | 
| Colorado Rapids | 11–13–8 | 36 | 1.13 (11th) | 49 | 1.53 (11th) | 
| Columbus Crew | 8–15–9 | 30 | 0.94 (12th) | 42 | 1.31 (7th) | 
| Overall Totals | 503 | 2.62 | 
Team attendance totals
    
| Club | Stadium | Games | Season | Game avg. | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Toyota Park | 16 | 225,775 | 14,111 | 
| CD Chivas USA | Home Depot Center | 16 | 317,432 | 19,840 | 
| Colorado Rapids | INVESCO Field | 16 | 192,894 | 12,056 | 
| Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew Stadium | 16 | 212,699 | 13,294 | 
| New York Red Bulls | Giants Stadium | 16 | 233,112 | 14,570 | 
| Kansas City Wizards | Arrowhead Stadium | 16 | 177,322 | 11,083 | 
| D.C. United | Robert F. Kennedy Stadium | 16 | 291,442 | 18,215 | 
| New England Revolution | Gillette Stadium | 16 | 188,569 | 11,786 | 
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Home Depot Center | 16 | 333,016 | 20,814 | 
| Houston Dynamo | Robertson Stadium | 16 | 302,957 | 18,935 | 
| FC Dallas | Pizza Hut Park | 16 | 239,714 | 14,982 | 
| Real Salt Lake | Rice-Eccles Stadium | 16 | 261,855 | 16,366 | 
| MLS Totals | 192 | 2,976,787 | 15,504 | 



