More Glory for United
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D.C. United have covered themselves with further glory as of last Sunday evening. With the Chivas USA loss to the Colorado Rapids, United have secured the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield. The Supporters' Shield is given away annually to the MLS team that compiles the most points during league play. This year marks the fourth time that United have come away with the honor. United also won the honor in 2006 thus becoming the first club in MLS history to win the Supporters' Shield in consecutive seasons. The Supporters' Shield will be presented to the club prior to their Saturday evening home match against Columbus Crew. The pregame ceremonies will also feature a tribute to the 1997 MLS Cup Championship side and a celebration of the career of United legend Marco Etcheverry. So good times indeed ahead at RFK Stadium for the United faithful.
The Supporters' Shield also qualifies United for next season's CONCACAF Champions' Cup. This event is held annually to determine the club champion in the CONCACAF region. The CONCACAF Champion then qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup. The other representative that MLS can send to the Champions Cup is the league champion as determined by the MLS playoffs, the winner being awarded the MLS Cup. Should the same team win both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup then the second place qualifier for the Supporters' Shield would get the other spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Previous Winners of the Supporters' Shield;
- 1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny - 58 points
- 1997 D.C. United - 55 points
- 1998 Los Angeles Galaxy - 68 points
- 1999 D.C. United - 57 points
- 2000 Kansas City Wizards - 57 points
- 2001 Miami Fusion - 53 points
- 2002 Los Angeles Galaxy - 51 points
- 2003 Chicago Fire - 53 points
- 2004 Columbus Crew - 49 points
- 2005 San Jose Earthquakes - 64 points
- 2006 D.C. United - 55 points
- 2007 D.C. United - (55 points with one match remaining)
So congratulations to D.C. United on an excellent season which started off a bit rocky with 3 consecutive losses. But United under the guidance of head coach Tom Soehn righted the ship and would lose only 3 more times over the rest of the league season. The 2007 Supporters' Shield becomes the clubs 11th major domestic and international trophy. Given this level of success I can see Tom Soehn being a very strong candidate for MLS Coach of the Year.
