Major League Soccer - The First Decade Quiz

The inaugural 1996 MLS season ended with the first championship for D.C. United, who posted a 15-11 regular-season record and emerged as one of the league's strongest clubs under coach Bruce Arena. In the playoffs, United advanced to the first-ever MLS Cup, where they faced the Los Angeles Galaxy. Trailing 2-0 midway through the second half, D.C. mounted a dramatic comeback before Eddie Pope scored a golden goal in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory. Marco Etcheverry, whose playmaking was central to the comeback, earned MLS Cup MVP honours.

In the 1997 season, D.C. United proved their inaugural triumph was no fluke. They finished the regular season with a 21-11 record and topped the league standings before returning to the playoffs as favourites. Their championship opponent was the surprising Colorado Rapids, who had entered the postseason with a losing record. Goals from Jaime Moreno and Tony Sanneh carried United to a 2-1 victory at RFK Stadium, making them the first back-to-back champions in MLS history.

Moreno's opening goal and all-around performance earned him the MLS Cup MVP award.

Expansion clubs are rarely expected to contend immediately, yet Chicago Fire's inaugural season in 1998 became one of the great stories in MLS history. Chicago compiled a 16-15 regular-season record before navigating the playoffs and reaching the final against two-time defending champion D.C. United.

At the Rose Bowl, the Fire stunned the league's dominant team with a convincing 2-0 victory behind goals from Jerzy Podbro¿ny and Diego Gutiérrez. Veteran midfielder Piotr Nowak was named MLS Cup MVP as Chicago became the first expansion team to win the league championship.

After falling short in the previous year's final, D.C. United returned to the top of MLS in 1999. The club finished first overall with a 23-9 record and captured the Supporters' Shield before making another deep playoff run. Their opponent in the championship match was the LA Galaxy, revisiting the matchup from MLS's inaugural final.

This time there was no need for late drama, as goals from Jaime Moreno and Ben Olsen delivered a 2-0 victory and D.C.'s third championship in four seasons. Olsen was named MLS Cup MVP after scoring the decisive second goal.

The rise of the Kansas City Wizards in 2000 was one of the league's most remarkable turnarounds. After struggling the previous year, Kansas City finished 16-9-7 and captured the Supporters' Shield as MLS's best regular-season team. Their playoff journey culminated in a final against the Chicago Fire, another of the league's elite clubs.

The championship match was decided by a single goal from Miklos Molnar, while goalkeeper Tony Meola delivered a memorable 10-save performance to preserve a 1-0 victory. Unsurprisingly, Meola's heroics earned him MLS Cup MVP honours.

Under first-year coach Frank Yallop, the San Jose Earthquakes captured their first league title after finishing the shortened 2001 regular season with a 14-10-3 mark. Their playoff run set up an all-California final against the LA Galaxy, who were still seeking their first MLS Cup.

The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation before Dwayne De Rosario produced one of the most memorable moments in league history, scoring a golden goal in overtime to give San Jose a 2-1 victory. His match-winning strike secured both the championship and MLS Cup MVP honours.

Few teams had experienced more championship frustration than the LA Galaxy, who had lost three previous MLS Cup finals. That changed in 2002. After compiling a 16-9-3 record and winning the Supporters' Shield, Los Angeles advanced through the playoffs to meet the New England Revolution in the final.

The match remained scoreless deep into extra time before league MVP Carlos Ruiz struck in the 113th minute, delivering a 1-0 victory and the franchise's first MLS Cup trophy. Ruiz's decisive goal earned him MLS Cup MVP recognition as well.

The San Jose Earthquakes returned to the top of MLS in 2003 after a strong 14-7-9 regular season. Their path through the playoffs brought them into a championship showdown with the Supporters' Shield-winning Chicago Fire. The final became one of the most entertaining championship matches in MLS history, featuring six goals and numerous momentum swings. San Jose ultimately prevailed 4-2, with Landon Donovan scoring twice and leading the attack throughout the afternoon.

His two-goal performance made him the clear choice for MLS Cup MVP and helped secure the Earthquakes' second title in three seasons.

Although D.C. United entered the 2004 postseason after a relatively modest 11-10-9 regular season, the club showed its championship experience when it mattered most. Guided by rookie head coach Peter Nowak, United advanced through the playoffs and met the Kansas City Wizards in the final. Kansas City struck first, but D.C. responded with an explosive seven-minute burst that produced three goals. Forward Alecko Eskandarian scored twice during that span as United held on for a 3-2 victory, earning the club's record fourth MLS Cup. Eskandarian was named MLS Cup MVP for his match-defining performance.

The tenth MLS season concluded with an unlikely champion. The LA Galaxy finished the 2005 regular season with a 13-13-6 record and entered the playoffs as one of the lower seeds, yet they peaked at the right time and advanced to another final against the New England Revolution.

Much like their 2002 meeting, the championship remained scoreless deep into extra time. This time it was substitute Guillermo Ramírez who delivered the decisive moment, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory. His unexpected winner earned him MLS Cup MVP honours and gave Los Angeles its second championship in four years.