October 26: United Win Back to Back Titles

Nike Mercurial IX

D.C. United won their second consecutive MLS Cup defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at a rain soaked RFK Stadium on this day in soccer history in 1997. Jaime Moreno and Tony Sanneh scored in the winning effort.

"Let's celebrate a great day for professional soccer in this country," Arena said. "Who would have envisioned five years ago that this would have happened. I'm happy for our team, but I'm also happy for MLS."

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After winning the inaugural MLS Cup the previous season, D.C. United was pleased that they would be able to play in front of their home fans this season. And 57,431 fans came out to cheer on the Black and Red despite rainy conditions.

Moreno, MLS’ #2 scorer on the campaign, and Sanneh each scored on either side of halftime to establish the two-goal margin before Adrian Paz drew one back with 15 minutes remaining.

But United was up to the challenge of holding off the pressure over the final 15 minutes and completed the quest to repeat as MLS Cup champions.

With the win D.C. United completed the double after also winning the Supporters’ Shield topping the league with 55 points that season. The Supporters’ Shield was awarded retroactively as it was only established in 1998.

Soccer Birthdays

1954 – Vassilis Hatzipanagis, Greek footballer
1977 – Bakar Ibor, Comorian footballer
1978 – Jimmy Aggrey, English footballer
1980 – Cristian Chivu, Romanian footballer
1983 – Dmitri Sychev, Russian football player
1984 – Jefferson Farfán, Peruvian footballer
1984 – Adriano Correia Claro, Brazilian footballer

Soccer Deaths

2005 – George Swindin, English football player manager (b. 1914)
2007 – Nicolae Dobrin, Romanian footballer (b. 1947)