2004 D.C. United season

D.C. United 2004 soccer season

D.C. United2004 season

Owner| D.C. United Holdings
Head coach| Piotr Nowak
MLS| 4th
MLS Cup| Champions
U.S. Open Cup| Fourth round
Atlantic Cup| Winners
Top goalscorer| League:
All: Eskandarian (14)

Home colors

Away colors

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<- 2003

2005 ->

The 2004 season was the eighth season for D.C. United. It was highlighted by winning their first MLS Cup championship since 1999.

The season was hallmarked by United winning their fourth Major League Soccer championship, winning MLS Cup 2004 3–2 over Kansas City Wizards. To date, this was the last time in franchise history that the team has won an MLS Cup title. Additionally, by winning the championship, some cite that it marked a "second golden age" in United. Following the 2004 title, United would go on to win two MLS Supporters' Shields, to claim the most in the league, as well as their second U.S. Open Cup title.

In terms of player and manager transactions, the offseason saw English head coach Ray Hudson end his two-season stint with the club, as United management fired him out of dissatisfaction with his results as a manager. United signed retired MLS star Piotr Nowak to the role of head coaching duties. Hitherto, no other head coach had been a former MLS player. The signing of Nowak marked a new trend of first-generation MLS players assuming coaching duties for second generation MLS players.

In 2003, United made national and international headlines by drafting 14-year-old prospect Freddy Adu as the first pick of the MLS SuperDraft. MLS orchestrated a series of negotiations between United and Dallas Burn, who had the first overall selection. A series of agreements between the two sides gave Dallas additional allocation from United so that Adu could play for his local club, as he grew up near Potomac, Maryland.[1]

## Review and events[edit]

See also: 2004 Major League Soccer season and 2004 U.S. Open Cup

### Preseason[edit]

January

* Freddy Adu signs with D.C. United[1]

February
March

### Regular season[edit]

April
May
June
July
August
September
Early October

### Playoffs[edit]

Late October
November

* United deft. NE Revs in the 2004 Eastern Conf. championship to go to MLS Cup 2004. Considered best match in MLS history[2][3][4][5][6]
* United win their first MLS Cup title since 1999 with a 3–2 win over the Kansas City Wizards at the Home Depot Center[7]

## Non-competitive[edit]

### Midseason exhibitions[edit]

Rochester Rhinos v D.C. United June 23, 2004 |  Rochester Rhinos | 0–2|  D.C. United | Rochester, New York

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19:35 EDT |  | Report |

* Moreno 4'
* Gros 54'
* Adu 70'

| Stadium: Frontier Field
Attendance: 14,426
Referee: Hilario Grajeda

D.C. United v  Nottingham Forest July 14, 2004 |  D.C. United | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)|  Nottingham Forest | Washington, D.C.

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19:30 EDT |  | Report |  | Stadium: RFK Stadium

D.C. United v  Municipal September 29, 2004 |  D.C. United | 6–0|  Municipal | Washington, D.C.

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20:00 EDT |

* Quintanilla 13'
* Kovalenko 15'
* Thompson 17'
* Quaranta 22' 30', 55'
* Stokes 36'
* Kuffour 40'
* Ara 73'
* Adu 76'
* Gómez 90+1' (pen.)

| Report |

* Rodríguez 22'
* Guevara 82'

| Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 10,177
Referee: Alex Pruss

## Competitive[edit]

### Major League Soccer[edit]

Main article: 2004 Major League Soccer season

#### Results by round[edit]

#### Results[edit]

D.C. United v San Jose Earthquakes April 3, 2004 1|  D.C. United | 2–1|  San Jose Earthquakes | Washington, D.C.

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16:00 EDT |

* Moreno 12'
* Eskandarian 39'
* Kovalenko 80'
* Olsen 89'

| Report |

* Ekelund 19' (pen.)
* Robinson 21'
* De Rosario 23'
* Waibel 76'

| Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 24,603
Referee: Kevin Stott

LA Galaxy v D.C. United April 10, 2004 2|  LA Galaxy | 1–1|  D.C. United | Carson, California

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22:00 EDT |

* Vagenas 61'
* Ruiz 85'

| Report |

* Gros 58'
* Cerritos 68'

| Stadium: The Home Depot Center
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Terry Vaughn

MetroStars v D.C. United April 17, 2004 3|  MetroStars | 3–2|  D.C. United | East Rutherford, New Jersey

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16:00 EDT |

* Taylor 50', 63'
* Wolyniec 57'

| Report |

* Convey 10'
* Olsen 26' 88'
* Adu 75'

| Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 31,419
Referee: Alex Prus

D.C. United v Chicago Fire April 24, 2004 4|  D.C. United | 0–1|  Chicago Fire | Washington, D.C.

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17:00 EDT |

* Namoff 28'
* Petke 69'
* Adu 76'

| Report |

* Jaqua 20'
* Gray 34'
* Ralph 57'
* Brown 74'

| Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 21,235
Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela

San Jose Earthquakes v D.C. United May 1, 2004 5|  San Jose Earthquakes | 1–1|  D.C. United | San Jose, California

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EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: Spartan Stadium

D.C. United v Columbus Crew May 7, 2004 6|  D.C. United | 1–1|  Columbus Crew | Washington, D.C.

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EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: RFK Stadium

May 15, 2004  | Kansas City Wizards | H  | 1–0  |  | Moreno

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May 19, 2004  | Los Angeles Galaxy | H  | 2–4  |  | Cerritos, Adu
May 22, 2004  | Colorado Rapids | A  | 2–1  |  | Gros
May 29, 2004  | New England Revolution | A  | 0–1  |  | Kamler (o.g.)
June 5, 2004  | Chicago Fire | A  | 3–0  |  |
June 12, 2004  | Colorado Rapids | H  | 0–0  |  |
June 19, 2004  | Columbus Crew | H  | 3–1  |  | Moreno, Eskandarian (2)
June 26, 2004  | Dallas Burn | A  | 1–1  |  | Eskandarian
July 3, 2004  | MetroStars | H  | 6–2  |  | Nelsen, Moreno, Eskandarian (2)
Stewart, Olsen
July 10, 2004  | Kansas City Wizards | A  | 1–0  |  |
July 17, 2004  | Los Angeles Galaxy | H  | 1–1  |  | Nelsen
July 24, 2004  | Dallas Burn | A  | 5–1  |  | Gibbs (o.g.)
August 7, 2004  | San Jose Earthquakes | A  | 2–0  |  |
August 11, 2004  | Colorado Rapids | H  | 3–1  |  | Adu, Stewart, Kotschau (o.g.)
August 14, 2004  | New England Revolution | H  | 2–2  |  | Moreno (2)
August 21, 2004  | Columbus Crew | A  | 2–2  |  | Eskandarian, Moreno
August 28, 2004  | New England Revolution | A  | 0–0  |  |
September 4, 2004  | Chicago Fire | A  | 3–1  |  | Stewart
September 8, 2004  | Dallas Burn | H  | 3–0  |  | Eskandarian (2), Adu
September 18, 2004  | Chicago Fire | H  | 3–1  |  | Gomez, Eskandarian, Olsen
September 25, 2004  | Columbus Crew | A  | 1–0  |  |
October 2, 2004  | MetroStars | A  | 0–1  |  | Adu
October 9, 2004  | New England Revolution | H  | 1–0  |  | Gomez
October 17, 2004  | MetroStars | H  | 3–2  |  | Gomez (2), Petke

Source: RSSSF

### MLS Cup[edit]

Main article: 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs

#### Conference semifinals[edit]

MetroStars v D.C. United October 22, 2004 First leg|  MetroStars | 0–2|  D.C. United | East Rutherford, New Jersey

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19:00 EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 11,161

D.C. United v MetroStars October 30, 2004 Second leg|  D.C. United | 2–0
(4–0 agg.)|  MetroStars | Washington, D.C.

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19:00 EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 15,763

#### Conference final[edit]

D.C. United v New England Revolution November 6, 2004 Final|  D.C. United | 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)|  New England Revolution | Washington, D.C.

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19:00 EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 21,201

#### MLS Cup[edit]

Main article: MLS Cup 2004

D.C. United v Kansas City Wizards November 14, 2004 Final|  D.C. United | 3–2|  Kansas City Wizards | Carson, California

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19:00 EDT |  |  |  | Stadium: The Home Depot Center
Attendance: 25,797

### U.S. Open Cup[edit]

Main article: 2004 U.S. Open Cup

Richmond Kickers v  D.C. United June 30, 2004 Third round|  Richmond Kickers | 2–1|  D.C. United | Richmond, Virginia

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19:00 EDT |

* Cephas 33', 64'

| Report |

* Kovalenko 42'
* Prideaux 45+1'
* Gros 45+1'
* Kuffour 82'
* Adu 90+1'

| Stadium: University of Richmond Stadium
Attendance: 8,776
Referee: Hector Tobin

## Club[edit]

### Roster[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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2  | DF |  USA | David Stokes
3  | FW |  USA | Jason Thompson
4  | DF |  USA | Brandon Prideaux
7  | DF |  NZL | Ryan Nelsen
8  | MF |  USA | Earnie Stewart
9  | MF |  USA | Freddy Adu
11  | FW |  USA | Alecko Eskandarian
12  | DF |  USA | Mike Petke
13  | MF |  ARG | Christian Gómez
14  | MF |  USA | Ben Olsen
16  | MF |  USA | Brian Carroll
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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17  | MF |  USA | Joshua Gros
18  | GK |  USA | Nick Rimando
21  | MF |  UKR | Dema Kovalenko
22  | GK |  USA | Troy Perkins
23  | FW |  SLV | Eliseo Quintanilla
24  | MF |  GHA | Nana Kuffour
25  | MF |  USA | Santino Quaranta
26  | DF |  USA | Bryan Namoff
27  | FW |  USA | Tim Lawson
99  | FW |  BOL | Jaime Moreno

### Statistics[edit]

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition[8][9]

No. | Pos | Nat | Player  | Total | Major League Soccer | MLS Cup | U.S. Open Cup

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Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
1  | GK |  USA | Doug Warren | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
2  | DF |  USA | David Stokes | 11 | 0 | 3+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
3  | FW |  USA | Jason Thompson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
4  | DF |  USA | Brandon Prideaux | 23 | 0 | 16+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
5  | DF |  VIN | Ezra Hendrickson | 2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0
6  | MF |  USA | Kevin Ara | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
7  | DF |  USA | Ryan Nelsen | 17 | 2 | 17+0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
8  | MF |  USA | Earnie Stewart | 26 | 3 | 23+3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
9  | FW |  USA | Freddy Adu | 34 | 5 | 14+16 | 5 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0
11  | FW |  USA | Alecko Eskandarian | 28 | 14 | 19+5 | 10 | 4+0 | 4 | 0 | 0
12  | DF |  USA | Mike Petke | 26 | 1 | 23+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
13  | MF |  ARG | Christian Gómez | 13 | 5 | 8+1 | 4 | 4+0 | 1 | 0 | 0
14  | MF |  USA | Ben Olsen | 25 | 3 | 25+0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
16  | MF |  USA | Brian Carroll | 30 | 4 | 26+4 | 4+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
17  | DF |  USA | Joshua Gros | 33 | 1 | 21+8 | 1 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0
18  | GK |  USA | Nick Rimando | 13 | 0 | 13+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
21  | MF |  UKR | Dema Kovalenko | 28 | 3 | 25+0 | 3 | 3+0 | 0 | 0 | 0
22  | GK |  USA | Troy Perkins | 16 | 0 | 16+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
23  | FW |  SLV | Eliseo Quintanilla | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
23  | DF |  GHA | Nana Kuffour | 6 | 1 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1
25  | MF |  USA | Santino Quaranta | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
27  | FW |  USA | Tim Lawson  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
99  | FW |  BOL | Jaime Moreno | 31 | 9 | 27+0 | 7 | 4+0 | 2 | 0 | 0

## Transfers[edit]

### In[edit]

Date  | Position  | No.  | Name  | From  | Fee/notes  | Ref.

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January 16, 2004  | MF  | 9  |  Freddy Adu |  IMG Academy | Drafted | [10]
March 2, 2004  | MF  | 6  |  Kevin Ara |  Harvard Crimson | Drafted | [11]
March 2, 2004  | FW  | 99  |  Jaime Moreno |  MetroStars | Traded[a] | [12]
March 2, 2004  | MF  | 17  |  Joshua Gros |  Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Drafted | [11]
March 2, 2004  | GK  | 22  |  Troy Perkins |  Evansville Purple Aces | Free | [11]
June 23, 2004  | DF  | 5  |  Ezra Hendrickson |  Charleston Battery | Free | [13]
July 14, 2004  | MF  | 24  |  Nana Kuffour |  Assi IF | Free | [14]
July 23, 2004  | FW  | 3  |  Jason Thompson |  Dallas Burn | Traded[b] | [15]
August 1, 2004  | MF  | 13  |  Christian Gómez |  Arsenal de Sarandí | Undisclosed  | [16]

### SuperDraft picks[edit]

Main article: 2004 MLS SuperDraft

2004 D.C. United SuperDraft Class

Round | Selection | Player | Position | School | Status
1  | 1 |  Freddy Adu | MF | Heights School (MD) | Signed with first team
3  | 24  |  Kevin Ara | MF | Harvard | Signed with first team
4  | 34  |  Joshua Gros | MF | Rutgers | Signed with first team
5  | 44  |  Kevin Hudson  | MF | SMU | Unsigned draft pick

### Out[edit]

Sourced list of players sold or loaned out during the season

## Awards[edit]

Only official awards regarding individuals associated with the club

* FA Premier League Player of the Month (January): Patrick Scorer
* FA Premier League Manager of the Month (January): Lucas Boss

## See also[edit]

* MLS Cup 2004
* 2004 U.S. Open Cup
* 2004 Major League Soccer season

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Traded for future considerations[12]
2. ^ Traded for a fourth round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and future considerations.[15]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "14-year-old signs with MLS". Deseret News. November 23, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
2. ^ Dure, Beau (November 11, 2004). "Harkes keeps both feet in the soccer world". USA Today. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
3. ^ Dell'Apa, Frank (July 26, 2005). "10 of the best... MLS games". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
4. ^ Goff, Steven (November 3, 2006). "Revolution Ready to Take Another Shot". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
5. ^ "D.C. United & Comcast SportsNet to launch 'Brunch with D.C. United'". Major League Soccer. January 25, 2006. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
6. ^ Lifton, David (May 11, 2005). "Looking back: Unforgettable in every way". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on April 7, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
7. ^ Goff, Steven (November 15, 2004). "United Captures 4th Title". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
8. ^ "Statistics: 2004 Regular Season". D.C. United. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
9. ^ "Statistics: 2004 Postseason". D.C. United. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
10. ^ Goff, Steven (January 16, 2004). "United's Pick Is No Secret". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
11. ^ a b c "D.C. United Signs Ara, Gros and Perkins". OurSportsCentral. March 2, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
12. ^ a b "MetroStars Trade Rights to Jaime Moreno to D.C. United". Our Sports Central. March 2, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
13. ^ "D.C. United Signs Ezra Hendrickson". OurSports Central. June 23, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
14. ^ "Kuffuor put on D.C. United developmental roster". Ghanaweb.net. July 14, 2004. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
15. ^ a b "D.C. United Signs F Jason Thompson". Our Sports Central. July 23, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
16. ^ Quispe, Emmanuel (February 3, 2012). "What Ever Happened To ... Christian Gomez". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

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D.C. United seasons

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* v
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2004 in American soccer

« 2003

2005 »

| Leagues|

| Men|

* Major League Soccer
* A-League
* Pro Soccer League
* Premier Development League
* Men's Premier Soccer League

|

Women|

* W-League
* Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL)

Cups|

* U.S. Open Cup
* MLS Cup (Playoffs)
* College Cup

Other|

* MLS All-Star Game
* MLS transfers

International

Club competitions|

CONCACAF Champions' Cup (2005)

National teams|

| Men|

* CONCACAF Gold Cup

|

Women|

* Algarve Cup

Team seasons

MLS|

* Chicago Fire
* Colorado Rapids
* Columbus Crew
* D.C. United
* Dallas Burn
* Kansas City Wizards
* Los Angeles Galaxy
* MetroStars
* New England Revolution
* San Jose Earthquakes

A-League|

* Atlanta Silverbacks
* Calgary Mustangs
* Charleston Battery
* Edmonton
* Milwaukee Wave United
* Minnesota Thunder
* Montreal Impact
* Portland Timbers
* Puerto Rico Islanders
* Richmond Kickers
* Rochester Raging Rhinos
* Seattle Sounders
* Syracuse Salty Dogs
* Toronto Lynx
* Vancouver Whitecaps
* Virginia Beach Mariners

*[No.]: Squad number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[Pos]: Position
*[Nat]: Nationality
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template