2012 Major League Soccer season

The 2012 Major League Soccer season was the 17th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 100th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 34th with a national first-division league.

Major League Soccer
Season2012
MLS CupLA Galaxy (4th title)
Supporters' ShieldSan Jose Earthquakes (2nd shield)
Champions League (U.S.)San Jose Earthquakes
LA Galaxy
Houston Dynamo
Sporting Kansas City (via U.S. Open Cup)
Champions League (Canada)Toronto FC (via Canadian Championship)
Matches played323
Goals scored854 (2.64 per match)
Top goalscorerChris Wondolowski
(27 goals)
Biggest home winSJ 5–0 RSL
(July 14)
DAL 5–0 POR
(July 21)
Biggest away winCHV 0–4 LA
(August 12)
CHV 2–6 SEA
(August 25)
CHV 0-4 RSL
(September 29)
Highest scoring8 goals:
SJ 5–3 DC
(May 2)
POR 3–5 LA
(July 14)
CHV 2–6 SEA
(August 25)
Longest winning run7 matches:[1]
Sporting KC
(March 10 – April 18)
Longest unbeaten run11 matches:[1]
Sporting KC
(August 4 – October 24)
Longest winless run14 matches:
Toronto FC
(July 28 – October 28)
Longest losing run9 matches:[1]
Toronto FC
(March 17 – May 19)
Highest attendance66,452
POR @ SEA
(October 7)
Lowest attendance6,149
COL @ NE
(May 2)
Average attendance18,807[1]
2011
2013

The Montreal Impact became the 19th MLS club, replacing a team of the same name that previously played in the NASL.

The regular season began on March 10 and concluded on October 28. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 31 and ended on December 1, when the LA Galaxy claimed their fourth league title by defeating the Houston Dynamo, 3–1, in MLS Cup. It was the first rematch in the Cup final since Houston defeated the New England Revolution in the 2006 and 2007 editions.

Overview

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Season format

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The season began on March 10 and concluded with MLS Cup on December 1. The 19 teams were split into two conferences, with 10 teams in the Eastern Conference and 9 teams in the Western Conference. Each team played 34 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Western Conference teams played each conference rival three times, and played each Eastern Conference team once. Eastern Conference teams played seven of their conference rivals three times, the remaining two conference rivals twice, and each Western Conference team once.

The top three teams in each conference earned a bye to the conference semifinals, while the next two teams with the most points in each conference earned wild card berths. The wild card round included two single-elimination matches where the winners advanced to the conference semifinals. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.

The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. An additional berth in the Champions League was also awarded to the winner of the U.S. Open Cup. If a team qualified for multiple berths into the Champions League, then additional berths were awarded to the highest overall finishing MLS team(s) not already qualified. Also, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Montreal Impact, as Canadian-based teams, could not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS, and had to instead qualify through the Canadian Championship.

Stadiums and locations

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Team Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire Toyota Park 20,000
Chivas USA Home Depot Center 27,000
Colorado Rapids Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,061
Columbus Crew Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555
D.C. United RFK Stadium 45,596
FC Dallas FC Dallas Stadium 21,193
Houston Dynamo Robertson Stadium 32,000
LA Galaxy Home Depot Center 27,000
Montreal Impact Saputo Stadium 20,801
New England Revolution Gillette Stadium 68,756
New York Red Bulls Red Bull Arena 25,000
Philadelphia Union PPL Park 18,500
Portland Timbers Jeld-Wen Field 18,627
Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium 20,213
San Jose Earthquakes Buck Shaw Stadium 10,525
Seattle Sounders FC CenturyLink Field 68,740
Sporting Kansas City Livestrong Sporting Park 18,467
Toronto FC BMO Field 21,566
Vancouver Whitecaps FC BC Place 22,120

Personnel and sponsorships

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

Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Chicago Fire   Frank Klopas   Logan Pause Quaker
Chivas USA   Robin Fraser   Alejandro Moreno Corona
Colorado Rapids   Óscar Pareja   Pablo Mastroeni
Columbus Crew   Robert Warzycha   Chad Marshall Barbasol
D.C. United   Ben Olsen   Dwayne De Rosario Volkswagen
FC Dallas   Schellas Hyndman   Ugo Ihemelu AdvoCare
Houston Dynamo   Dominic Kinnear   Brian Ching Greenstar Recycling
LA Galaxy   Bruce Arena   Landon Donovan Herbalife
Montreal Impact   Jesse Marsch   Davy Arnaud Bank of Montreal
New England Revolution   Jay Heaps   Matt Reis UnitedHealthcare
New York Red Bulls   Hans Backe   Thierry Henry Red Bull
Philadelphia Union   John Hackworth   Carlos Valdés Bimbo
Portland Timbers   Gavin Wilkinson   Jack Jewsbury Alaska Airlines
Real Salt Lake   Jason Kreis   Kyle Beckerman XanGo
San Jose Earthquakes   Frank Yallop   Ramiro Corrales
Seattle Sounders FC   Sigi Schmid   Mauro Rosales Xbox
Sporting Kansas City   Peter Vermes   Jimmy Nielsen
Toronto FC   Paul Mariner   Torsten Frings Bank of Montreal
Vancouver Whitecaps FC   Martin Rennie   Jay DeMerit Bell Canada

Player transfers

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Major League Soccer employs no fewer than 12 methods to acquire players. These include: signing players on transfers/free transfers as is done in most of the world; via trades; drafting players through mechanisms such as the MLS SuperDraft, MLS Supplemental Draft, or MLS Re-Entry Draft; rarely used methods which cover extreme hardship and injury replacement; signing players as Designated Players or Homegrown Players; placing a discovery claim on players; waivers; and methods peculiar to MLS such as through allocation or a weighted lottery.[2]

Allocation ranking

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The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season.[2]

Original Ranking Club Date Allocation Used Player Signed Player Nation Previous Club Club Nation Ref
1 Montreal Impact February 17, 2012 Eddie Johnson   United States Fulham   England [3]
2 Philadelphia Union June 26, 2012 Bakary Soumaré   Mali US Boulogne   France [4]
3 New England Revolution August 27, 2012 Juan Toja   Colombia Aris   Greece [5]
4 Seattle Sounders FC September 14, 2012 Marcus Hahnemann   United States Everton   England [6]
5 Chivas USA
6 San Jose Earthquakes
7 D.C. United
8 Portland Timbers
9 Chicago Fire
10 Columbus Crew
11 Colorado Rapids March 28, 2012 Kamani Hill   United States Vitória   Portugal [7]
12 FC Dallas
13 New York Red Bulls August 8, 2012 Luis Robles   United States Karlsruher SC   Germany [8]

† Montreal immediately traded Johnson to Seattle in exchange for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle.

‡Vancouver originally had the No. 2 ranking, but traded it to Philadelphia on June 26.

∞Toronto originally had the No. 4 ranking, but traded it to Seattle on September 14.

The remaining order after FC Dallas is: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (from Philadelphia), Toronto FC (from Seattle), Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy. In the unlikely event that all clubs use an allocation, the order begins anew with Montreal Impact, Colorado Rapids, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC.

Weighted lottery

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Some players are assigned to MLS teams via a weighted lottery process. A team can only acquire one player per year through a weighted lottery. The players made available through lotteries include: (i) Generation adidas players signed after the MLS SuperDraft; and (ii) Draft eligible players to whom an MLS contract was offered but who failed to sign with the League prior to the SuperDraft.

The team with the worst record over its last 30 regular season games (dating back to previous season if necessary and taking playoff performance into account) will have the greatest probability of winning the lottery. Teams are not required to participate in a lottery. Players are assigned via the lottery system in order to prevent a player from potentially influencing his destination club with a strategic holdout.

The results of 2012 weighted lotteries thus far:

Lottery Date Player Player Nation Position Winning Club Other Clubs Participating Ref
December 15, 2011 Lee Nguyen   USA MF Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles Galaxy [9]
September 13, 2012 Marcus Tracy   USA FW San Jose Earthquakes New England Revolution, FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders FC

Ownership changes

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Club New owner Previous owner Date
DC United Erick Thohir and Jason Levien D.C. United Holdings July 10, 2012

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sporting Kansas City 34 18 7 9 42 27 +15 63 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
2 D.C. United 34 17 10 7 53 43 +10 58
3 New York Red Bulls 34 16 9 9 57 46 +11 57
4 Chicago Fire 34 17 11 6 46 41 +5 57 MLS Cup Knockout Round
5 Houston Dynamo 34 14 9 11 48 41 +7 53
6 Columbus Crew 34 15 12 7 44 44 0 52
7 Montreal Impact 34 12 16 6 45 51 −6 42
8 Philadelphia Union 34 10 18 6 37 45 −8 36
9 New England Revolution 34 9 17 8 39 44 −5 35
10 Toronto FC 34 5 21 8 36 62 −26 23
Source: MLS

Western Conference

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Jose Earthquakes 34 19 6 9 72 43 +29 66 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
2 Real Salt Lake 34 17 11 6 46 35 +11 57
3 Seattle Sounders FC 34 15 8 11 51 33 +18 56
4 LA Galaxy 34 16 12 6 59 47 +12 54 MLS Cup Knockout Round
5 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 34 11 13 10 35 41 −6 43
6 FC Dallas 34 9 13 12 42 47 −5 39
7 Colorado Rapids 34 11 19 4 44 50 −6 37
8 Portland Timbers 34 8 16 10 34 56 −22 34
9 Chivas USA 34 7 18 9 24 58 −34 30
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Jose Earthquakes (S) 34 19 6 9 72 43 +29 66 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Sporting Kansas City 34 18 7 9 42 27 +15 63
3 D.C. United 34 17 10 7 53 43 +10 58
4 New York Red Bulls 34 16 9 9 57 46 +11 57
5 Real Salt Lake 34 17 11 6 46 35 +11 57
6 Chicago Fire 34 17 11 6 46 41 +5 57
7 Seattle Sounders FC 34 15 8 11 51 33 +18 56
8 LA Galaxy (C) 34 16 12 6 59 47 +12 54 CONCACAF Champions League
9 Houston Dynamo 34 14 9 11 48 41 +7 53
10 Columbus Crew 34 15 12 7 44 44 0 52
11 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 34 11 13 10 35 41 −6 43
12 Montreal Impact 34 12 16 6 45 51 −6 42 CONCACAF Champions League
13 FC Dallas 34 9 13 12 42 47 −5 39
14 Colorado Rapids 34 11 19 4 44 50 −6 37
15 Philadelphia Union 34 10 18 6 37 45 −8 36
16 New England Revolution 34 9 17 8 39 44 −5 35
17 Portland Timbers 34 8 16 10 34 56 −22 34
18 Chivas USA 34 7 18 9 24 58 −34 30
19 Toronto FC 34 5 21 8 36 62 −26 23
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) MLS Cup Champion; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Knockout Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
E1 Kansas City 0 1 1
E4 Chicago 1 E5 Houston 2 0 2
E5 Houston 2 Eastern ConferenceE5 Houston 3 1 4
E2 D.C. United 1 1 2
E2 D.C. United 1 1 2
E3 New York 1 0 1
E5 Houston 1
W4 Los Angeles 3
W1 San Jose 1 1 2
W4 Los Angeles 2 W4 Los Angeles 0 3 3
W5 Vancouver    1 Western ConferenceW4 Los Angeles 3 1 4
W3 Seattle 0 2 2
W2 Salt Lake 0 0 0
W3 Seattle 0 1 1


Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes 27
2   Kenny Cooper New York Red Bulls 18
3   Álvaro Saborío Real Salt Lake 17
4   Robbie Keane LA Galaxy 16
5   Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls 15
6   Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC 14
7   Alan Gordon San Jose Earthquakes 13
  Fredy Montero Seattle Sounders FC
9   Will Bruin Houston Dynamo 12
  Chris Pontius D.C. United

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City 15
2   Landon Donovan LA Galaxy 14
3   Marvin Chávez San Jose Earthquakes 13
  Mauro Rosales Seattle Sounders FC
5   Brad Davis Houston Dynamo 12
  Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United
  Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls
8   Felipe Martins Montreal Impact 10
9   David Beckham LA Galaxy 9
  David Ferreira FC Dallas
  Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
  Javier Morales Real Salt Lake

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City 15
2   Tally Hall Houston Dynamo 12
  Nick Rimando Real Salt Lake
4   Josh Saunders LA Galaxy 9
5   Joe Cannon Vancouver Whitecaps FC 8
  Andy Gruenebaum Columbus Crew
  Michael Gspurning Seattle Sounders FC
  Bill Hamid D.C. United
  Zac MacMath Philadelphia Union
10   Jon Busch San Jose Earthquakes 7
  Dan Kennedy Chivas USA
  Matt Pickens Colorado Rapids

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Defender of the Year   Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
Goalkeeper of the Year   Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Coach of the Year   Frank Yallop San Jose Earthquakes
Rookie of the Year   Austin Berry Chicago Fire
Newcomer of the Year   Federico Higuaín Columbus Crew
Comeback Player of the Year   Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC
Golden Boot   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Goal of the Year   Patrick Ianni Seattle Sounders FC
Save of the Year   Nick Rimando Real Salt Lake
Fair Play Award   Logan Pause Chicago Fire
Humanitarian of the Year   Chris Seitz FC Dallas

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KC   Víctor Bernárdez, San Jose
  Matt Besler, Sporting KC
  Aurélien Collin, Sporting KC
  Osvaldo Alonso, Seattle
  Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy
  Chris Pontius, D.C. United
  Graham Zusi, Sporting KC
  Thierry Henry, Red Bulls
  Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy
  Chris Wondolowski, San Jose

Player of the Month

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Month Player Club Stats
March   Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls 5G, 3A
April   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes 3G
May   Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United 4G, 3A
June   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes 3G
July   Robbie Keane LA Galaxy 5G, 4A
August   Patrice Bernier Montreal Impact 3G, 3A
September   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes 4G, 2A
October   Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes 5G

Weekly awards

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Week Player of the Week AT&T Goal of the Week MLS Save of the Week
Player Nat Club Player Nat Club Player Nat Club
Week 1 Kalif Alhassan   GHA Portland Timbers Kris Boyd   SCO Portland Timbers Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 2 David Estrada   USA Seattle Sounders FC Ryan Johnson   JAM Toronto FC Joe Cannon   USA Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Week 3 Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Joe Cannon   USA Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Week 4 Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Darlington Nagbe   LBR Portland Timbers Paolo Tornaghi   ITA Chicago Fire
Week 5 Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Álvaro Saborío   CRC Real Salt Lake Donovan Ricketts   JAM Montreal Impact
Week 6 Dan Kennedy   USA Chivas USA David Beckham   ENG Los Angeles Galaxy Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 7 Chris Pontius   USA D.C. United Kyle Beckerman   USA Real Salt Lake Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 8 Steven Lenhart   USA San Jose Earthquakes Marco Pappa   GUA Chicago Fire Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 9 Chris Wondolowski   USA San Jose Earthquakes Fredy Montero   COL Seattle Sounders FC Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 10 Lee Nguyen   USA New England Revolution David Beckham   ENG Los Angeles Galaxy Sean Johnson   USA Chicago Fire
Week 11 Dwayne De Rosario   CAN D.C. United Fredy Montero   COL Seattle Sounders FC Andy Gruenebaum   USA Columbus Crew
Week 12 Emilio Rentería   VEN Columbus Crew C. J. Sapong   USA Sporting Kansas City Troy Perkins   USA Portland Timbers
Week 13–15 Patrice Bernier   CAN Montreal Impact Júlio César   BRA Sporting Kansas City Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 16 Landon Donovan   USA Los Angeles Galaxy Patrick Ianni   USA Seattle Sounders FC Jason Hernandez   USA San Jose Earthquakes
Week 17 Danny Koevermans   NED Toronto FC Chris Wondolowski   USA San Jose Earthquakes Josh Saunders   PUR Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 18 Álvaro Saborío   CRC Real Salt Lake Jack McInerney   USA Philadelphia Union Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 19 Chris Wondolowski   USA San Jose Earthquakes David Beckham   ENG Los Angeles Galaxy Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 20 Calen Carr   USA Houston Dynamo Jose Villarreal   USA Los Angeles Galaxy Matt Reis   USA New England Revolution
Week 21 Jairo Arrieta   CRC Columbus Crew Saër Sène   FRA New England Revolution Sean Johnson   USA Chicago Fire
Week 22 Eddie Johnson   USA Seattle Sounders FC Felipe Martins   BRA Montreal Impact Kevin Hartman   USA FC Dallas
Week 23 Landon Donovan   USA Los Angeles Galaxy Sanna Nyassi   GAM Montreal Impact Troy Perkins   USA Montreal Impact
Week 24 David Ferreira   COL FC Dallas Lamar Neagle   USA Montreal Impact Donovan Ricketts   JAM Portland Timbers
Week 25 Federico Higuaín   ARG Columbus Crew Marco Di Vaio   ITA Montreal Impact Steven Smith   SCO Portland Timbers
Week 26 Federico Higuaín   ARG Columbus Crew David Beckham   ENG Los Angeles Galaxy Matt Pickens   USA Colorado Rapids
Week 27 Eddie Johnson   USA Seattle Sounders FC Eddie Johnson   USA Seattle Sounders FC Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 28 Sean Johnson   USA Chicago Fire Fredy Montero   COL Seattle Sounders FC Marcelo Sarvas   BRA Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 29 Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Javier Morales   ARG Real Salt Lake Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 30 Chris Wondolowski   USA San Jose Earthquakes Álvaro Saborío   CRC Real Salt Lake Nick Rimando   USA Real Salt Lake
Week 31 Thierry Henry   FRA New York Red Bulls Robbie Keane   IRE Los Angeles Galaxy Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 32 Chris Wondolowski   USA San Jose Earthquakes Jack Jewsbury   USA Portland Timbers Jimmy Nielsen   DEN Sporting Kansas City
Week 33 Brad Evans   USA Seattle Sounders FC Jacob Peterson   USA Sporting Kansas City
Week 34 Kenny Cooper   USA New York Red Bulls

Scoring

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Discipline

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International competitions and friendlies

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CONCACAF Champions League

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Prior to the start of the MLS regular season, Toronto FC defeated Los Angeles Galaxy while Mexican side Santos Laguna defeated Seattle Sounders FC in two of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series. Toronto FC then lost 3–7 on aggregate in the semifinal with Santos Laguna.[10]

In the 2012–13 CCL, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake earned group stage spots (the preliminary round has been eliminated). The Canadian representative, determined by the 2012 Canadian Championship, was Toronto FC.

At the end of the groups stages, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, and Houston Dynamo qualified for the quarterfinals, which will be played in March 2013.

MLS All-Star Game

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The 2012 MLS All-Star Game was played on July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, home stadium of the Philadelphia Union. As has been the format every year since 2005, the MLS All-Stars played an international club; the 2012 opponent was England's Chelsea FC, 2012 champions of both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League and visiting side in the 2006 MLS All-Star Game (when they lost to the All-Stars, 1–0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois).[11] The MLS All-Stars won the game 3–2.

Domestic competitions

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Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

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For the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament, U.S. Soccer has increased the size of the main tournament from 40 to 64 clubs, assembling the competition so that all U.S.-based Major League Soccer clubs gain entry.[12] On August 8, 2012, Sporting Kansas City defeated the Seattle Sounders on penalties to win the franchise's second open cup title.[13]

Canadian Championship

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The three Canadian-based MLS clubs, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, along with NASL club FC Edmonton, competed for the Voyageurs Cup, Canada's national championship trophy. The tournament is organized in a knockout format with two-legged ties in both the semifinals and final, with the away goals rule in place. Toronto defeated Vancouver in the finals, their fourth consecutive national championship, and qualified for the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League.

League Competitions

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MLS Cup

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The MLS Cup playoffs took place after the conclusion of the regular season. For 2012, the playoff structure underwent several changes:

  • The playoffs will no longer feature wild cards and the possibility of "crossovers" (i.e. teams from opposite conferences playing in the early rounds). Instead, the top five clubs in each conference's standings will qualify for the playoffs and will play in the following manner:
    • The 4th place team will host the 5th place team in a single "play-in" match, with the winner advancing to the conference semifinals.
    • The Conference Semifinals will again be a two-game aggregate goal setup as before (with extra time and penalty kicks employed if the aggregate is level after 180 minutes). The 1st place team will play the winner of the 4th/5th game, while the 2nd and 3rd place teams play each other. The lower-seeded team will host the first leg of each semifinal.
    • The semifinal winners will play each other in the Conference Finals, which will be altered to a two-game aggregate series patterned after the semifinal round (before this year, this round was a single-game format).
  • The Conference Final winners will advance to the MLS Cup Championship Game, which for the first time will be played at the home stadium of the finalist with the better regular season point total; before this season, the game was played at a predetermined site.

Coaches

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Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2012 MLS Standings & Leaders" (PDF). October 29, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "2012 MLS Roster Rules | Major League Soccer". Mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Montreal send Johnson to Seattle for Neagle, Fucito". MLSsoccer.com. February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Union sign central defender Bakary Soumare". philadelphiaunion.com. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  5. ^ "Revolution acquire former All-Star Juan Toja via allocation". MLSsoccer.com. August 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  6. ^ Freedman, Jonah (September 14, 2012). "Hahnemann returns to MLS, lands with hometown Seattle". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  7. ^ "Rapids sign forward Kamani Hill". coloradorapids.com. March 28, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  8. ^ "Red Bulls Acquire Goalkeeper Luis Robles". newyorkredbulls.com. August 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Whitecaps get US international Nguyen in weighted lottery". MLSsoccer.com. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  10. ^ "CONCACAF unveils 2011/12 Champions League quarterfinal schedule". CONCACAF.com. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011.
  11. ^ "All-Star Game: Chelsea return for grudge match at PPL," Archived June 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine from MLSsoccer.com, 4/11/2012
  12. ^ "Source: 2012 US Open Cup format proposal calls for 64 teams..." from TheCup.us, 11/9/2011[failed verification]
  13. ^ "Sporting Kansas City Claims 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup After Penalty Shootout Victory Against Three-Time Defending Champion Seattle Sounders FC " Archived January 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine from ussoccer.com, 8/9/2012