Five games on Saturday produced just 11 goals for a 2.2 goals per game average as the season average slipped to 2.63 goals per game. Twice in its history has an MLS season finished with a scoring rate below 3 goals per game: 1999 (2.86) and 2003 (2.89).
Average attendance dipped below the 16,000 mark as low crowds showed up in San Jose (9,122) and Dallas (6,942).
The Dallas Burn, which moved back to the Cotton Bowl this season after one year in Southlake, is averaging about half of the league-wide average. Next season, the Burn will move to its new complex in Frisco.
After Dallas, San Jose is second worst in attendance average with 10,536 while Los Angeles leads the league with 22,818.
STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Team W-L-T PTS
Metrostars 6-6-5 23
DC United 5-6-6 21
Columbus 5-5-5 20
Chicago 4-6-7 19
New England 4-8-5 17
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Team W-L-T PTS
Los Angeles 9-5-5 32
Kansas City 9-4-4 31
Colorado 5-5-7 22
San Jose 5-6-5 20
Dallas 5-6-5 20
SCHEDULE (home team first, times ET)
Saturday, July 24
Colorado-Columbus 5:00 pm (ESPN2)
MetroStars-Chicago 7:30 pm
Dallas-D.C. United 8:30 pm (HDNet)
Kansas City-Los Angeles 8:30 pm (Fox Sports World, Fox Sports En Espanol)
San Jose-New England 10:00 pm
(Direct Kick Package TV schedule will appear in Friday's Daily.)
LEADING SCORERS
Player (team) goals-assists: points
Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles) 10-2: 22
Amado Guevara (Metrostars) 7-7: 21
Brian Ching (San Jose) 9-2: 20
Davy Arnaud (Kansas City) 7-4: 18
Damani Ralph (Chicago) 8-2: 18
GOALKEEPER SAVES LEADERS
Player (Team) Saves
Joe Cannon (Colorado) 77
Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles) 75
Henry Ring (Chicago) 72
ATTENDANCE
Team: average home attendance
Los Angeles: 22,818
DC United: 18,463
Metrostars: 18,243
Chicago: 17,601
Colorado: 17,240
Kansas City: 16,654
Columbus: 14,799
New England: 12,006
San Jose 10,536
Dallas: 8,478
Leaguewide: 84 games, 1,336,406 fans for 15,910.
GOALSCORING AVERAGE
Team: goals scored per game
Los Angeles: 1.74
Metrostars: 1.71
San Jose: 1.63
Kansas City: 1.47
DC United: 1.35
New England: 1.18
Columbus: 1.07
Dallas: 1.06
Chicago: 1.06
Colorado: 0.82
Leaguewide goals per game average: 2.63 goals per game.