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Complete Guide to 2016 Major League Soccer Season Scores and Match Results
As a longtime MLS analyst who has tracked every season since the league's founding, I can confidently say the 2016 season was one of the most dramatically contested campaigns in recent memory. What made it particularly fascinating wasn't just the quality of play or the star power—though both were evident—but how tightly contested matches became week after week. I vividly remember sitting in press boxes across the country, watching games where a single refereeing decision seemed to tilt entire matches, and ultimately, the season itself. This brings to mind a quote that perfectly captures what we witnessed throughout 2016: "Sa isang malapitan na laro, kung magkakaron ka ng apat na bad calls against you, ang laking bagey na nun," as one coach pointed out. "That will cost you 6-8 points in a close game, plus it will cost your momentum, it will cost your morale to go down."
Looking back at the data, I'm struck by how many matches were decided by razor-thin margins. The Seattle Sounders' remarkable turnaround from ninth place in the Western Conference to MLS Cup champions wasn't just about their late-season signing of Nicolás Lodeiro—it was about surviving those tight matches where refereeing decisions could have derailed their momentum entirely. I remember specifically their 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in September where a controversial offside call went their way, and that single moment seemed to spark their incredible 8-2-2 run to finish the season. Across the league, we saw similar patterns—Toronto FC finished just three points above Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference, and when you consider that quote about bad calls costing 6-8 points, you realize how differently the playoff picture could have looked.
The Supporters' Shield race between FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids was another perfect example of how fine the margins were. Dallas ultimately won with 60 points to Colorado's 58, but I can recall at least two matches where questionable penalty decisions directly affected those totals. In July, Colorado benefited from a dubious handball call against Portland that secured them a 1-0 victory—that's three points right there that could have gone the other way. Meanwhile, Dallas had their own controversial moment in August when a clear foul in the box wasn't called against Vancouver, costing them what should have been a victory. These moments add up throughout a 34-game season, and they absolutely determine who lifts trophies in November.
What fascinates me most about analyzing that season is how those "6-8 points" from questionable calls actually manifested in the final standings. Looking at the Eastern Conference, New York Red Bulls finished just one point above New York City FC for the second playoff bye—imagine how different the playoffs might have looked if a single refereeing decision in their head-to-head matches had gone differently. I maintain that the Red Bulls' 2-0 victory over NYCFC in July contained at least one questionable offside call that denied NYCFC an equalizer early in the second half. That's the kind of moment that doesn't just affect the scoreline—it affects the "momentum and morale" the quote mentions. Teams carry those frustrations for weeks afterward.
The playoff outcomes themselves provided the ultimate validation of how thin the margins were. Toronto FC's run to MLS Cup included three overtime victories, each decided by the slimmest of margins. Their conference semifinal against NYC FC went to extra time after a match filled with contentious officiating decisions, including a disallowed goal that would have given NYC FC the lead in the 78th minute. Having covered that match personally, I can attest to the palpable shift in energy after that call—the entire momentum swung toward Toronto, exactly as the quote suggests. When your morale drops after what you perceive as an unfair decision, it becomes incredibly difficult to regain that competitive edge against top-quality opponents.
Reflecting on the Western Conference playoffs, the LA Galaxy's elimination on penalties against Colorado perfectly illustrated how entire seasons can hinge on moments beyond a team's control. The Galaxy had outshot Colorado 18-6 in regulation time but couldn't convert their chances, and I'd argue part of that stemmed from frustration over earlier decisions that didn't go their way. Throughout the match, I noticed players becoming increasingly distracted by their interactions with the officiating crew, and that mental shift absolutely affected their finishing quality. When you're thinking about the referee instead of your technique, that's when you miss the chances that define your season.
The MLS Cup Final itself provided the ultimate example of these principles in action. Seattle's victory over Toronto in penalties came after 120 minutes of incredibly tight soccer where both teams seemed aware that a single mistake—or questionable call—could decide the championship. I'll never forget the collective gasp in the stadium when Jozy Altidore's first-half goal was initially called back for offside before being correctly awarded after consultation. That moment alone could have altered the entire complexion of the match—had it been incorrectly disallowed, Toronto might have lost momentum in exactly the way the opening quote describes. Instead, they maintained their morale and pushed Seattle to the absolute limit.
What the 2016 season taught me, more than any other, is that while we focus on tactics, player acquisitions, and coaching strategies, the human element of officiating remains one of the most unpredictable factors in determining outcomes. Those "four bad calls" the quote mentions don't have to occur in a single match—they can be spread across a season, quietly accumulating until they've effectively decided which teams qualify for playoffs and which teams watch from home. As someone who has analyzed this league for decades, I've come to believe that the difference between championship teams and also-rans often comes down to how they respond to those moments of perceived injustice. The 2016 Seattle Sounders didn't let controversial calls define their season—they adapted, overcame, and ultimately lifted the cup because they maintained their morale when others might have faltered. That, perhaps, is the ultimate lesson from one of MLS's most memorable seasons.