Every 1998 MLS race charted day by day: Eastern, Western and Supporters' Shield. Final standings, from a season that ran March 15 to September 27, 1998.
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Eastern standings, 1998
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
D.C. United (DC)x
24
8
0
58
7-3-0
W1
Columbus Crew (CLB)x
15
17
0
45
5-5-0
L5
New York/New Jersey MetroStars (RBNY)x
15
17
0
39
3-7-0
W1
Miami Fusion FC (MIAF)x
15
17
0
35
5-5-0
L1
Tampa Bay Mutiny (TBM)
12
20
0
34
6-4-0
W2
New England Revolution (NE)
11
21
0
29
5-5-0
L2
Final standings.
Clinch key
x
clinched a playoff place
Turning points
The lead changed hands 4 times.
D.C. United trailed by as many as 4 points on April 18, 1998.
D.C. United took first place for good on May 2, 1998.
D.C. United won 9 games in a row from July 2, 1998 to August 26, 1998, the longest run of the race.
Columbus Crew led by 4 points as late as April 25, 1998.
D.C. United went 7-0-0 from July 1, 1998 to August 7, 1998, turning a lead of 4 points into a lead of 16 points.
The top two ended the day within three points of each other on 16 of the 79 days played.
D.C. United spent 177 of the season's 197 charted days in first place.