Every 1996 MLS race charted day by day: Eastern, Western and Supporters' Shield. Final standings, from a season that ran April 6 to September 22, 1996.
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Eastern standings, 1996
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
Tampa Bay Mutiny (TBM)
20
12
0
58
7-3-0
W6
D.C. United (DC)
16
16
0
46
7-3-0
W2
New York/New Jersey MetroStars (RBNY)
15
17
0
39
4-6-0
L1
Columbus Crew (CLB)
15
17
0
37
9-1-0
W1
New England Revolution (NE)
15
17
0
33
4-6-0
L3
Final standings.
Turning points
Wire to wire: Tampa Bay Mutiny led from the first charted day to the last.
Columbus Crew won 8 games in a row from August 4, 1996 to September 15, 1996, the longest run of the race.
The top two ended the day within three points of each other on 15 of the 77 days played.
Five teams held first place.
Tampa Bay Mutiny spent 170 of the season's 170 charted days in first place.