'Thank god for Eric Wynalda' - MLS set to celebrate 30th anniversary with D.C. United vs. San Jose, rematch of league's first game

It was a memorable quote: "Thank god for Eric Wynalda."

That was Sunil Gulati said after the match. The former U.S. Soccer Federation president and previous MLS deputy commissioner, Gulati was a first-hand witness to Wynalda's goal that handed the Clash the first victory in league history.

Wynalda, a seasoned U.S. international, scored the winning goal in the 1-0 decision. The striker cut in on from his left foot, slotting the ball onto his right before curling home a brilliant effort.

"It would have been a very bad message if the game had ended up 0-0 and we had to go to a shootout to settle it," Gulati told MLS in 2016. "Eric – at the time the leading scorer for the US national team – to score a terrific goal late in the game was something that we couldn't have scripted. It was something that was very important, the result on the field."

Wynalda deemed the goal a "relief," adding that a primary reason he chose to join the Clash was so that he could play in the league's inaugural game - the U.S. striker wanted that moment of glory.

"Once the ball popped out of there and Ben [Iroha] got there first I was screaming at him to get me the ball because I had gotten myself into a really good starting point and I know Jeff [Agoos] really well," Wynalda told MLS. "I remember just wanting the ball so bad from [Iroha] and thank God he passed it to me early because I had a lot of time to think about it. I knew exactly what I wanted to do."

The goal literally kicked off a 30-year journey for MLS, in some ways writing the script for professional soccer in the U.S.

"That moment after was such a relief for so many reasons," Wynalda said. "I could watch it over and over again. But I don't watch the play, I watch the people and I watch my teammates because it was just such an enormous relief factor that that game didn't end 0-0. We got out of there with a win and a lot of attention to the league and an exciting finish which I think was really relevant.

"We didn't want to go to a shootout; we wanted the game to end in the way that it did, which was pretty phenomenal. If you really think about it, it was a pretty cool script."

Wynalda was just one of many iconic faces that took the pitch that day. Plenty of familiar faces from that monumental match still play a role in the American game today.

SAN JOSE CLASH

Goalkeeper: Tom Liner

Defenders: Tim Martin, Troy Dayak, John Doyle, Michael Emenalo, Ben Iroha

Midfielders: Jorge Rodas, Paul Bravo

Forwards: Jeff Baicher, Victor Mella, Eric Wynalda

Manager: Laurie Calloway

For the Clash, Emenalo is arguably the most successful player - off the pitch - to come out of the San Jose franchise. The former Nigeria international has held Sporting Director roles at both Chelsea and Monaco, but is currently the SD of the Saudi Pro League - home of Cristiano Ronaldo and countless other former European footballers.

Wynalda, meanwhile, has held various coaching roles across U.S. soccer - most notably with the Las Vegas Lights from 2018-2020. He's also worked as an analyst for both FOX and ESPN, as well as hosting a radio show with Sirius XM.

D.C. UNITED

Goalkeeper: Jeff Causey

Defenders: Thor Lee, Jeff Agoos, Said Fazlagic

Midfielders: Mario Gori, John Harkes, Richie Williams, Marco Etcheverry

Forwards: Shawn Medved, Berthy Suárez, Raúl Díaz Arce

Manager: Bruce Arena

Players that represented United that day have done well with finding a home for themselves within the game. Richie Williams is the head coach for the New England Revolution's MLS NEXT Pro side, while Marco Etcheverry recently held a role as an assistant coach in D.C.'s academy.

Jeff Agoos was recently named president and GM of soccer operations for the NWSL's Portland Thorns, while John Harkes is the technical director for McLean Youth Soccer - and prior, was Sporting Director and coach of the Greenville Triumph in USL.

And of course, there's Arena.

He has been a consistent winner on the touchline. He ended up taking D.C. to the promised land during their debut season, claiming the inaugural MLS Cup. The Clash themselves made the playoffs, but fell in the opening round in a best-of-3 series to eventual runners-up Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Typical of any new league, and a lot of people not knowing what the heck they were doing, including myself, it was hectic," Arena told reporters, recalling that inaugural match. "It was a little bit crazy. Coming to San Jose was exciting and all, but I don’t think we had a team ready to play. And I think the team that played on April 6, 1996, was much different than the team that played in the MLS Cup final, in I believe November that year. Hectic times, but exciting to get the league going."

But for one of MLS' most significant coaches, he's still playing his role in growing the league.

Manager of D.C. on that day, Arena - now 73 and MLS' all-time winningest coach - is giving it one last go on the touchline as manager of the Earthquakes, the organization that beat his team in his first professional match.

Captain of D.C. in 1996, John Harkes, will be watching Sunday's events unfold with a keen eye too, as his son Ian will be available for selection - though, unlike his father 30 years prior, Ian will be representing San Jose in the match. One thing remains the same between them both, though: Arena - who was on the touchline for John in 1996, and will be for Ian on Sunday.

“I'm torn now emotionally, because I want to support my son, who’s playing for San Jose, the opposition,” John told MLS earlier this week. “I'm thinking about going out there in my retro D.C. United kit. My wife’s like, ‘Oh, I don't know. You might get beat up.’ "

Ian, meanwhile, knows how momentous the occasion is. Growing up with his father being a professional for both club and country, and now an established professional himself, the younger Harkes is looking forward to this weekend's match.

“It is really special to have the crossovers there and both of us be involved,” Ian told MLS. “It'll be an exciting occasion, for sure, and everyone will be up for it, and just what it will mean to this community.”

Arena, meanwhile, has watched the league build over 30 years. He's been around for every up and down, twist and turn.

In addition to raising the MLS Cup five times, Arena also captured the Supporters’ Shield four times and has been MLS Coach of the Year four times. At the international level, he led the U.S. men’s national team to two FIFA World Cups - making the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years in 2002.

"I'm very proud of our league, our national team program, the American players - who I would think in 1996 globally, had no respect around the world," he told GOAL. "And today, the top American players are sought after by many leagues and many clubs around the world. So we've made a lot of growth in 30 years.

"It's still challenging for MLS, we've dealt with some tough times - in the the first 10 years of the league where there were a lot of questions about whether we could maintain this league. And great support from the some of the initial owners, like Lamar Hunt and Phil Anschutz and Robert Kraft - they stuck with the league, and the league is around today because of the support those men gave the league. So it's great that we're still going 30 years [later]."

San Jose is set to honor the occasion with a halftime ceremony during the match at PayPal Park.

Wynalda, John Doyle, Eddie Lewis, Altimont “Freddie” Butler, Troy Dayak, Tom Liner, Dave Gold and Dave Salzwedel will represent the Clash during the ceremony, while Arena, John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Shawn Medved and Marco Etcheverry will be present for D.C. United.

Fan-favorite supporter and Clash cheerleader Krazy George will also be on-hand for the event. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a throwback inaugural pennant, while retro gear will be available for fans to purchase.

The match will be full-circle for the league, and they'll celebrate how far they've come. And Arena doesn't think MLS is done growing. American soccer is climbing in all aspects, including this summer's FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A pivotal moment for the national team, Arena also thinks it will be a real turning point for the domestic game as well.

"I think after the World Cup in 2026, (MLS) is going to be one of the most sought-after leagues in the world by top players," he said. "That shows the global view of the sport in this country, Mexico and Canada – that the sport has arrived in our region, which is a real positive."