MLS: Home/Away - Unbeaten/Winless streaks

I already posted the overall longest unbeaten/winless streaks last year (see The Arsenal of MLS). Now we can a little more detailed and look at the record holders for home/away games only. It's also a way to figure out exactly how horrible Real Salt Lake is (see below).

As always, games that went to a shootout are counted as draws.

HOME - UNBEATEN

1	San Jose	18	2005-6
2	Los Angeles	17	2004-5
3	D.C. United	16	1996-7
3	Colorado	16	2003-4
5	San Jose	15	1999-2000
5	Chicago	15	2000-1
5	San Jose	15	2001-2
5	Los Angeles	15	2002-3
9	Los Angeles	14	1997-8
9	D.C. United	14	1998

So with the final regular season home game of last year (the disappointing 2-2 draw with RSL), the Earthquakes not only became the first team to go unbeaten at home, but also set an MLS record. They also managed to overtake their hated rivals in the process. And if there is an Earthquakes expansion team in the future, they might be able to extend the streak.

No surprise at the teams that dominate this list, except for Colorado. There are 9 other streaks in the double digits.

Dallas currently has a 9 game home unbeaten streak. Along with Kansas City, they are the only two original MLS teams still in the league who haven't had a double digit streak.


HOME - WINLESS

1	New York	11	1999
2	San Jose	9	2000
2	Real Salt Lake	9	2005-current
4	New England	8	1998
4	Tampa Bay	8	2000-1
6	New York	7	2004-5
7	Columbus	6	1996
7	San Jose	6	1999
7	Dallas	6	2002-3
7	Chivas USA	6	2005
7	Dallas	6	2005

Only one streak reaching double digits here, but that could change in 8 days.

There has generally been a huge difference in the preformance of teams at home versus on the road in MLS. From 1996-2005, home teams were 846-468-372. Away teams are barely averaging over a point per game. So you can see why hardly only 11 teams have even gone 6 games at home without a victory.

Currently, Columbus has gone 5 home games without a victory. So they could join this list tomorrow with a draw or loss. Los Angeles is also riding a 4 game home winless streak.


AWAY - UNBEATEN

1	Columbus	9	2004
2	D.C. United	8	1997
2	D.C. United	8	1999
2	Tampa Bay	8	1999
5	Los Angeles	7	1997-8
5	New England	7	2002-3
5	San Jose	7	2003
8	Tampa Bay	6	1996
8	Los Angeles	6	1998-9
8	Colorado	6	1998-9
8	Dallas	6	1999
8	Los Angeles	6	1999-2000
8	Kansas City	6	2000
8	San Jose	6	2001
8	San Jose	6	2005
8	New York	6	2005-current

The Crew can add this to the overall unbeaten streak that they hold. I'm glad that they set the mark, because like the overall and home unbeaten records, it's been done since the shootout era ended and MLS will officially recognize it. That's a pet peeve of mine.

They only went 2-0-7 in setting the record, but it still counts all the same.

The Red Bulls are on the list and are three games away from tying them. It's interesting, because over the past 10 years they've been a pretty decent away team. They just ruin that by under-preforming at home.


AWAY - WINLESS

1	Kansas City	21	1998-9
1	New York	21	1998-9
3	Real Salt Lake	19	2005-current
4	Colorado	18	1996-7
4	D.C. United	18	2001-2
6	Los Angeles	17	2003-4
7	Chicago	14	2004-5
7	Chivas USA	14	2005
9	Columbus	12	1996
9	New York	12	1996-7
9	Tampa Bay	12	1997
9	Colorado	12	1999-2000
9	San Jose	12	1999-2000

Yes, RSL does not have the worst road streak ever. The Wizards set the mark on August 6, 1999, and the Metrostars tied it 22 days later. Ha, they can't even be first in sucking. I kid, I kid...Actually, the 1999 Metros are beyond awful. They hold the longest streaks for being winless at home, on the road, and overall. It's the triple crown of sucking.

8 additional teams have double digit streaks. Every single MLS has had one (except Houston of course).

Dallas currently has a 9 game winless streak away from home (to go along nicely with their 9 game unbeaten streak at home).


Special section - RSL & Futility: BFFs

RSL is on the verge of breaking many MLS marks for futility. Let's take a look, first with the streaks:

Overall winless streak

Record: 19
Current: 18

Home winless streak

Record: 11
Current: 9

Away winless streak

Record: 21
Current: 19

And let's not forget the records they already set last year:

Away PPG-0.13 (worst alltime)
Goals scored PG-0.94 (worst all time)

Overall they were the third worst MLS team ever. Chivas was right along with them, but at least they look like they're improving.