McBride's Brace Against DC

On This Day in 1996, the Forward Began His MLS Career by Scoring Twice in a Columbus Victory

When Major League Soccer kicked off its inaugural season in 1996, Brian McBride was perfectly positioned to write the first chapter of his professional soccer story. The first overall pick in the MLS Inaugural Draft, McBride arrived at Ohio Stadium on April 13 with a legacy of collegiate excellence and a hunger to prove himself at the professional level.

His journey had been anything but straightforward. After a stellar college career at Saint Louis University, where he set records with 72 goals and 40 assists, McBride had briefly ventured to Germany, playing for VfL Wolfsburg with limited success. However, MLS represented a new opportunity to become a pioneer in American soccer.

The inaugural match against DC United would become the defining moment of McBride's early career. With 25,266 fans packed into Ohio Stadium, the pressure was immense. But McBride thrived under the spotlight.

After Thor Lee's own goal gave Columbus an early lead, McBride seized his moment in the 29th minute. When DC defender Erik Imler slipped, McBride pounced. "I managed to get a foot on it to get clear, dribble twice until I got the opening and fired," he recalled later. "When I saw it was staying low, it was a sweet feeling. Really sweet."

His second goal came late in the match, a testament to his persistent attacking instinct. After a punt from goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi, McBride navigated past a disorganized DC defense and fired past goalkeeper Tom Causey. The crowd erupted, celebrating a goal and the birth of a new era in American soccer.

The final score - a comprehensive 4-0 victory - announced Columbus Crew's arrival in MLS. For McBride, it was more than just a match. "Everything just seemed so perfect," he said. "I couldn't ask for a better way to start my professional soccer career."

Despite the promising start, the Crew's inaugural season would prove challenging. They finished with a 6-16 record, landing in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. By August, the pressure had led to head coach Timo Liekoski's resignation, with assistant coach Tom Fitzgerald taking over. However, the season wasn't without its bright spots. In September, the Crew made their first-ever playoff appearance, losing 2-0 at home to Tampa Bay. For McBride, it was just the beginning of a journey that would see him become a cornerstone of both Columbus Crew and American soccer, transforming from a promising rookie to a legendary forward.