Pregame: Kansas City Wizards @ Columbus Crew

By: Michael | June 20th, 2007

The Skinny:
After four points from our home/away double against RBNY, the Wizards are in their busiest week without Eddie Johnson. Tonight will see us face off the Crew in an away game that presents some interesting flair now that the Crew are coming off a good showing against New England.

My Take:
Finally starting to get healthy and with our first game without EJo behind us, I see the Wizards walking into Columbus no reason to not win. Sure Schletto and the Crew have shown the ability to be competitive, but Onalfo’s boys are going to put their all into this one. A win here would put KC into first place and clinch Onalfo’s rightful place as the manager of the MLS All-Stars. With Columbus as banged up/missing players due to international absences as they are, I think we’re in for a Kansas City win.

The Starting XI:
According to the MLS injury report, Victorine is questionable and Burciaga is probable, while the game preview linked earlier reports Burciaga as questionable and Victorine as fine. The preview being four days more current, I’ll believe its report, and Columbus on a Wednesday is the kind of game you bench players for to heal up, I’m going to say Buricaga will not be starting… though I won’t choke on my gametime bag of pretzels if he’s in the lineup. My guess is Harrington playing the back for Burciaga whilst Onalfo tries to get Sealy back into things and at the same time sees if the Yura wave will continue.

——————Hartman—————
Jewsbury—-Garcia—-Conrad—Harrington
—————-Zavagnin—————–
Arnaud———-Marinelli——-Victorine—
———Sealy————Yura————

Prediction Time:
My Prediction: Crew 1 - 3 Kansas
FIFA ‘03 Prediction: Crew 2 - 2 Kansas

Some exciting things have begun to transpire this week for the Wizards (more transfer rumors, a BigSoccer post by Robb Heineman, etc.), so stay tuned as I follow what’s going on and bring it to you here.

Enjoy the game, everyone…