The Canadians are coming, eh?

Finally the Wizards are coming home to KC for their home opener. This year the Wizards open on a Wednesday against expansion club Toronto FC. Let's forget the fact that MLS had the bright idea to schedule KC's opener for a Wednesday night (expect the "move KC" people to come back out after this game, especially if the forecast for tomorrow remains true). After opening up with a big win in DC, KC has fallen twice, once in the US Open Cup to Real Salt Lake, and last Saturday to Chicago, both by the score of 2-1. The Wizards will now play their 4th game in 12 days, in their stretch of 5 in 15. All this does not bode well for a stellar performance.

It looks as though the Wizards will be without Scott Sealy again for this match, even though the preview for the match tomorrow on MLSnet says he's probable. What this means, is that Yura Movsisyan will likely get another start even though he did not impress at all in the game last week in Chicago, before being subbed out at halftime. We're also still not likely to see Carlos Marinelli start as he's probably still not up to full match fitness quite yet, although after his performance in Chicago and in Salt Lake, it's gonna start getting hard not to start him soon. I'd expect the same lineup as Saturday against Chicago, if Sealy is indeed out.

Hartman
Jewsbury - Garcia - Conrad - Bruciaga
Zavagnin
Arnaud - Victorine - Harrington
Movsisyan - Johnson

As for Toronto, they're on 10 days of rest after losing 4-0 to New England, and have since that time made 3 trades and one signing, bringing in Marvell Wynne from New York for an allocation and a draft pick, Kevin Goldthwaite from Houston for Richard Mulrooney, they traded Conor Casey to Colorado for a draft pick, and Riley O'Neill. Finally, Toronto announced the signing of Daniele Dichio from Preston North End. I'd expect Wynne and Goldthwaite to be in the lineup, but it appears that Dichio won't have his visa ready in time to play Wednesday. The Wizards are also likely to see this years first pick in the draft Maurice Edu who had missed the preseason with a groin injury. Also, while MLSnet lists Ronnie O'Brien and Chris Pozniak as being out for this match, TSN is reporting that both will be available for the game tomorrow.

Prediction
Anything less then a win tomorrow is a major disappointment for KC. They're at home, and they're playing the leagues newest team. I expect KC to come out and get the win fairly easily, although I see them conceding Toronto's first ever goal at the hands of Alecko Eskandarian (pun intended).

KC - 4 (Johnson, Arnaud x2, Marinelli)
TFC - 1 (Eskandarian)