Wizards Begin Home-Home with Fire

Tomorrow night, the Wizards begin a quick home-home series with Chicago, they'll complete the series Saturday night with a match at Toyota Park. Chicago comes in on a 3 game unbeaten run, having defeated Toronto 3-0, tying Columbus 0-0, and beating Real Salt Lake 2-0. Blanco has helped to turn this team around and has them back into the playoff hunt. The Wizards on the other hand seem to be in a funk, they've lost their last 2 matches to New England and have looked completely out of each game, barely creating any chances. Hopefully the fact that the Wizards won't see New England again until the playoffs will help them to pull out of this. This Wizards, though, are 0-1 against Chicago this season, losing 2-1 all the way back at the second game of the season, where the Wizards only goal was a late PK by Carlos Marinelli.

Speaking of Carlos, he's out for this match due to yellow card accumulation, hopefully the Wizards midfield will pick up the creative slack. The question becomes, who plays in Marinelli's place? Do you put Scott Sealy up top with Eddie Johnson, or do you throw Davy Arnaud up top and let Eloy Colombano make his first career MLS start? My guess is we see Sealy get his chance tomorrow, with Colombano possibly coming on at halftime again. The other question is, will Jimmy Conrad play? Conrad picked up an injury late against New England, although he's listed as probable in the game report. I'd expect him to start.

Hartman
Jewsbury - Garcia - Conrad - Burciaga
Zavagnin
Arnaud - Victorine - Harrington
Sealy - Johnson

Prediction
The Wizards really need 3 points here to get out of their mini slump and to reassert themselves as real contenders in the East. Unfortunately I only see the Wizards getting a point out of the game tomorrow.

KC - 1 (Johnson)
Chi - 1 (Blanco)