US Open Cup Time

For the first time in a couple years, the Wizards enter the US Open Cup proper. Tomorrow night they take on the Carolina Railhawks of USL-1. The last time the Wizards were in the US Open Cup, they defeated the Des Moines Menace 2-1 before losing 2-0 to Chicago. The Wizards come in on the backs of their 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake. The Railhawks also come in off of a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers at home. Including the US Open Cup, the Railhawks are undefeated at home this season, at 5-0-3. Even though they've struggled as of late in league play, the Railhawks will be a formidable opponent tomorrow night and will come in ready to repeat last year, when they defeated Chicago in the Open Cup.

With a game coming up this Friday in Dallas, Coach Onalfo has said that only 1-2 "starters" will play in the game against the Railhawks. The question is, what Onalfo meant by starters? Did he mean the starters from last Saturday against Salt Lake, or starters in general? I'm guessing it's the guys from Saturday night. That said I have to agree with the lineup that KC Futbol put out on the game.

Kronberg
Leathers - McKenzie - Wahl - Marquess
Zavagnin
Myers - Marinelli - Espinoza
Trujillo - Pore

The only possible change I could see, is playing Ryan McMahen (who made the bench Saturday night) in the middle next to Zavagnin in a flat midfield and Marinelli playing on the left wing, with Espinoza making way.

PREDICTION - Onalfo has said that he'd be taking the cup seriously, and honestly this is probably the Wizards best chance at silverware this season. Hopefully a team that will likely be mainly Wizards reserves will be able to take out the Railhawks tomorrow night. If the Wizards take this, I unfortunately for the game on Friday, see this game being decided in extra time.

KC - 2 (Pore, Espinoza)
Car - 1 (Antoniuk)