Heading to Big D

Getting ready to leave to head on my second road trip of the year, this time down to Dallas for the Wizards 4th of July encounter with FC Dallas. Both teams are coming into the game on short rest, as they each played in the US Open Cup Tuesday night, where both teams won. Dallas should be the fresher team from that, though, as they were at home, and pulled off their win in regulation, while the Wizards had to travel to Carolina and went into extra time against the Railhawks.

Some good news for the Wizards, is the current injury report. While the Wizards only have reserve midfielder, Kevin Souter listed on it, Dallas has at least 3 players on there that would likely see time tomorrow. Midfielders, Pablo Ricchetti and Arturo Alvarez are both listed as out right now and midfielders Marcelo Saragosa and Dax McCarty are both listed as questionable. If none of those guys can go tomorrow, the Wizards chances definitely increase. The big match up tomorrow will be Wizards captain, Jimmy Conrad against FC Dallas forward, Kenny Cooper, should be a good one. With such a small injury list, I'd expect a lineup similar to the one that played against Salt Lake last week.

Hartman
Jewsbury - Conrad - Hohlbein - Harrington
Arnaud - Victorine - Morsink - Lopez
Trujillo - Sealy

I could see Kerry Zavagnin brought in for either Victorine or Morsink, but I don't think there's room in the starting 11 for Carlos Marinelli.

PREDICTION - I'd love for the Wizards to go in and treat Dallas like Chicago did to us on July 4, 2001, but that's a wish I'd like for basically every game, so I don't really see that happening. With the injury report, KC may have the advantage, but with 5 players in my starting 11 getting a lot of time in Carolina the fatigue factor may come into play early in the second half.

KC - 2 (Lopez, Trujillo)
FCD - 1 (Cooper)