First Road Trip

Match Day Quick Reference Guide provided by Sounder At Heart

The Wizards head out on the road for the first time this year in the MLS season when they take on the Seattle Sounders out in Seattle tomorrow at 2pm. Seattle comes into the game 1-1-1 after drawing 2-2 last week with Real Salt Lake. That'd be seen as a decent result from the outside, as RSL is a good team at home. But Seattle surrendered a late equalizer to lose 2 points from that game. That late equalizer aside, Seattle is a very good side, and one of the early season favorites to make MLS Cup. Their led by Freddie Ljungberg and Kasey Keller, along with Fredy Montero.

KC has to overcome their first let down of the season from their 2-1 loss to Colorado in the US Open Cup on Tuesday night. Even though it wasn't all starters, it will be interesting to see how the team takes it, along with their first trip outside KC for a league game. The Wizards come into this game very healthy with only Zoltan Hercegfalvi being out for this one, other than that the rest of the roster should be available. Ryan Smith, Stephane Auvray, Jimmy Nielsen, and others should be returning to the starting lineup after either having Tuesday off or coming in off the bench.

Key Match Up - Ryan Smith vs James Riley - Smith has been one of the very bright spots early in the MLS season and will have the chance to prove his wares on the road against Riley. Riley is known to Wizards fans for being abused by Eddie Johnson in his hattrick against the Revolution a few years ago. Smith is a different type of player, but if Smith can take advantage of Riley, it should be a good day for the Wizards winger.

PREDICTION - This is going to be the toughest of the season so far for KC, on the road against probably one of the better teams in the league, it'll be a real test for the rebuilt Wizards. Seattle is going to be near the top of the Western Conference and the league this entire season I would expect. Smith is going to need to take advantage of his match up with Riley, while Auvray is going to need to follow Ljungberg when he drops into midfield, while also being midfield of Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans coming out of midfield. KC doesn't need to come into Seattle intimidated, having won their last year with a team that wasn't as talented as this one. A draw seems like it could be a likely result out of this. That said, getting a draw out of this game would be a good result for KC in my opinion.

KC - 1 (Wolff)
Sea - 1 (Montero)