Heading to Philadelphia

The Wizards continue their current push to get back into the playoff race this weekend against expansion side Philadelphia. This is a game that the Wizards would have expected to hopefully get something out of in their hopes of making the playoffs. Last week's result against LA helps ease this from a must win this week. Still the Wizards need to get points on the road and against the expansion Union the Wizards would likely still want to get something from this game. The Union won their last game on the road against New England. They've draw their last two league home games 1-1 against Colorado and RSL. Wednesday the Union took on the Wizards future designated player Omar Bravo and Chivas. Many of the Union's starters played in the game but not really more than a half so it shouldn't really affect the game tomorrow.

The Wizards are looking to continue their good run of form since the middle of July. They'll have to do it this week without top scorer, Kei Kamara who is currently in Egypt with the Sierra Leone national team for an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday. The big question is who is going to replace Kamara out on the right wing tomorrow. The likely replacement one would think is Teal Bunbury who was on the bench last week after Birahim Diop's two goal performance the week before. The other potential option is Josh Wolff returning to the starting line. Some people would think sliding Davy Arnaud into that spot and putting Graham Zusi in the midfield would be the best option, but I don't entirely agree. The midfield has been playing extremely well the past few weeks and I wouldn't go about breaking that up at this time.

Nielsen
Harrington - Thomas - Conrad - Espinoza
Arnaud - Auvray - Rocastle
Bunbury - Diop - Smith

Key Match - Jimmy Conrad and Shavar Thomas vs Sebastien Le Toux - Since he was moved back to the forward position this season with Philadelphia, Le Toux has had an MVP type season for the expansion Union, it'll be up to Conrad and Thomas to hopefully shut down Le Toux in Philly.

PREDICTION - As I said the win last week against LA was a surprise result and keeps this from being a must win. But a win here would certainly help the Wizards in their quest to make the playoffs. The Wizards certainly have the run of form to get the result here. But even a draw on the road would help the Wizards on their playoff race.

KC - 1 (Bunbury)
PHI - 1 (Le Toux)