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A big international friendly hosted by an MLS team usually involves a popular club from abroad that said MLS team won't get to play a competitive game against (at least until said club wins the CONCACAF Champions League). It usually does not involve a team that you have played real, competitive matches against.
Nevertheless, D.C. United will host CD Guadalajara, better known as Chivas. You may remember a very good DC side getting knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana in 2007 on away goals against these guys (a certain Ben Olsen scored the first leg's opening goal). You may also remember a less good DC side losing at home to Chivas in the not-exactly-fondly-remembered Superliga. Maybe some of their fans spat on you that night, or threatened you just for being a United fan. If those things apply to you, you're maybe not so excited about this game.
Hopefully tonight won't contain heartbreak, frustration, or knowing what it's like to have the sputum of strangers on your clothes.
Time: 8:00pm
TV/Streaming: ESPN2 in English, ESPN Deportes in Spanish, and watchespn.com in Internet (may be blacked out locally).
Venue: Estadio Robert F. Kennedy
Projected Lineup: With a very recent influx of new players who haven't been injured or mentally broken by this hell-season, this is a good opportunity to for United to accelerate the meshing process while also helping players who have been on their summer break - Jared Jeffrey, for example - get some fitness. Expect to see Joe Willis start in goal, one of James Riley or Chris Korb - mostly depending on Korb's hamstring - at right back, Taylor Kemp at left back, and a center back tandem of Ethan White and Conor Shanosky. In the engine room, we should expect to see Perry Kitchen and, if he's fit enough, Jeffrey (if not, John Thorrington would probably start, but it would be a shock to see him play beyond halftime). On the wings, Sainey Nyassi and Chris Pontius are essentially the only players available who are actually wingers, though if there was ever an opportunity to get Syamsir Alam into a game, this is it. I expect Luis Silva to start as our withdrawn forward/attacking midfielder hybrid, and up front we should see promising Academy product Michael Seaton rather than the cadre of non-scoring forwards we usually roll with.
Prediction: We're really bad, but most of our friendlies during bad seasons have been inexplicable wins where we temporarily solve whatever is wrong with us at the time. As such, I'm going with 3-2 United (goals by Pontius, Silva, and, because it'd be hilarious, Lionard Pajoy).
What are you drinking?: Today's rain has made me feel like I want an IPA, so I'm going to pick up some Dogfish Head 60 Minute on my way home.
This is your place for pre-game, in-game and post-game commentary on this friendly, the ennui you feel enveloping you as the game wears on, and anything else that's on your mind.