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If you are inside reading this on Saturday, and the sun is still up, what the actual hell is wrong with you? It's probably the prettiest day we're going to have this year in our Nation's Capital, so go out side and enjoy it. In fact, head on down to RFK Stadium, where D.C. United will have the best chance they're likely to have in a long time to do something they haven't done since 2010: beat Sporting Kansas City in a soccer match (thanks to fatigue from a midweek match for the Sporks, as well as an unreasonable number of absences they're facing due to injuries and international call ups). If for some reason you can't get out to RFK, then join us back here, in the comments of this very post, at kickoff time for our usual gamethread, where you can talk about the happenings on the field in real time with other Districtistas who couldn't be at the stadium tonight.
Let's get to it, then.
Kickoff Time: 7pm EDT
Venue: The totally-not-as-bad-as-Candlestick-Park-so-suck-it-San-Francisco RFK Memorial Stadium in the District of Columbia.
TV/Streaming: Those of you in and around the DC metro area can watch tonight on CSN Mid-Atlantic, while those of you in the diaspora can watch via MLS Direct Kick or stream the game on MLS Live. Dave Johnson and Santino Quaranta will be on the call.
Projected DC XI: There's some speculation that Ben Olsen will change things up, especially with Chris Rolfe's recent success moving from midfield to second foward. It's definitely a possibility, but I think it's more likely that we see that as a mid-game adjustment, not at the opening whistle. Look for the usual side in its usual 4-4-2: Bill Hamid; Sean Franklin (questionable, Chris Korb), Bobby Boswell, Jeff Parke, Cristian Fernandez; Nick DeLeon, Davy Arnaud, Perry Kitchen, Chris Rolfe; Eddie Johnson, Fabian Espindola.
Previews: As always, we have all our coverage neatly packaged in SB Nation's patented StoryStream. That's where you'll find a podcast preview, a lineup discussion, an unparallelled scouting report on the Sporks and more. Also as always, dcunited.com has their own preview and tactical take on tonight's match. For the KC perspective, be sure to check out our counterparts over at The Blue Testament.
Prediction: I say the Black-and-Red get it done. It will be closer than it should be, but I think Eddie Johnson nets a brace, which is just enough to beat out an Aurelien Collin goal off a set piece. 2-1 to the good guys.
What Are You Drinking?: Today seems like a great day for a Three Stars Peppercorn Saison, so I'm going to say that.
And now, welcome to your gamethread. This is your place for all pre-game, in-game and post-game commentary and conversation with your fellow United fans. So have at it. Vamos!