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The Richmond Kickers have their second to last game of the season tonight, taking on Orlando City SC at City Stadium. The Kickers and Orlando City are currently tied atop the USL Pro standings, and a win by either team would give them the Commissioner's Cup regardless of what happens over the weekend. It is also a matchup between the league's best offense, in Orlando City, and the league's best defense, the Kickers. The Commissioner's Cup would also come with home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the USL Pro Championship.
D.C. United has sent three of its loanees down to Richmond for this game: Andrew Dykstra, Conor Shanosky, and Michael Seaton. All three of these players have been key pieces for Richmond throughout the year, and their presence will help give the Kickers the most potent lineup available.
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: City Stadium, Richmond, Va.
Streaming: As with all USL Pro games, this titanic struggle will be streamed on uslnation.com.
Match previews: You can read some match previews from the Richmond Times-Dispatch and uslpro.com.
Richmond Kickers Lineup Prediction: Andrew Dykstra will be in goal, with William Yomby and Conor Shanosky in front of him and Alex Lee and Sascha Goerres as the fullbacks. Luke Vercollone and Mike Callahan will be the defensive midfielders, with Nate Robinson, Joseph Ngwenya, and Brian Ownby as the attacking midfielders. The Kickers' all-time leading goalscorer, Matthew Delicate, scored two against Dayton on the weekend; however, I still think that Michael Seaton gets the start.
Match Prediction: The Kickers will take the Commissioner's Cup tonight, given themselves their first silverware since 2009. I will say a 2-0 victory, just like the previous meeting.
What are you drinking? Nothing for me since I'll be in the press box, but if you can find a Richmond beer wherever you are tonight, raise one to urge the Kickers on.
As always, this is the place for your pre-game, in-game, and post-game chatter.