Or is it a game against banana peels? (Get it? Columbus wear all yellow? Got my dumb joke out of the way early.)
Call this a game of contrasts: Sporting Kansas City are near the top of the MLS table in goals scored and goals allowed while the Columbus Crew are riding a streak of 3-straight shutouts and have only scored one goal from the run-of-play. Whatever you call it, it's the sort of game that KC must feel like they can win but will be a much more difficult task than it appears. It’s the classic tale of the easily-movable object meeting the somewhat-resistible force.THE BASICS
Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. WHERE CAN I FIND KSMO-TV?Time Warner: 10/1010 HD || Comcast: 10/231 HD || AT&T U-Verse: 62/1062 HD || DirecTV: 62/951 HD* || Dish Network: 62/6382 & 8434 HD || Surewest: 10*I've got the plethora of English-language channels, I don't get Ch. 951 on DirecTV. The only feed for KSMO on DirecTV is Standard Definition.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR SKC?
1. Has Kansas City tightened up on defense?Kansas City has had a full two weeks to work on it, but has Vermes corrected the deficiencies that have plagued KC so far?2. Can Birahim Diop cover enough ground in midfield?
It’s looking fairly certain that Diop will again anchor the midfield over Craig Rocastle and Stephane Auvray. Diop is a big bruiser who likes to get forward -- remember, he was KC’s make-shift striker last season. If he gets stuck up-field (which was an issue against Vancouver) it creates a large void in front of the defensive line and3. Does the team really need Omar Bravo?
I’m kidding. Kind of. But it is interesting that Sporting Kansas City have scored its last 6 goals (including the Open Cup) without its designated player being on the field. This could be a decent sign that KC can cope (and score) with him on the bench the next 4-6 weeks.
Don’t forget to check out The Star’s preview by Terez Paylor: Sporting KC gets an intriguing matchup in the Columbus Crew.
FACT!
Columbus have only scored 1 goal from the run-of-play so far this season; two of its three for the season have come from the penalty spot.RECENT FORM
Columbus: LDWDKansas City: WLD
COLUMBUS SCOUTING REPORT
This isn't the Crew you remember. It's very much a team in transition. They still play excellent defense (three-straight shutouts this year) and they have dangerous players on set-pieces, but they have struggled greatly on offense so far. ... While there are plenty of recognizable faces in the banana kits (like Eddie Gaven, Robbie Rogers, Emilio Renteria, Chad Marshall and Will Hesmer), there is one very key player missing: Guillermo Barros Schelotto. His absence has really hampered the Crew in the attacking third, as he pulled the strings for the attack. ... Rogers is still a very dangerous player on the left. ... I like watching Gaven play. He works hard and has a nose for goal coming out of the midfield. ... The duo of Marshall and Julius James has been nothing short of excellent in front Hesmer. ... It's just fun to say: Dilly Duka.HISTORY VS. COLUMBUS
In 41 meetings, Columbus holds a slight 19-17-5 edge over Kansas City. Last year, the two teams split 1-0 away wins.KC CONNECTIONS
Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer played for Kansas City from 2004-06 and reserve ‘keeper Andy Gruenebaum is from Overland Park (he played at Blue Valley North). … Crew forward Tommy Heinemann (no relation to Robb Heineman that I know of) is from St. Louis and attended Rockhurst University. … Crew technical director Brian Bliss was both a player and coach in Kansas City. … Injured KC midfielder Konrad Warzycha is the son of Columbus coach Robert Warzycha. … Kei Kamara began his career as a member of the Crew.INJURY REPORT
COLUMBUS CREW – OUT: DF Shaun Francis (L hamstring strain); MF Danny O'Rourke (L knee surgery)SPORTING KANSAS CITY – OUT: FW Konrad Warzycha (R knee surgery); DF Chance Myers (L abductor strain); FW Omar Bravo (sports hernia); MF Luke Sassano (L ankle sprain); DOUBTFUL: MF Ryan Smith (L knee inflamation); PROBABLE: MF Graham Zusi (R knee sprain); DF Julio Cesar (R hamstring strain)
SUSPENSIONS/INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES
SUSPENDED -- None INTERNATIONAL ABSENCE -- NoneTODAY'S REFEREE:
Juan Guzman. Oh boy. This will be Guzman’s first ever MLS game. The 4th official is Baldomero Toledo. This could get ugly.LINE-UP PREDICTION:
SUBS: Kronberg-Lorenz-Thomas-Auvray-Rocastle-Aiyegbusi-Zusi
