WHO: Sporting Kansas City II again, 0-3-0, 0 points, 4th place Group E

WHAT: A regular season USL Championship match

WHEN: Wednesday, July 29, 2020, 8:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Lynn Family Stadium, 38° 15′ 34″ N, 85° 43′ 55″ W

WATCH/LISTEN:

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter and Louisville City FC on Facebook. You can also find photo stuff at louisvillecityfc on Instagram.

On the WMYO-TV/ESPN+ streaming call: Sean Saint Jacques (play by play) and Devon Kerr (color).

And for News Radio 840 WHAS: Clay Ables (play by play) and Jeff Greer (color).

MARCH: It’s COVID-19 so we can’t be doing that. Given the recent orders about bars and restaurants from the Governor’s office, City’s a bit fortunate to be allowed to host fans at this match, so let’s be responsible, smart and vigilant, mkay? I know those aren’t adjectives often used to describe soccer fans, but we can do it!

WHO, AGAIN? Okay, I may have undersold Kansas City a bit last time out. They’re actually pretty good. Not “will qualify for the playoffs” good, but certainly less than the pushover I was hoping for. Paulo Nagamura had a smart game plan for that match, and it nearly worked for a half and a couple of OMG moments in the second half that SKCII somehow frittered away.

The real chess match for this game is personnel. Fortunately for LouCity, they can put out their eleven best and most fit players for this match because there’s no game this coming Saturday. Sporting II doesn’t have that luxury. I’d argue Christian Duke, Dillon Serna and Fredlin Mompremier are three of KC’s best players, and I don’t think any of those three (save maybe Mompremier) will be starting this match because they put in so many minutes last weekend.

Who’s even on this trip with KC? We don’t really know aside from the 18 they used on Saturday. Let’s take a quick look at that:

Nagamura wisely used all five subs, though probably a bit too late for them to matter for this match. I doubt we’ll see more than half of those starters again tonight, but Mompremier might get another good run out.

That makes me a bit nervous because Pat McMahon definitely had his hands full with Fredlinho and I’m not sure he’ll start. I’d argue Oscar shouldn’t start, either, but knowing him I’m sure he’ll be out there. I’m less certain about anyone else in defense, though. Will Souahy and Ockford get another chance as the starting center back pairing? Is Akil ready for another nod at right back? Is Paolo DelPiccolo okay? He didn’t make the 18 last match, and would be pretty useful in this game after Speedy went the full 90 on Saturday.

McCabe, Lancaster, Napo and Ownby went the distance, too. I have a feeling we’re going to at least see Abdou Mbacke Thiam and Antoine Hoppenot start this match. My slightly greater concern is who’s playing behind them. City have struggled to create space in the center of the pitch in possession near the goal so far this season. Normally, Magnus Rasmussen would be able to help there, but he’s still in Denmark on paternity leave and doesn’t look to be coming back any time soon. Corben Bone has been subtly useful but hasn’t consistently been able to unlock much so far, and he went 81′ last time out. So did Ownby and McCabe, the two other guys I’d have given a shot at playing center attacking midfielder. Maybe Paolo is the answer at the 10 spot, just a bit deeper? Who knows.

Long story short, it’ll be interesting to see what City does this time out on a short turnaround and in need of three more points. St. Louis beat Indy XI last weekend which helped Morados catch back up to the top of the Group E standings a bit. But every point counts right now, and this is another no-excuses game for Hackworth and his team.

I think they can do it. VAMOS MORADOS!