Tomorrow we take yet another shot at the U.S. Open Cup, a competition that barring our run to the final in 1999 we've never done well in, and rarely take seriously. This year our first opponents are the USL expansion side New Mexico United from just across the southern border in Albuquerque. Last year we went to Nashville and lost to their expansion USL side (without getting a shot on target), lets hope we don't repeat the experience tomorrow at home. Game time at the Dick is 7pm and season-ticket holders got a chance to get a free ticket while they're $10 for everyone else. General Admission, west side only, and enter through gate G (next to the team store). Eighteen76 will be closed for this one. No radio broadcast but ESPN+ has all the USOC games this year. No idea who will be on the call.
Injury Report:
OUT: D Kortne Ford; D Deklan Wynne
QUESTIONABLE: M Jack Price
Unavailable:
F Jonathan Lewis - U.S. Nats
D Sam Raben; F Matt Hudley - Cap-tied to Colorado Springs Switchbacks after playing in an earlier round
On top of that official news we've seen some evidence on social media of other players being unlikely to play. Based on his Instagram account Kei Kamara appears to be on vacation in Athens, Greece while MLS tweeted a video today of Tim Howard's visit to league HQ in New York City. So its probably a safe bet neither of them will be in the 18 tomorrow.
As always I refuse to make a lineup or score prediction on our Open Cup game, because what the organization says about how seriously they're taking the competition and what they actually do come game time tend to not match up. I assume we'll see Irwin in goal, guys like Shinyashiki, Vines, and Bassett get lots of playing time, and a couple of senior guys for some leadership but who that is and how they line up is a big question mark.
If the Rapids beat New Mexico, which they should, they would likely play their Round of 16 game next Tuesday/Wednesday before heading to Vancouver to restart the league season post-Gold Cup break.
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