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U.S. Open Cup: Red Bulls at Earthquakes (The Pre-Game)

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The New York Red Bulls are in San Jose today for tonight's U.S. Open Cup play-in match vs. the Earthquakes (10:30pm). The Red Bulls will be looking to erase the memory of Sunday's awful 3-2 loss to D.C. United, while also looking to improve on their 2008 Open Cup performance, which saw the Red Bulls bounced out by USL-2 side Crystal Palace Baltimore.

Tonight's U.S. Open Cup match won't be televised, but fear not, SBI will be providing live commentary from the match. SBI correspondent Sean Rubio will be at Buck Shaw Stadium tonight to keep you informed on all the action.

So what should we expect tonight? Don't expect to see full-strength teams. With both squads struggling in MLS play, you can bet that the Red Bulls and Earthquakes will be fielding plenty of reserves. So why should you still care about the match? Considering the struggles for both teams this season, tonight's match might help provide some insight into what reserve players may be ready to step up for bigger roles. The U.S. Open Cup might also be the best hope either team has for winning a trophy this season.

Here are some things to look for tonight:

Oduro and Wolyniec should get chances. With Juan Pablo Angel entrenched as a starter, and Mac Kandji serving as one of the few bright spots this season for New York, the fight for playing time at forward is a tough one. Oduro has gotten some chances but has done nothing with them. Wolyniec, on the other hand, has not gotten a real chance to contribute and should get the nod tonight with a chance to impress.

Cepero back in the net. Danny Cepero should get his first start in goal since suffering a concussion in the Red Bulls' tie vs. Houston. Jon Conway was solid at first, but he is coming off a shaky effort vs. D.C. United that must have Red Bulls coaches wondering if Cepero might not be the better long-term solution. A solid showing vs. San Jose could help Cepero's cause tremendously.

Petke's redemption. One of the more interesting storylines surrounding the Red Bulls has been Mike Petke's permanent residence on the bench after spending all pre-season and the season opener as a starter and projected defensive leader.

Danleigh dilemma. Khano Smith has beenthorouglyunderwhelming at left midfield this season and tonight's match could be Danleigh Borman's best chance to prove he deserves the nod. Then again, considering how well Borman did against LA last season, head coach Juan Carlos Osorio might just be ready to start him on Saturday vs. the Galaxy anyway. Either way, the Red Bulls need more from the left flank and tonight will offer us a chance to see if there's any hope for that position.

Those are just some of the things to look for tonight. What are you hoping to have happen tonight? Are you hoping Osorio uses mostly starters vs. San Jose, or do you accept that the league is more important and tonight is a chance for back-ups to show and prove?

Share your thoughts on tonight's match below (and be sure to follow tonight's match on SBI).

Comments

  1. There is also spots in the open cup for:

    USL First Division

    USL Second Division

    USL Premier Development League

    USASA regions

    they have their own qualifying for their allocated spots.

    Reply
  2. Each leauge/organization/regon has it’s qualifing teams.

    The six clubs with the most points at the end of the 2008 MLS regular season (Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA, Kansas City), automatically earn a spot in the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The remaining U.S. based clubs (New York, D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, Colorado, Dallas, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Seattle), play elimination matches to determine who will claim the remaining two MLS spots.

    Reply
  3. I’m sure this has been asked before, but how in the world has you have what is suppose to be you first tier league with play-in games, while the 2nd and 3rd tiers all automatically qualify for the tournament proper? Is this the case anywhere else in the world?

    Reply
  4. Well the good news is that Ives will be able to watch lost tonight before he has to do running commentary on this dog match!

    Reply
  5. Here is a novel idea Osorio, HOW ABOUT JUST PLAYING THE PLAYERS AT THIER BEST AND MOST CONFORTABLE POSITIONS INSTEAD OF A:

    boo bap bee boo, no whammy! lineup

    Thank you,

    The last Red Bull fan.

    Reply
  6. I would think that since Kandji and Rojas didn’t start this past weekend that Ossorio is planning on playing them both tonight. Johnson also I think will likely get the start in order to get him more familiar with what refs will let him get away with and what they won’t. Is Stammler injured? He was also left out of the lineup this past weekend so it would appear that he’s been rested so he’d be available for this match as well.

    Reply
  7. Thanks for covering this match!!!

    I could go with either goalkeeper.

    Tonight, I’d like to see (assuming Celades is still not ready):

    Pacheco … Boyens / Goldthwaite … Petke … Johnson

    Borman / Hall … Rojas … Stammler … Mbuta

    Oduro / Wolyniec … Kandji

    Reply
  8. Any word on Huckerby? I have to make my Fantasy team and need to know. If he plays any in this match then he is a def go on Saturday.

    Reply
  9. Mbuta in for Richards again? or that was just one time experiment. With center mid struggling why not try Richards in the middle and either Mbuta or Hall on the right

    Reply

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