:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21875715/146487743.0.jpg)
HERE WE GO. 60 minutes out from kickoff, and the Fire look like they'll need all three points to avoid a road play-in game in just three or four days.
Frank Klopas has sent out precisely the side everyone expected, and not the side everyone feared - Alex slides into a central midfield slot beside Egidio Arévalo Rios. The complete lineup:
Johnson; Anibaba, Berry, Soumare, Segares; Nyarko, Rios, Alex, Duka; Magee (c), Anangonó. Bench: Tornaghi, Jumper, Paladini, Pause, Lindpere, Rolfe, Amarikwa.
Main thing that jumps out at me is that our MVP front-runner, Mike Magee, is wearing the captain's armband tonight. Were I him, I'd get used the the feeling - if he's not at least vice-captain in 2014, someone is really abusing the psychedelics in the coaching staff.
For RedBulls, a more attacking look than I expected in my tactical preview. Lloyd Sam starting on the right instead of Eric Alexander means that Holgersson, at right back, will be exposed one-on-one against Dilly Duka more frequently. It also means Gonzalo Segares needs to be on his game: Robles; Holgersson, Sekagya, Olavé, Carney; Sam, McCarty, Luyindula, Steele; Cahill, Henry. Bench: Meara, Miazga, Kimura, Barklage, Alexander, Espindola, Wright-Phillips.
Predictions? I'm going with 3-1 Fire, with Nyarko as Man of the Match, and Magee finishing the season in clear possession of the Golden Boot.