Revolution vs. Sporting KC: How to Watch Wednesday’s Desert Diamond Cup Matinee

Despite a sluggish start to this year’s Desert Diamond Cup, the Revolution have much to play for on Wednesday afternoon.

The club featured mismatched defensive units in the tournament’s first two games, conceding five goals en route to a pair of two-goal defeats. Today, the team will look to get back on track by slotting center back Benjamin Angoua—acquired on on loan from French-side EA Guingamp last month—into the lineup.

Angoua has yet to feature in the tournament while nursing a minor injury, and will likely partner with newly-signed center back Antonio Delamea for the first time in cup action. The pair has spent much of this week working to build a rapport with one another.

Revolution forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen, who re-joined the club last week following a trade for Bobby Shuttleworth, also expects to make his first preseason appearance for the Revolution.

While Revs gaffer Jay Heaps has featured mostly experimental lineups during his previous two matches, Peter Vermes has sought consistency with his Sporting Kansas City squad. Vermes fielded identical starting lineups in both Diamond Cup outings, with U.S. International Graham Zusi featuring at right back and Benny Feilhaber, a former member of the Revolution, featuring in an advanced midfield role.

The last time these two teams met, the Revs collected a 2-1 win during a scrimmage. Goals from veteran Kei Kamara and trialist Joshua Smith helped the Revs to victory.

Today, Smith—along with fellow trialists Tristan Bowen and Tyler Turner—will try to strengthen his case for a permanent contract with the Revolution.

Match Details

Matchup: New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Kino Veterans Stadium, Tucson, Ariz.
Streaming: revolutionsoccer.net, FOX Sports GO