Know Thy Enemy: Revs-DC US Open Cup Edition

Normally, a summer meeting between two teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

The fifth round of the US Open Cup however is always a big deal, so we decided to bother our good friend Ben Bromley over at Black and Red United to discuss tonight’s goalkeeper not named Bill Hamid that will repeatedly rob the Revs of good goals because it’s Revs-DC.

TBM: So...why'd you gotta show up the guys from Christos FC? Why you gotta disrespect the USASA like that...that free kick goal gave us so much hope and then you lot ruined it. Recap your fourth round win.

BB: It started off slow, and it was a little disappointing that the reserves couldn't do a better job against Christos FC. But once Lloyd Sam came on, the game changed and his creativity was able to turn a tight game into a blowout late. The reserves, who I assume will mostly start this evening, will have to do better against the New England Revolution, obviously.

TBM: Normally we get to talk about starting lineups, but the USOC gives us a chance to look at more of the reserve players. Who's a lesser known DCU player who could step up big at Harvard?

BB: Despite scoring two goals against Christos, Julian Buescher will need to step even more to unlock the Revs. Currently the understudy to Luciano Acosta, Buescher is capable of having big games; he needs to get better at the rest of the things that Ben Olsen requires of his midfielders.

We could also see the return from injury of one or two players, though probably not from the start: Sean Franklin, Nick DeLeon, and Rob Vincent have all been out for over a month. I don't think DeLeon is ready, but both Franklin and Vincent could see some minutes to bolster United.

TBM: Bill Hamid gets another shot with the USMNT at the Gold Cup, what does that mean for him and how will the team cover his absence?

BB: Travis Worra covered for Bill Hamid while he was injured last season, and he will do so again while Hamid is at the Gold Cup. Worra is a young player who is a good shotstopper, but like most young keepers he needs to improve his decision making and positioning. He has come up big in the Open Cup before, and his energy and enthusiasm can spark United, so I look for him to do a good job. No one, however, is Bill Hamid.

Lineup/Injuries/Predictions/Etc.

Travis Worra; Chris Odoi-Atsem, Jalen Robinson, Steve Birnbaum, Chris Korb; Marcelo Sarvas, Chris Durkin; Patrick Nyarko, Julian Buescher, Sebastien LeToux; Jose Ortiz

2-1 United