Unlike the last time the Crew visited the Nation's Capital, the Black & Gold will be squaring-off with D.C. United under near-perfect weather conditions instead of temperatures in the upper-90s with 55-percent humidity tonight. A comfortable 61-degrees is expected at kickoff.
Different from most road matches, Robert Warzycha will have his entire roster to choose from tonight as the reserves arrived in Washington this morning for tomorrow's Reserve League finale.
Centerback Julius James did not make the trip after suffering a hamstring injury this week in training, forcing Warzycha to shuffle his back line against United. James had started the last five matches alongside Chad Marshall in central defense. Danny O'Rourke, Josh Williams, Eric Gehrig, and the newly-healthy Carlos Mendes are all viable options to replace the injured Trinidad & Tobago defender.
The Crew and D.C. United have split 1-0 results in their previous two matches in 2012, with the home team prevailing in both fixtures.
What are your predictions for tonight's match? Can the Black & Gold pick up a crucial three points on the road to stay in the playoff hunt?
