Week Fourteen: Battle for Playoff Position

This is the big one folks. Or one of the big ones. Depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, there could be a lot of them left. The Flyers dug themselves a big hole early in the season. Rose City's been playing well lately on a six game unbeaten streak but that could all come to a screeching halt versus the BSL's number one offense in Alamo City. The opponents are averaging 4.2 points a game which poses a problem. However, the Boys in Red have posted at least that many in every game for the past five weeks. It's time to see who's firepower shows up to what looks to be a gun show.

There are big implications in this match. The odds of the Flyers catching Alamo City for the Honors Trophy are pretty long, but three points could very easily put them within striking distance of a playoff spot. Both the third and fourth place teams sit on 25 points and a loss by either makes things very interesting. In addition, a Flyers win gives Orange County another look at reclaiming the number one spot.

Most everyone's healthy and only Rodney Wallace will sit out this week due to an MLS bye. Martin Rivero is questionable for his match against Dallas after picking up a knock against Chivas last week. However, the US Open Cup is in full swing and Montreal just finished the last game in the Canadian Championship as well so rosters for MLS teams might look a little strange. We're going to be on most of the heavy hitters at least starting if not going the full 90 anyway. Di Vaio and Bernier both saw 90' against Vancouver mid-week however so it's not totally unexpected to see one or both of them come of the bench or get subbed off the pitch around the hour mark.

Note: The questionable nature of both Castrillon and Rivero this week means that changes to the lineup may be made up to the deadline.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
Danny Cruz (PHI)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Eric Hassli (DAL)
Kekuta Manneh (VAN)
Zach McMath (PHI)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)

Subs
Daniel Paladini (CHI)
Jamie Castrillon (COL)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Reserve
Luis Robles (NY)

Week Six Lineup

This week's gonna take some work; that's for sure. Montreal has a bye week in MLS which means no Marco Di Vaio and no Patrice Bernier. Sanna Nyassi's out of the question as well. Seattle too is not playing this week due to CCL commitments so you won't see Mauro Rosales either. That means that, once again, the Boys in Red are looking a little thin. Not everything is bad news though. Alan Gordon got limited minutes last week and is expected to see even more (maybe even starting) this week with San Jose. Winning this game would continue a great trend for Rose City, leaving the team at .500 and in a good position to head up the table as more of the injured players return to their respective lineups. Alliance is at the same record and, generally speaking, has had issues scoring this season so it's not impossible to see the Flyers come out with a "W".

Starters
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
David Estrada (SEA)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Luis Robles (NY)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)

Reserves
Zach McMath (PHI)