WHO: Swope Park Rangers Sporting Kansas City II, 2-1-4, 7 points, 4th place Group E

WHAT: A regular season USL Championship Group E match

WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 8:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams Street, Louisville, KY 40206

WATCH: WMYO TV, ESPN+, listen on 840 WHAS

MARCH: Don’t do that. The Russians haven’t even given us their vaccine yet.

WHO, AGAIN? This is the third of four games Louisville City plays against SKC II this weird, weird season. The first two were a lot more difficult than we expected, and this one really shouldn’t be much different. The better news for City is that Swope I mean Sporting II played on Saturday night, too, and either have had to travel to St. Louis to Kansas City to Louisville in the last four days, or just haven’t been home at all.

That said, adversity hasn’t stopped these guys often this season. Yeah, they’ve only won two games, but this is a good team. They’re young, they’re fast, and they’re well-coached. Since we last saw them, they’ve beaten Indy XI at Lucas Oil Stadium, drawn St. Louis (by the skin of STL’s teeth) and then lost again last week in a game that was closer than the score indicates. Beating Indy at home is no laughing matter, as if LouCity needed any further convincing.

Lil’ KC are a team that wants the ball, and they take decent advantage of the chances they get. Louisville City will have to try and impose their will on this game to keep possession and limit chances. It’s a big ask, to be fair, but one I think Morados are up for.

More importantly, City have to win this game to keep pace in Group E. A win means a tie on points for second with St. Louis. A loss means wasting a game in hand and a much tighter margin for error in the last eight games of the season. Points are precious right now. LouCity can’t afford to throw any away.

From a personnel standpoint, I think a lot of spots in the lineup are tossups given the short rest from Saturday. Could we see an Oscar/Akil pairing at fullback? I have a feeling Totsch gets another start at center back, but what about his partner? Does Cam get the nod up top again? Napo the winger? Or maybe Jason Johnson finally stretches his legs in a longer appearance than he’s gotten so far? And can DelPiccolo and Bone shoulder the midfield load again, or will we see a very different midfield than we’re used to?

Hackworth could just as easily throw out the same starters as on Saturday, and I wouldn’t complain. But a compressed schedule often makes for interesting choices, and that’s fun (as long as they work!).

Players to watch:

Wilson Harris is the leading scorer out of the midfield, but I’d argue Enoch Mushagalusa and Fredlinho Mompremier are the real teeth of this team. City did a decent-ish job keeping them in check the last time out, but were undone by their own mistakes in the second match, a loss.

Let’s go get three points! VAMOS MORADOS!