Inaugural Preview: Boston @ FC Gold Pride

By: David | April 4th, 2009

Apparently, there is some sort of important inaugural game of historic proportion this Sunday. Even USA Today is paying attention.

And the big question on everyone’s mind: “Will Brandi Chastain play?”

Seriously? Well, yes. Despite there being 20 other players eligible for the start (at least 10 of them who will definitely be on the pitch), all the big previews are about Chastain. Plus a little about Tiffeny Millbrett.

So, will she start? I don’t know. Let’s make an uninformed, wild-ass guess together:

Let’s start with the math, with 21 players on the opening day roster: You figure the “FC Fab Five” internationals will probably all start (Christine Sinclair up front, with Eriko Arakawa right next to her, Formiga and Adriane next to each other in midfield, in front of the vaguely defensive Erika).

National team players Leslie Osborne (M), Rachel Buehler (D), and Nicole Barnhart (GK) start, too. That’s eight.

Toss out the two other goalkeepers (Allison Whitworth and Meagan McCray) and “developmental players” – game eligible, but unlikely? – Marisa Abegg and Lindsay Massengale, and that leaves Brandi up against Carrie Dew (D), Kristen Graczyk (M/F), Leigh Ann Robinson (M), Tiffany Weimer (F), Kandace Wilson (F), and Tiffeny Milbrett (F). … for three remaining starting positions, all of them defensive in nature. Maybe.

Actually, as one of the major goal-scorers of the preseason, Millbrett’s a better bet to start ahead of Chastain, but I am still not sure who is going to play defense on this team.

Astute fans will note that there are only five defenders listed on the roster, and Chastain isn’t one of them (although two of the defenare “developmental defenders”). As near as I can figure out, this team isn’t actually interested in playing much defense in front of Barnhart anyway, so maybe Coach Albertin Montoya pencils Chastain in as an attacking defender, or something like that.

So … No, I don’t think she starts, and the rest of the sports media have been backing away from any guarantees of Chastain starting along with me.

But let’s be honest: she definitely will play. WPS rules allow for four substitutions each game anyway, so she will sub in before the inaugural crowd heads home … because no one wants Monday’s headlines to read something like “Boston Breaks Chastain-less Pride.”

… oh, and as far as the actual game goes … Both teams are loaded with offensive talent, including old-school US Womens National Team experience (assuming they all play, of course). My prediction: 4-4 Tie.

And, no I couldn’t find the official WPS tie procedure, but who wouldn’t like to see some 1999-style penalty kicks to settle the whole thing?