TUCSON, Ariz. – Wednesday night’s Desert Diamond Cup meeting between the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo is technically a preview of the March 6 regular-season opener, as the two sides will meet again just 11 days later at BBVA Compass Stadium to kick off the 2016 campaign.
In reality, however, Wednesday night’s preseason match at Kino North Stadium will be a “preview” in name only, as both sides are likely to mix and match lineups in the midweek showdown.
Recent history tells us this is the case. New England encountered an identical situation last year, facing off against Seattle Sounders FC in the Desert Diamond Cup just 11 days before visiting CenturyLink Field in the regular season.