Qwest Field will be packed for tonight's opener. (Getty Images)

Well First Kick is finally here. A couple months ago some folks thought it may not happen due to a possible lockout or strike but all of those issues are behind us and we now get to focus on the beautiful game itself. A new season is here and there’s not a better place to open it up I think then at Qwest Field with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the new kids in town Philadelphia Union.

Piotr Nowak has spent nearly a year putting together this expansion side for Philadelphia. From the expansion draft in November to the SuperDraft in January, along with several other pickups along the way Nowak faced a tough task to live up to last year’s expansion darling, the Sounders.

Seattle has grown stronger in the winter months as manager Sigi Schmid kept most of his bunch from a season ago that was just a few points off of the Supporter’s Shield mark. Schmid will once again lean on young Colombian Fredy Montero and Swedish star Freddy Ljungberg to guide their attack in 2010.

For Philly to win tonight they’ll have to take the crowd at Qwest Field out of it early. Their attack will have to get going which has been a huge question mark on a lot of folks mind this winter. We know Alejandro Moreno can score and we know former Sounder Sebastian Le Toux can be a hand full but will they really be enough against Seattle’s defense? I kind of doubt it.

Look for Seattle to control things in the midfield with Ljungberg and Osvaldo Alonso. Seattle also has an advantage on the wings with Steve Zakuani and Nate Jaqua.

Matchup to watch: Stefani Miglioranzi vs. Osvaldo Alonso

With Fred suspended due to a red card from 2009 (I hate that cards carry over like that), Migloranzi will be called to do a lot of work on the wings and in the midfield for Philadelphia. Alonso was one of the better defensive midfielders in the game last season, look for him to match up well against Migloranzi.

Player to watch for: Fredy Montero – He’ll scored the goals in this one.

At the end of the night I see Seattle’s crowd and talent on the field being too much for the young Union to overcome. I like Nowak’s side but not enough on the road in a very tough first game. Schmid’s team will show exactly how good they will be this year in the opener.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 2, Philadelphia 0

Yes, the first home game for Union will be at Lincoln Financial Field and not the new Chester Stadium. Union officials said yesterday that they went ahead and booked the Linc for their home opener instead of working out a way to spend the first few weeks of their expansion season on the road. A trade off indeed but it works out.

I love the league going to some rivalry games to kick off the new season next year. Dallas and Houston along with games like New York and Chicago from the new Red Bull Arena should be a good way to start a new season. Plus what seems to be an annual thing now between Columbus and Toronto is also on the First Kick menu.

Below are the rest of the home openers throughout the league.

REGULAR SEASON – WEEK 1
First Kick presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods – Thursday, March 25, 2010
Philadelphia Union at Seattle Sounders FC, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2/Deportes, ESPN360.com)

Saturday, March 27, 2010
Toronto FC at Columbus Crew, 4 p.m.
Chicago Fire at New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/Deportes, ESPN360.com)
D.C. United at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m.
Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes, 9 p.m.
New England Revolution at LA Galaxy, 11 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español)

Sunday, March 28, 2010
Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA, Time TBD (TeleFutura)

REGULAR SEASON – WEEK 2
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Chicago Fire at Colorado Rapids, Time TBD
New England Revolution at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City Wizards at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON – WEEK 3
Saturday, April 10, 2010
D.C. United at Philadelphia Union, 3 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español)
Toronto FC at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m.