Two teams fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference will do battle at Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturday evening. Old Glory hold a five-point advantage over the Sharks heading into the second half of the regular season. Miami arrive after a comprehensive home defeat to Dallas, while DC salvaged two bonus points in the road loss against Utah.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
2-4-2 (L2) East 4th
2-6-0 (L1) East 5th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
2 Martín Vaca replaces Facundo Gattas
3 Steven Longwell rotates with 18 Cali Martinez
6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz replaces Collin Grosse (HIA)
11 Axel Müller replaces John Rizzo
12 Tommaso Boni replaces Jason Robertson (No15 vs Utah)
16 KoiKoi Nelligan replaces Martín Vaca
22 Jason Robertson replaces Ishmail Shabazz
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos rotates with 17 Rob Evans
5 Michael Etete replaces Benjamín Bonasso (No6 vs Dallas)
21 Nicolás Elewaut replaces Damian Morley
22 Eric Naposki replaces Roelof Smit
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(7) – Iscaro, Fa’anana-Schultz, C Daniel, Boni (USA), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Bowd (Canada)
(7) – Ardao, Inciarte, Etcheverry (Uruguay), Videla (Chile), Grigg (Scotland), du Toit (Canada), Evans (Wales)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Ignacio Dotti (LO), Niko Jones (FL/N8)
– Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Benjamín Bonasso (FL/N8), Tomás Cubelli (SH), Shane O’Leary (FH/FB)
| NOTES |
- Old Glory welcome back captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz after a five game suspension… he comes in on the flank for Collin Grosse, who was forced off for an HIA late in the first half against Utah
- Steven Longwell makes his first start for DC since 2021… the Scottish tighthead prop came off the bench against Utah… he returned to Old Glory after spending the past couple years with Jersey Reds in the English Championship and Bristol Bears in the Premiership
- Jason Robertson is named on the bench for the first time in his MLR career… he started all five games for DC in 2020, 14 of their 16 games in 2021, and all 8 of their games to date this season
- Miami prop Reinaldo Piussi serves the second of his six-game suspension, while back row Ben Bonasso failed an HIA against Dallas last week
- Michael Etete and Stan van den Hoven will start in the Sharks second row for the first time this season…. Rick Rose switches to blindside flanker in the No7 shirt
- Eric Naposki returns after a five-game absence to take up a spot on Miami’s bench… Michael Hand continues to start on the wing, and it’s unclear at this stage if his four-week loan from Chicago will be extended beyond next week’s game against the Warriors
| PREDICTION |
Damp conditions are again on the forecast in Maryland, which could favor DC who have more experience in their forward pack. Manuel Ardao has been passed fit but the loss of Bonasso and continued absence of Piussi is a significant blow to Miami’s chances. The tactical kicking of Santiago Videla and Felipe Etcheverry may help balance the scales somewhat. It’s the first time the two sides have faced off and should be a close contest, but DC are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Rob Harley, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Axel Müller, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 William Talataina, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Bill Whiteside, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 Jason Robertson, 23 John Powers
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Tevita Sole, 4 Stan van den Hoven, 5 Michael Etete, 6 Dan Pryor (capt.), 7 Rick Rose, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Michael Hand, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Guiseppe du Toit, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Felipe Etcheverry
Replacements: 16 Alex Glover, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Alec McDonnell, 19 David Beach, 20 Chase Schor-Haskin, 21 Nicolás Elewaut, 22 Eric Naposki, 23 Avery Oitomen
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 4
Venue: Maryland SoccerPlex, Germantown
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific, 16:00 Mountain)
Weather Forecast: cloudy with showers, 55°F (13°C), wind E 9-13mph (14-21km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Marquise Goodwin (USA)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Cam Russell (Canada)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match
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