MLR 2024: Old Glory DC vs Houston SaberCats

Old Glory returns from their bye week to host the SaberCats at Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturday. DC recorded their second 22-all draw in their last outing at home, while Houston have made several lineup changes after suffering their first defeat of the campaign against New England.

CURRENT STANDINGS

2-2-2 (D1) East 4th

5-1-0 (L1) West 3rd

LINEUP CHANGES

1 Quentin Newcomer rotates with 17 Jack Iscaro
2 Facundo Gattas replaces Martín Vaca
3 Tyler Rowland rotates with 18 Cali Martinez
5 Tevita Naqali replaces Ignacio Dotti
13 Damien Hoyland replaces William Talataina
14 Perry Humphreys replaces John Rizzo
15 Mike Dabulas replaces Damien Hoyland
16 Martín Vaca replaces KoiKoi Nelligan
19 Bill Whiteside replaces Tevita Naqali
21 Connor Buckley replaces Danny Tusitala
23 William Talataina replaces Mike Dabulas

2 Tiaan Erasmus replaces Pita Anae-Ah Sue
4 Justin Basson replaces Nathan Den Hoedt
6 Keni Nasoqeqe replaces Johan Momsen
7 Ronan Murphy replaces Emmanuel Albert
8 Gideon van Wyk replaces Tomi Agbongbon
11 Line Latu replaces Jeremy Misailegalu
12 Sam Hill replaces Dom Akina
13 Tautalatasi Tasi replaces Louritz van der Schyff
16 Seth Smith replaces Tiaan Erasmus
19 Tomi Agbongbon replaces Keni Nasoqeqe
20 Asa Carter replaces Ronan Murphy
23 Dom Akina replaces Line Latu

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(9) – Gattas (Uruguay), Rowland, Bowd (Canada), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Daniel, Boni, Dabulas, Iscaro (USA)

(3) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa), Dyer (USA)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Ignacio Dotti (LO), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (FL/N8), Niko Jones (FL/N8), Danny Tusitala (SH)

– Pita Anae-Ah Sue (HO), Johan Momsen (LO)

NOTES

DC have rotated their entire front row, while Tevita Naqali gets his first start of the season at lock in place of Ignacio Dotti… both South American hookers are in the Old Glory 23 lineup for the first time, Uruguay’s Facundo Gattas starting and Argentina’s Martín Vaca on the bench
Mike Dabulas gets his first start of the season at fullback… Damien Hoyland will wear the No13 shirt for the first time in his pro career since 2016
Old Glory captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz serves the fourth of his five-game suspension… he is clear to return for the May 4 game against Miami
though he is usually the vice-captain, Christian Dyer will assume the full captaincy for the first time for Houston with regular skipper Johan Momsen rested
Gideon van Wyk and Sam Hill make just their second appearances of the season for the SaberCats… van Wyk was one of the league’s best attacking forwards last year, while Hill was a high-profile addition from Sale Sharks in the English Premiership

PREDICTION

Ideal temperatures await in Maryland, though the westerly breeze might play a factor. Old Glory will field their strongest backline of the season with Hoyland’s shift geared suggesting they want to attack more in the wide channels. Despite changing half their lineup, the SaberCats field a formidable roster that shows off their depth. This should be a close contest but the visitors are in better form and have the edge at the set piece. Houston are slight favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

OLD GLORY DC
1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Collin Grosse, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Axel Müller, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Damien Hoyland, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Mike Dabulas

Replacements: 16 Martín Vaca, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Bill Whiteside, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 Gradyn Bowd, 23 William Talataina

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 Maks van Dyk, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Keni Nasoqeqe, 7 Ronan Murphy, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Line Latu, 12 Sam Hill, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Christian Dyer (capt.), 15 Davy Coetzer

Replacements: 16 Seth Smith, 17 LaRome White, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Tomi Agbongbon, 20 Asa Carter, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Dom Akina

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, April 20
Venue: Maryland SoccerPlex, Germantown
Kickoff: 17:00 local (14:00 Pacific, 16:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 66°F (19°C), wind W 14-21mph (22-34km/h)
Broadcasts: Monumental Sports, Space City, The Rugby Network