Playoff rugby returns to the site of the 2023 MLR Shield Final, but this time the hometown Hounds will be taking the field. Old Glory DC are the honored guests in Chicago with the winner on Saturday night earning a place in the Eastern Conference Final. It’s the second time the two sides have met this season, the first going to the Hounds at home but by a margin of only four points.
| REGULAR SEASON RECORD |
11-5-0 (W3) East 2nd
8-8-0 (L2) East 3rd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Faka’osi Pifeleti | Zura Zhvania |
| 2 | Dylan Fawsitt | Jackson Zabierek |
| 3 | Charlie Abel | Paddy Ryan |
| 7 | Maclean Jones | Conall Boomer |
| 8 | Lucas Rumball | Matthew Oworu |
| 9 | Jason Higgins | Mitch Short |
| 10 | Christopher Hilsenbeck | Adriaan Carelse |
| 11 | Peyton Wall | Julián Domínguez |
| 14 | Noah Brown | Mark O’Keeffe |
| 15 | Tim Swiel | Ben Pollack |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jack Iscaro | Sam Davies |
| 2 | Facundo Gattas | KoiKoi Nelligan |
| 4 | Rob Harley | Bill Whiteside |
| 7 | Cory Daniel | Collin Grosse |
| 8 | Lautaro Bavaro | Ignacio Dotti |
| 9 | Connor Buckley | Ethan McVeigh |
| 10 | Jason Emery | John Powers |
| 12 | Nick Grigg | Tommaso Boni |
| 13 | Steff Hughes | Owen Sheehy |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(14) – Pifeleti, Fawsitt, Campbell, Brown, White, Baska, O’Keeffe (USA), Flesch, Rumball, Higgins, Oworu (Canada), Hilsenbeck (Germany), Devoto (England), Péculo (Uruguay)
(10) – Iscaro, Fa’anana-Schultz, Daniel, McVeigh, Boni (USA), Gattas (Uruguay), Martinez (Canada), Harley, Grigg, Hoyland (Scotland)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Zura Zhvania (LH), Julián Domínguez (WI)
– Joe Rees (TH), Jason Robertson (FH), Perry Humphreys (WI)
| PREDICTION |
With near-perfect conditions on the forecast, the opening match of the postseason should be a cracker. Both sides opted to rest some of their top players last week so should be relatively well-rested. Of the two DC are undoubtedly harder hit by injury with three starters missing. They do maintain a threatening backline, however, and Old Glory’s loose forwards match up well against Chicago’s vaunted trio. The Hounds boast a menacing tight five and on paper have a superior set of reserves. This will be competitive but the form guide points in one direction. Chicago are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 James Scott, 5 Hamish Bain, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Tim Swiel
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Liam Fletcher, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Luke White, 20 Matthew Oworu, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Mark O’Keeffe
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Cali Martinez, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jason Emery, 11 Axel Müller, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Steff Hughes, 14 John Rizzo, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Sam Davies, 19 Bill Whiteside, 20 Collin Grosse, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 John Powers, 23 Tommaso Boni
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 73°F (23°C), wind NE 11-15mph (18-24km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fox Chicago+, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) & Morris Fuller (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – DC 2, Chicago 1, Draw 1
2025-03-15 – Chicago Hounds 30, Old Glory DC 26 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-05-11 – Chicago Hounds 21, Old Glory DC 22 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-03-16 – Old Glory DC 22, Chicago Hounds 22 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2023-02-18 – Old Glory DC 42, Chicago Hounds 27 (Segra Field)
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