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Two teams looking to turn their form around clash in Texas on Saturday night when the SaberCats take on Old Glory DC. The visitors have a tenuous grip on 3rd place in the East despite losing their last two matches. Houston meanwhile remain at the top of the West after defeating NOLA last weekend, but only a single point separates them from second-place Utah.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
6-3-0 (W1) West 1st
4-5-0 (L2) East 3rd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 3 | Pono Davis | Michael Scott |
| 5 | Nathan Den Hoedt | Marno Redelinghuys |
| 10 | Max Schumacher | AJ Alatimu |
| 11 | Seimou Smith | Juan-Dee Oliver |
| 12 | Sam Hill | Louritz van der Schyff |
| 13 | Tautalatasi Tasi | Dom Akina |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Martín Vaca | KoiKoi Nelligan |
| 6 | Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz | Logan Weidner |
| 7 | Cory Daniel | Collin Grosse |
| 9 | Ethan McVeigh | Connor Buckley |
| 11 | John Rizzo | Axel Müller |
| 12 | Tommaso Boni | Nick Grigg |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(4) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa), McLean (Scotland), Rebolo (Brazil)
(9) – Iscaro, Fa’anana-Schultz, Daniel, McVeigh, Boni (USA), Harley (Scotland), Gattas, Dotti (Uruguay), Martinez (Canada)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(0) – none
(1) – O’Loughlin*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– André Warner (SH), Davy Coetzer (FH), Drew Wild (FB)
– Jason Robertson (FH), Axel Müller (WI), Damien Hoyland (FB)
| PREDICTION |
The SaberCats are missing three starters from their backline though they do field a formidable forward pack. AJ Alatimu is recalled at No10 this week with Davy Coetzer still sidelined. Much expectation will be placed on the shoulders of Alatimu and halfback partner Jay Renton to control tempo and territory. DC’s backline is similarly depleted but they have been given a big boost with the returns of starting flankers Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz and Cory Daniel. Houston are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Michael Scott, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Emmanuel Albert, 7 Johan Momsen, 8 Sam Tuifua, 9 Jay Renton, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Jeremy Misailegalu, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Max Schumacher
Replacements: 16 Seth Smith, 17 Wilton Rebolo, 18 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 19 Marno Redelinghuys, 20 Keni Nasoqeqe, 21 Juan-Dee Oliver, 22 Dom Akina, 23 Drake Davis
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Joe Rees, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Jason Emery, 11 John Rizzo, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Steff Hughes, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Owen Sheehy
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Cali Martinez, 18 Sam Davies, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Logan Weidner, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 John Powers, 23 Declan O’Loughlin
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, April 26
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 81°F (27°C), SE 17-26mph (27-41km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, CW39, Monumental Sports, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Ben Dickenson (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (5) – Houston 3, DC 2
2024-04-20 – Old Glory DC 17, Houston SaberCats 38 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2023-06-09 – Houston SaberCats 31, Old Glory DC 7 (SaberCats Stadium)
2022-05-21 – Old Glory DC 41, Houston SaberCats 59 (Segra Field)
2021-05-22 – Houston SaberCats 13, Old Glory DC 21 (SaberCats Stadium)
2020-02-22 – Houston SaberCats 13, Old Glory DC 22 (SaberCats Stadium)
