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The Hounds will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses when they host the Sharks at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday. Miami have found some mid-season form with three straight wins to swim their way back into the playoff picture, but Chicago remain one of the top outfits in the Eastern Conference and will be desperate to prove their class at home.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
7-3-0 (L2) East 2nd
5-5-0 (W3) East 4th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Faka’osi Pifeleti | Zura Zhvania |
| 3 | Charlie Abel | Ignacio Péculo |
| 4 | James Scott | Brad Tucker |
| 6 | Conall Boomer | Mason Flesch |
| 8 | Lucas Rumball | Matthew Oworu |
| 9 | Mitch Short | Michael Baska |
| 13 | Bryce Campbell | Noah Flesch |
| 14 | Noah Brown | Nate Augspurger |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jonas Petrakopoulos | Ma’ake Muti |
| 2 | Kirby Myhill | Sean McNulty |
| 3 | Alec McDonnell | Reinaldo Piussi |
| 4 | Tomás Casares | Rick Rose |
| 5 | Federico Gutiérrez | Braemar Murray |
| 6 | Tomás Bekerman | Manuel Ardao |
| 9 | Tomás Inciarte | Tomás Cubelli |
| 12 | Guiseppe du Toit | Tomás Cubilla |
| 14 | Tomás Malanos | Marcos Young |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(12) – Pifeleti, Fawsitt, O’Keeffe, Campbell, Brown, White (USA), Rumball, Higgins (Canada), Hilsenbeck (Germany), Devoto (England), Zhvania (Georgia), Péculo (Uruguay)
(10) – Myhill (Wales), Casares, Bonasso, McNulty (USA), Inciarte (Uruguay), Morra, du Toit (Canada), Orlando, Cubelli (Argentina), Videla (Chile)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(2) – Sykora-Matthess*, Wall*
(0) – none
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Mason Flesch (FL), Nate Augspurger (WI), Julián Domínguez (WI)
– Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Manuel Ardao (FL), Shane O’Leary (FH/FB)
| PREDICTION |
Breezy conditions await in Bridgeview which should suit the home side just fine. Even absent Mason Flesch, who sits out after taking a head knock, they field a formidable pack of forwards that is sure to have the edge in the set piece. Miami will take the field without star Uruguayan duo Reinaldo Piussi and Manuel Ardao, the former a blow to the scrum and the latter a critical component of their breakdown strategy. 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 Conall Boomer, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Mitch Short, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Mark O’Keeffe, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Michael Hand
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Zura Zhvania, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Tavius Sykora-Matthess, 20 Luke White, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Peyton Wall
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Alec McDonnell, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Federico Gutiérrez, 6 Tomás Bekerman, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Matías Orlando (capt.), 14 Tomás Malanos, 15 Santiago Videla
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Ma’ake Muti, 18 Alex Tucci, 19 Mauro Rebussone, 20 Rick Rose, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Marques Fuala’au, 23 Marcos Young
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, May 4
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 15:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 16:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy with showers, 55°F (13°C), wind N 15-20mph (24-32km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, FanDuel Florida, Fox Chicago+, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Marquise Goodwin (USA)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Matt Lake (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – Chicago 3, Miami 0
2025-03-07 – Miami Sharks 18, Chicago Hounds 31 (Baptist Health Community Field)
2024-06-29 – Chicago Hounds 38, Miami Sharks 26 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-03-03 – Miami Sharks 19, Chicago Hounds 23 (AutoNation Field)
