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Anthem have just four games left in the regular season to secure a first franchise victory, and Sunday looms as arguably the best chance given their next three opponents are higher ranked than Old Glory. Unfortunately for the Carolina club, DC are motivated and in need of points to both guarantee their place in the postseason and potentially even earn hosting rights in a knockout match.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
0-12-0 (L12) East 6th
6-6-0 (W2) East 4th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jake Turnbull | Dan Hanson |
| 3 | Joe Apikotoa | Alex Hernandez |
| 7 | Alby O’Shannessey | Puna Vuli |
| 8 | Dylan Fortune | Makeen Alikhan |
| 11 | Corbin Smith | Erich Storti |
| 14 | Jason Tidwell | Conner Mooneyham |
|
IN | OUT |
| 11 | Axel Müller | John Rizzo |
| 12 | Tommaso Boni | Nick Grigg |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(7) – Turnbull, Golla, Grandy, Fricker, Storti (USA), Apikotoa (Tonga), Loubser (Namibia)
(9) – Iscaro, Fa’anana-Schultz, Daniel, Boni (USA), Gattas, Dotti (Uruguay), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Martinez (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Alex Maughan (HO/TH), Conner Mooneyham (WI), Mitch Wilson (WI/FB)
– Ethan McVeigh (SH), Jason Robertson (FH), Nick Grigg (CE)
| PREDICTION |
The weather shouldn’t make much of an impact but the absence of three Eagles internationals and outstanding flanker Makeen Alikhan are big blows to Anthem’s chances. One factor in their favor are that Old Glory have to front up again on only four days rest. For the home side to steal a result, they’ll need a big impact from their bench in the final quarter. DC are clear favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Connor Robinson, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 Sam Golla (capt.), 5 Mikey Grandy, 6 Alejandro Martinez Tapia, 7 Alby O’Shannessey, 8 Dylan Fortune, 9 Karl Keane, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Corbin Smith, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 EJ Freeman, 14 Jason Tidwell, 15 Toby Fricker
Replacements: 16 Ethan Howard, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Alex Hernandez, 19 Puna Vuli, 20 Graeme Pedegana, 21 Ishy Safodien, 22 Cam Gerlach, 23 Erich Storti
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Joe Rees, 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 Tommaso Boni, 13 Steff Hughes, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Cali Martinez, 18 Isikeli Kava, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Collin Grosse, 21 John LeFevre, 22 John Powers, 23 John Rizzo
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, May 18
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 84°F (29°C), wind W 10-15mph (16-24km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Monumental Sports, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – DC 3, Carolina 0
2025-03-08 – Old Glory DC 26, Anthem Carolina 22 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2024-06-01 – Old Glory DC 47, Anthem Carolina 29 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2024-03-30 – Anthem Carolina 32, Old Glory DC 46 (American Legion Stadium)
