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Old Glory had to settle for a draw in their home opener against Chicago last weekend, a match that also cost them their captain to a red card and suspension. San Diego also held their home opener, a one-point result over Los Angeles that gives the Legion two wins in a row.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
1-1-1 (D1) East 3rd
2-1-0 (W2) West 4th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
6 Collin Grosse replaces Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (suspension)
9 Connor Buckley replaces Ethan McVeigh
13 William Talataina replaces John Powers
14 John Rizzo replaces Perry Humphreys (injury)
17 Quentin Newcomer replaces Joe Wrafter
20 Brady Daniel replaces Collin Grosse
21 Danny Tusitala replaces Connor Buckley
23 John Powers replaces William Talataina
1 Nathan Sylvia replaces Payton Telea-Ilalio
4 Charlie Hewitt replaces Isaac Ross
8 Tevita Tameilau replaces Tupou Afungia (injury)
12 Tiaan Loots replaces Ma’a Nonu
14 Mikey Te’o replaces Tomas Aoake
16 Chris Mickelson replaces Tevita Tameilau
17 Faka’osi Pifeleti replaces Nathan Sylvia
18 Oliver Kane replaces Darcy Breen
23 Alex Horan replaces Chris Mattina
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(0) – n/a
(1) – Chris Mickelson (MLR debut)
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Iscaro, Daniel, Boni (USA), Rowland, Bowd (Canada), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Tusitala (Samoa)
(10) – Sylvia, Peterson, Helu, Tameilau, James, Te’o, Brache, Pifeleti, Boyer (USA), Cowan (Scotland)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (FL/N8), Niko Jones (FL/N8), Perry Humphreys (WI)
– Christian Poidevin (FL), Tupou Afungia (FL/N8), Matt Giteau (FH), Ma’a Nonu (CE), Tomas Aoake (WI)
| NOTES |
- Old Glory have lost their captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz to a five-week suspension after receiving a red card in the first half of the game against Chicago
- Brady Daniel and Danny Tusitala are set to make their first appearances of the season… Daniel is the younger brother of starting flanker Cory Daniel and has just three previous MLR caps, all as a replacement… Tusitala had played in all 55 MLR games for DC prior to the 2024 season
- Chris Mickelson is set to make his MLR debut for San Diego… the 21-year-old hooker is an Australia u20 select and arrives from the Brumbies academy system
- giant tighthead prop Oliver Kane should make his first appearance of the season off the bench for the Legion, and just the second of his pro career… a former San Diego State captain, he played for the USA Hawks last year
- San Diego have named six forwards on the both including a first appearance of the season for Eagles prop Faka’osi ‘Oti’ Pifeleti… Cyrille Cama covers loose forward this week instead of hooker
| PREDICTION |
The damp and windy forecast isn’t ideal for either side. Both teams are missing key individuals, though both lineups remain competitive. San Diego lost in their only previous trip to DC and fatigue will be a factor, but they have countered that with a strong bench. The Legion have won two in a row against Old Glory but this is a stronger DC lineup that on previous occasions. This one is too close to call.
| LINEUPS |
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Ignacio Dotti, 6 Collin Grosse, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Axel Müller, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 William Talataina, 14 John Rizzo, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Bill Whiteside, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Gradyn Bowd, 23 John Powers
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Luke Green, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Greg Peterson, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Ethan Grayson, 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Marcel Brache
Replacements: 16 Chris Mickelson, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Isaac Ross, 20 Finn Kearns, 21 Cyrille Cama, 22 Nick Boyer, 23 Alex Horan
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 23
Venue: Maryland SoccerPlex, Germantown
Kickoff: 16:00 local (13:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: cloudy with showers, 48°F (9°C), wind N 16-25mph (26-40km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox 5 San Diego, Monumental Sports, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: George Myers (Australia)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Craig Sakowski (USA)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – San Diego 2, DC 1, STREAK San Diego +2
2023-04-02 – San Diego Legion 48, Old Glory DC 26 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2022-03-06 – San Diego Legion 24, Old Glory DC 12 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-07-10 – Old Glory DC 38, San Diego Legion 29 (Segra Field)
