“O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done”, the famous Walt Whitman poem begins. Union Omaha’s 1-1 draw against Forward Madison was poetic or film-like as club captain, Sebastian Contreras would say.
“It was like a movie,” Contreras said.
Union Omaha leveled the score with a stunning, paneka style penalty kick from Contreras. Forward Madison struggled to clear the ball after a long pass was put into the box. Flamingos defender Connor Tobin lunged at the ball clipping Ethan Vanacore-Decker in the box for the obvious penalty.
“I saw the ball and I went for it,” Contreras said through translation. “It was going to be me who was going to kick it.”
Contreras’ goal knotted up the score at one goal a piece. Forward Madison took the lead in the 8’ from a free kick by midfielder Michael Vang. The cross found the head of Eric Leonard who glancing shot looped over Owls’ goalkeeper, Rashid Nuhu for the opening goal.
Union Omaha Head Coach, Jay Mims was not worried about the team’s set piece defending.
“That’s professional soccer,” Mims said. “Most goals come off of set pieces.”
Union Omaha dominated possession the entire game with 64% of the ball which resulted in many opportunities to find the winner especially in the second half.
Damia Viader looked great in the match against Madison utilizing his skillset that he has shown throughout the season. His speed and crossing ability has made the Owls dangerous in the attacking third.
Substitutes Ferrety Sousa and Elvir Ibisevic came onto the pitch in the 60’ and provided an instant spark.
“Those few guys [Sousa and Ibisevic] that came in brought us something and changed the game,” Mims said.
Shot after shot came in the second half to no avail as Forward Madison defender Josiah Trimmingham earned his second yellow in the 83’. Madison was down to 10 men for the closing minutes as the Union Omaha attack could not earn the winning goal.
“We were hoping for that second goal, Sousa missed that open one that hit off of the post and Elvir had one cleared off the line,” Mims said. “Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do,”
This was the most possession that Union Omaha has earned all season as the Owls dominated and dictated the style of play all game.
“We had 65% possession so that was good for the fans for the fans to see a different style and different look,” Mims said.
Union Omaha’s next game pits the Owls against North Texas SC in Dallas on Sunday, August 23rd at 8 PM CT.
Who Gives A Hoot? 