Are you ready to turn Madison, Wisconsin lightning yellow? On Sunday, June 6th, Union Omaha pays a second visit, in as many weeks, to the Flamingos of Forward Madison. The first match didn’t fare so well for the Owls, losing 1-0. The club looks to atone for the loss, return the kind gesture to Forward Madison, and provide a buffer between the two clubs in the standings.
What happened last time?
Forward Madison executed a well-balanced offensive game plan and kept numbers behind the ball on defense. The Flamingos goal came off of an errant clearance, so awareness and focus will have to remain high for the full 90 minutes. Union Omaha will also have to dig into the trenches in the middle third of the field. The Owls disrupted a lot of the flow there in the last match, but couldn’t generate any quality offense off of turnovers. A return from Evan Conway would spark some quality offense, as well. The forward has been out of commission for the past two matches and there hasn’t been any release of information regarding his status. If he’s able to get some minutes, keep your fingers crossed that the previous chemistry is still alive and well.
What to expect:
- Forward Madison possession. Last time, the team looked strong, calm, and composed on the ball. Their passes were efficient and purposeful. The balanced distribution led to a balanced offense and kept Union Omaha unable to predict their next plan.
- Battle for the halfline. The middle third of the field is usually the battle ground to disrupt possession, establish dominance, and limit the opponent’s game plan. There’s little doubt that Forward Madison did better to capture the territory and turn it to their advantage.
- Set pieces. There will be corners and there will be free kicks. Lots of them. We all know this. The unknown is how many, if any, will be converted to goals. Forward Madison use their ace for their set pieces, right midfielder Aaron Molloy. He can place the ball well, so Union Omaha’s defense will have to be on their toes. On the flip side, this past Wednesday, Union Omaha finally scored a goal off of a set piece this season. Let’s hope that opened the flood gates.
What to watch for:
- It was mentioned earlier, but bears repeating: Will we see Evan Conway?
- How will Union Omaha defend against the dangerous backfield duo of Barriga Toyama and Sukow? Furthermore, how will Union Omaha contain Gebhard and Keegan?
- What plan does Jay Mims have for breaking down the Forward Madison defense?
These two clubs have combined for three goals in three matches. Small errors could lead to big dividends. It’s going to be a fierce match, but expect to be entertained. These are two very good clubs. Forward Madison is in vaulted company with Greenville as the only teams remaining who are undefeated. There are many reasons to want to beat the Flamingos, so add that to the list. Madison ended Union Omaha’s undefeated streak, so it only seems fitting that Omaha should return the favor.
Whether you’re at home, at Rathskellar Bier Haus for the watch party, or made the trip to Wisconsin, everyone here at Who Gives A Hoot Media hopes you cheer loudly and passionately for the Owls. This is the last away match of six, so next week will be a home match. Cheer them on to victory against Forward Madison and welcome them home with enthusiasm next weekend. As always, we’ll continue to give you the content you want and deserve about your favorite team, Union Omaha. Keep an eye out for a new episode of the podcast, data breakdowns, updated predictions from all of us here at Who Gives A Hoot, and other articles to fill the void between matches.
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