Alright Union Omaha fans, you can finally start your migration back to Werner Park. The Owls return from their six-game road streak to play their second home match of the season. This Saturday, June 12th, Union Omaha takes on New England Revolution II at Werner Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM (CST) and will air on ESPN+.
New England comes to Omaha for the first time since last season’s 2-0 win. You can probably assume that last year’s match is a hush-hush subject among the team. After all, Nick Firmino was on the receiving end of a crushing tackle from Ethan Vanacore-Decker, which earned Vanacore-Decker a straight red card [Editor’s note: Ethan’s red card was over turned since he missed and Firmino took an egregious dive. Yeah, we shouldn’t talk about this much.] Minutes later, Firmino scored the insurance goal for the Young Revs. The loss was only one of two Union Omaha home losses for the 2020 season.
The New England club currently has a game in hand, but sits seven points behind Omaha in the standings and three points outside of the playoffs. Their only victories this season were against Fort Lauderdale. Don’t get overly confident, though. With the exception of one match, every other was settled by a goal difference no greater than one goal for either side.
The clubs have already faced off in 2021, with Union Omaha three points in a 1-0 win in Foxborough Stadium. The goal came in the 84th minute when goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu started a fast break and punted into the Revs half, finding forward Greg Hurst in a 1v1. Hurst was able to lose his defender quickly, made his way toward the middle of the field, and ultimately the top of the 18-yard box. His shot found the netting on the far side, giving Hurst his second goal of the season. Nuhu joined rare company, being one of only two goalies to earn an assist in the league.
If you’re wondering what to expect, you can definitely anticipate a roaring Union Omaha crowd. Fans haven’t been to Werner Park since April 24th, when the Owls defeated South Georgia Tormenta 2-0 to start the 2021 season. In those seven weeks, fans have had to resort to watching matches on television, or traveling halfway across the country. During Union Omaha’s lone home match this season, Werner Park hosted the largest crowd for a Union Omaha home match, with 2,786 people making their way through the gates. This Saturday should be able to break that record, both in numbers and atmosphere.
With regards to action on the field, Union Omaha has to duplicate what they did in the first match against New England: generate lots of offense and keep the defense honest. The Owls had 20 shots against New England, 13 of those shots were from inside the penalty area. Forget that the Young Revs had just over 53% of possession because Omaha created way more offense with less possession. If you’re looking for a statistic, consider this: New England is winless when the opposition scores first and Union Omaha is undefeated when they score first. Omaha cannot give New England a warm welcome to Werner Park. They need to press high, challenge fiercely, and score early.
Union Omaha should also look to take advantage of New England if they get complacent on offense. Rashid Nuhu displayed excellent situational awareness by catching the Revs too comfortable in Omaha’s half of the field. If anyone on the team sees the same tactic against New England, look for the long ball, the diagonal run past the backline, and any open space that’s available. Omaha loves to play with speed and has the roster to punish any opposition, especially those vulnerable to a fast break.
Did you know soccer was illegal in Mississippi until 1991? Yep. Americans were okay with bowl cuts, windbreakers, and awarding an Oscar for Best Picture to “Dances with Wolves,” but “communist kickball”? Straight to jail. Don’t worry, soccer is legal in Nebraska, so make sure to head out to Werner Park this Saturday to welcome Union Omaha back and cheer them on to victory. It’s also legal to discuss soccer on the internet, so keep an eye out for updates in content here at Who Gives A Hoot Media. Whether it’s a new episode of our podcast or new articles, we’ve got your Union Omaha entertainment covered.
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