Happy Match Day, Búhos fans! It is Week 17 and tonight, Union Omaha welcome North Texas SC to Werner Stadium for the first time since August 1st, 2020. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM (CST) and if you aren’t in the stadium to catch the action, tune in to ESPN+ for televised coverage.
North Texas SC jumps back into the fray after last week’s bye week. Their last match was at home against Chattanooga. North Texas was a mere two minutes away from three points, but Red Wolves midfielder Jackson Dietrich leveled the score with a header just before the final whistle. The draw prevented North Texas from picking up a second win in as many weeks. The lone point kept the Lone Star club in 11th place, two wins away from the basement of the league standings.
Union Omaha looks to continue their favorable form, especially after a well-earned win at FC Tucson last week. Left back Dami Viader and forward Greg Hurst provided the top-notch goals last week and, in turn, received well-deserved praise from the USL League One community. The Owls haven’t lost a match since Week 8 of competition, when they lost 1-0 at Forward Madison. Since that week, Union Omaha has had four wins and four draws, giving the club a two-point lead in the league standings. This match signifies the halfway mark for the 2021 Union Omaha season, so closing out the first half of the season on a high would be a great way for the club to enter the second half, where the battle for first-round playoff bye will surely get more and more intense.
These two clubs have only played each other twice, both occurring in the first six weeks of the 2020 season. In the first meeting, Union Omaha won 1-0 at home, the first home win in competitive play. The second meeting, in Arlington, Texas, provided much more drama: a 2-2 draw, seven yellow cards, and two red cards. North Texas SC finished the 2020 season in 3rd place, just two points behind Union Omaha. After a long delay between matches, the two clubs will become very familiar with one another as they face off once a month through the end of the regular season: July 31st in Omaha, August 28th in Omaha, September 19th in Arlington, and then the last week of the regular season (October 30th) in Arlington.
North Texas SC is an interesting club to research. On one hand, they have quality results (3-0 win vs Greenville, 1-1 draw vs Chattanooga), but then again, they have some puzzling results (0-0 draw vs FC Tucson, 3-2 loss at Richmond). One thing you can count on: North Texas SC cannot win on the road. In 2021, the club has amassed a winless record on the road. Not even a single draw to their record on the road. If it’s a road match, it’s a loss. No other club in the league can match that level of abysmal stats. The stars at night may be big and bright in Texas, but on the road, there is no light for them.
After a social media campaign looking to feed your hunger, the fans have spoken! Stop by the Parliament tailgate for a hot dog tailgate. The supporters voted on their favorite kind of hot dog, so come to the tailgate, starting at 3:30 PM (CST), to find out what options are available for your satiated desires. There will also be new merchandise on sale, including drinkware. As always, there will be plenty of entertainment at the tailgate: games, music, and plenty of fun people. The tailgate will end at 6 PM and the march into the stadium starts at 6:30 PM. Enjoy yourselves and Viva Búhos!
Who Gives A Hoot? 