Another week, another first for Union Omaha. While most, if not all, Union Omaha fans would have wanted the club’s first official match against an MLS side to be played at home, we’ll have to make do with a road affair. Union Omaha will take on Chicago Fire in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on TuesdayTM, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. at historic Soldier Field, just off the shore of Lake Michigan.
Going over recent form is obviously a little bit of a crapshoot for Union Omaha, who have only played three official games so far in 2022, and TuesdayTM will be Omaha’s second match in four days. In league play so far, Omaha have played two very different style of games. A pair of away draws starting with a “keep the ball, we’re just gonna shoot it when we get it” style 2-2 draw at Forward Madison, followed by a “this game got down in the mud and we can’t get out of it” 0-0 draw at South Georgia Tormenta.
The latter game might be the style to expect with a match against Chicago Fire, because scoring does seem to be at a premium in their games so far this season. In their seven games so far this season in MLS, there have been only seven total goals scored. Not by Chicago, not by their opponents, but by both. Now Chicago have only conceded two of those goals, but have only managed a 2-4-1 start in those seven games. It’s a disappointing start for Fire, who expected Xherdan Shaqiri to inject some offensive life into the club. In his five starts, he’s managed only one goal (a penalty) with an xG of 0.9. Offensive underperforming seems to be a theme for Chicago, with 5 goals from an xG of only 7.0 in seven matches overall.
With such a quick turnaround for this match, what kind of lineup can we expect to see from Union Omaha? We’re starting to figure out some of whom are in Jay Mims’ preferred XI, but most of those players were pretty obvious in the preseason. The recent match at Tormenta also gave us our first look at what a rotated lineup might look like, with Gabriel Claudio getting the start at center back and Giovanni Montesdeocca starting up top, moving Hugo Kametani to the wing (if you believe the league provided starting formation). What was more noticeable is that Union Omaha made three(!) subs at one time(!) just after the 60th minute(!) [Editor’s note: !!!]. Players rotated out were JP Scearce (who had taken a knock late in Madison), Noe Meza, and Montesdeocca, and they were replaced by Ricky Rivera and a pair of recently announced signings, midfielder Eddie Gordon and forward Kemal Malcolm.
The players that were spelled at Tormenta probably gives us more insight to this match’s starting XI than does the starting XI from that match itself. There are of course still some unanswered questions, including whether or not some of the veterans that went 90 minutes at Tormenta will start (Conor Doyle and Emir Alihodžić have played every minute so far in 2022). If we’re assuming that some of those players will only be made available as substitutes, here’s what the lineup may look like:
I’m obviously taking a couple pretty big swings here, but Jay Mims hasn’t invited me to any staff meetings yet, so I really don’t have much of a choice. I obviously think it’s possible that some players that played 90 minutes one night can turn around and start a match just three days later, but assuming all of them will is probably reckless. I’m making assumptions with where some players can be positioned, but with Chavany Willis and Isaac Bawa yet to make appearances with Union Omaha (Bawa has yet to make a team sheet) I’m not willing to assume they’ll suddenly make the starting XI.
As for who Chicago Fire starts is anybody’s guess. For MLS teams in the third round of this tournament, it’s safe to assume that if a player has played in well more than half of their team’s games in this early stretch of the season, or if they’re close to having a ‘3’ in the front half of their age, they won’t be in the starting XI. Expect little to zero from Kacper Przybyłko, Shakiri, Mauricio Pineda and Stanislav Ivanov, and a little more of Andre Reynolds, Javier Casas, Jhon Durán and Chinonso Nnamdi Offor. Who are these players? We’re likely about to find out.
In conclusion, expect to see a slow pace in this one. Do not be surprised if this starts scoreless for quite a while, and don’t be surprised if this game goes the full 90 minutes 0-0, and don’t be surprised if this game goes to penalties 0-0. It all depends on if Fire manager Ezra Hendrickson values not having to play the additional 30 minutes, in that case his second half substitutes might be some better quality, more recognizable players. A 1-0 victory from either side is absolutely possible, and the fourth round is waiting for the winner.
Who Gives A Hoot? 