Welcome to Week 4 of USL League One action, Búhos Nation! Tonight is the home opener for Union Omaha and new-kids-on-the-block Central Valley Fuego FC are coming to town for a high-quality matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM (CST) at Werner Park and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
The Owls are riding high after an emotional victory in the US Open Cup. On Tuesday night, Union Omaha became the first USL League One club to defeat an MLS club in the US Open Cup tournament. After 90 minutes of regulation time, 30 minutes of extra time, and a series of penalty kicks, Union Omaha remained victorious over the Chicago Fire. It was a statement win that reverberated across social media and truly highlighted the magic that is the US Open Cup.
Emotions will still be a factor on Saturday evening, as the club announced that they will be handing out the 2021 USL League One Championship rings to last year’s players. Several photos have circulated online and the ring looks incredible. The ring ceremony should be starting right around 5:30 PM (CST) and some of the players from last year’s roster will be on hand to accept their rings and celebrate the monumental achievement. The pomp and circumstance will only last a short while, as kickoff follows closely behind. Once the ceremony is over, it’s back to business as usual for the Owls.
Central Valley Fuego has had their fair share of success so far this season, as well. The club is currently undefeated in USL League One and narrowly lost to USL Championship-side Sacramento Republic in the Third Round of the US Open Cup. Now that they won’t be vying for the Lamar Hunt Cup anymore, they can focus their attention on league play. In their first two matches of USL League One play, Fuego has scored five goals and allowed three. This is a club that has zero doubts about where the goal is and is more than able to find it on multiple occasions. In fact, across all competitions, only once has Fuego been held to one goal. Across the four competitive matches that the club has played, Fuego is averaging over two goals a match. In Week 1 of the season, Fuego put the entire league on notice as they traveled across the country to defeat last year’s runner up Greenville Triumph 2-0. There’s rain in the forecast after the match, but Fuego will certainly look to rain on Omaha’s parade a little earlier in the evening.
Admittedly, there have been expressed doubts pertaining to Union Omaha’s offense, but after Tuesday night’s dramatic victory, confidence should be at its highest within the locker room. The players fought tooth and nail to prove themselves worthy of greater respect and earned it. Union Omaha has had four competitive matches so far this season and with each passing match, you can see the team coming together, gaining confidence, and establishing the chemistry that will hold them together through thick and thin. The goals that we’ve seen so far this season don’t come from giving partial effort. The team still has that classic “Mims Effect” that we mentioned in Eddie Gordon’s signing. That grit, that passion, that unwavering devotion to never giving up is firmly installed in this year’s squad and they’re going to need it against the Fuego.
Fuego likes to line up in a 4-5-1, but completely overloads the middle of the field. The way they condense their personnel leaves very little room for others to operate, creates early turnovers, and provides more passing opportunities. Their offense acts like a fast-moving elevator, moving the ball swiftly up the ranks to their frontline. The team is also fiercely physical and doesn’t seem to be afraid to go toe-to-toe with any opposition. Forwards Villyan Bijev and Christian Chaney have been an absolute nightmare for defensive backlines and today should be no different. The Bulgarian and American, respectively, have combined for seven of the team’s ten goals across all competitions. Union Omaha’s midfield and backline will have their hands full tonight.
Union Omaha put out one fire this week, can they do it again? Will the Owls be able to recover from their emotional win and avoid the emotional distractions related to the ring ceremony? Can Union Omaha’s defense remain stout against the high-scorers? Will former FC Tucson defender Maxi Schenfeld earn another red card during his return to the Omaha area? How will newly-appointed head coach Martín Vásquez change his tactics this week? Be at Werner Park or tune in to ESPN+ for answers to those questions and more.
With all of the excitement surrounding tonight’s match, don’t forget that the excitement starts well beforehand. There are a number of supporters groups that will be hosting tailgates before the gates to Werner Park even open. Bring your friends and family, wear volt, make some noise, and make sure the Owls know that they have our full support. After the match, stay tuned for more coverage from Who Gives A Hoot. We’ll keep you updated on statistics, breakdowns, and all of the banter you could ever desire. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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