South Georgia Tormenta FC (3-5-3, 8th Place) vs Union Omaha (3-4-2, 9th Place)
All competitions: TRM (5-5-4) vs OMA (7-4-3)
Erk Russell Athletic Park – Statesboro, Georgia
6:30 PM (CST) ESPN+
Good morning, Búhos Nation! It’s another beautiful gameday and another opportunity for Union Omaha to take control of their own destiny as the Owls take on South Georgia Tormenta for the second time this season and in the same place as the first matchup: Erk Russell Athletic Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM, so make sure you have yourself firmly planted in front of the television for the broadcast.
Since the initial matchup in Week 3, Tormenta FC has been able to find their footing while playing league matches on the road, going undefeated. The same success hasn’t been found at home, as the club’s greatest success across three league home matches was a 0-0 tie with Charlotte Independence. Tormenta has yet to win at home and is winless in their last five matches, as well. The club sat in second place of the league standings from the end of Week 5 to the start of Week 8, but had steadily dropped to their current 8th-place position after a spell consisting of two losses and three draws.
Union Omaha enters Week 13 looking for their defensive identity after a decisive 0-2 loss to Greenville Triumph. Just days after the loss, Union Omaha suffered another debilitating loss to Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, this time the scoreline was 0-6 in favor of the MLS side. Now that the Owls have been knocked out of the Open Cup, they can devote all of their focus to league play and, lucky for them, they are only five points behind the league leader and have two games in hand. Today’s match could go a long way in reversing recent misfortunes and setting the club up for future success.
In the Week 3 matchup, Union Omaha was able to win a good portion of the challenges, gain some possession of the ball, and generate some offense, but couldn’t find the back of the net. After a straight red card in the 73rd minute, Tormenta FC went down a man and Union Omaha was still unable to take advantage of the opportunity given to them. Both sides had their fair share of scoring opportunities, as Tormenta FC hit the crossbar in the first half and Union Omaha returned the favor by hitting the left upright in the second half. The match ended as a scoreless draw, but there were still plenty of lessons to learn from the night.
Tormenta FC is a young, invigorated side looking to change the league’s perception of the club. There’s potential in the roster to see the club make the playoffs and the team seems to believe some of that hype because they play with a lot of motivation. Today’s matchup could be decided along the flanks, which would pose an interesting challenge to Union Omaha’s defense. Both backlines will be busy fending off crosses from the outside, so the individual battles for space in the box will be entertaining to watch, as well. Whichever way you decide to look at this match, it’s going to be a fun 90 minutes to watch.
The environment on Wednesday night, inside Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, was stellar. Your support was exceptional and the club needs your continued support as they direct their entire focus back on league play. The season is just about halfway finished, so there are still plenty of magical moments to come from the Owls. Make sure they hear your voice and your support as they battle their way back into playoff position and defend their championship. Gather your friends, family, and anyone in between for tonight’s match. There’s beautiful weather in the forecast, so host your own watch party or find one of the many that are happening across the city. Have a wonderful evening, be loud, and have fun supporting the Owls. And as always…¡Viva Búhos!
Who Gives A Hoot? 