Greenville Triumph (9-4-4, 1st Place) vs Union Omaha (5-6-2, 4th Place)
All competitions: GVL (10-4-5) vs OMA (9-6-3)
Legacy Early College Field – Greenville, South Carolina
6:00 PM (CST) ESPN+
Wake up and smell the Belt! It’s Week 17 of the USL League One regular season and with it brings the juicy matchup of Greenville Triumph hosting Union Omaha. The Owls look to upset the current leader while Greenville looks to create even more separation from the pack. Kickoff is slated for 6 PM on ESPN+ and you’re not going to want to miss this chapter of the Green Belt rivalry.
Greenville Triumph has spent a quarter of the season in first place, but will extend that reign to another week, regardless of tonight’s outcome. With six points between themselves and second-place Richmond, the Triumph could extend their lead to a three-game buffer with a win and other results this evening.
The Triumph is undefeated in their last seven matches and hasn’t lost at home since Saturday, April 23rd, back in Week 4. Last week, Greenville played two matches and gained four points in the standings. The first match was a midweek game against South Georgia Tormenta FC, which gave fans a 10-goal treat, albeit a draw. The second match was another road game. This time, the Triumph traveled to Richmond Kickers to take on the second-place team in the league and dismantled them with a 3-1 victory. Just like we’ve witnessed in previous seasons, Greenville is very successful at home, yet still shows enough of their pedigree on the road to bolster their place in the standings. The team has remained healthy this season and taking advantage of that status.
Union Omaha encountered a challenging match last week, physically and emotionally, as they battled against FC Tucson. Though the Owls ended the night with a 2-1 home victory, it didn’t come without its own unintended consequences: JP Scearce will miss tonight’s match after receiving a red card. The midfielder has been an aggressive mainstay in the middle of the field, but that duty will undoubtedly pass on to the next player tonight. The emotional win, especially with the deciding goal occurring in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, could be the spark this team needs to change the course of their season. Seeing the team come together to defend each other during the second-half skirmish could also yield similar results. That’s the beauty of emotions: they can seal a bond of loyalty in the locker room that inspires greatness.
The Triumph may use the same recipe to try and defeat the Owls, but Union Omaha just added a very interesting ingredient to their roster, which could result in a different product on the field. On Friday, Union Omaha announced the signing of 28-year-old midfielder Luis Gil. He joins the team from Phoenix-based Valley United FC, who competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). Gil brings a wealth of experience ranging from Major League Soccer to Liga MX to the United States Men’s National Team. The midfielder shows a heavy desire to insert himself in the offense and drive into the final third. He likes to go at defenders and isn’t afraid to assert himself physically with the opposition. His creativity and experience could be a great addition to the squad, especially since he would likely fill the position left vacant by Scearce’s red card.
These two clubs have faced off a total of five times since 2020. Their records are identical: 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses. Union Omaha’s last loss, five weeks ago, was to none other than Greenville Triumph, 0-2 at Werner Park. Tonight’s match has all of the fixings for great entertainment and will decide where the Belt will reside until mid-September, when these two meet again for their last matchup of the regular season. Will Union Omaha return the favor and deliver a loss to Greenville on their home turf? Will Luis Gil make an appearance? How much has Union Omaha’s confidence been boosted after last week’s victory? There are so many storylines, but the action on the field will far exceed any storylines ahead of kickoff.
It’s Belt Week! Grab your Union Omaha gear, make some noise, and cheer on the Owls as they look to climb the standings and bring that beautiful garment back to Omaha. Whether you’re watching from home or you’re out at a watch party, make sure you are firmly in place with a good view of the TV once the broadcast starts. You’re not going to want to miss the action from this edition of the rivalry. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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