Union Omaha (5-8-2, 7th Place) vs Chattanooga Red Wolves (6-3-8, 8th Place)
All competitions: OMA (9-8-3) vs CHA (6-3-9)
Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska
7:00 PM (CST) ESPN+
Jay Mims and co. look to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches as they welcome the Chattanooga Red Wolves to Werner Park. Tonight’s match kicks off at 7 PM and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
The Red Wolves return to Omaha for their second-ever match at Werner Park. Last week, Chattanooga hosted Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and the evening ended with a 0-0 draw. It was the first time the Red Wolves were held scoreless since Week 10, when they lost to Union Omaha in Chattanooga. Despite scoring the second-most amount of goals in the league, the Red Wolves currently find themselves in 8th place after losing 6 of their last 10 games. After occupying the top spot in the standings in four separate weeks earlier this season, Chattanooga has slid below the playoff threshold. Things went from bad to worse with the recent news regarding Chattanooga’s head coach Jimmy Obleda.
On Friday, July 22nd, USL League One announced that Jimmy Obleda had been “provisionally suspended,” pending results from an investigation. The USL Players Association raised the allegations of misconduct, which kick-started the subsequent investigation. In the meantime, Obleda will be missing from the sidelines and the managerial duties will fall on his assistants.
Union Omaha continues to flirt with the playoff threshold and enters the match unbeaten in their last six outings. The Owls only have two losses this season, padding their place in the standings with eight draws, one less than last season. While Union Omaha has only scored three goals in the last five games, Jay Mims has shown the depth of his bench with renewed energy via second-half substitutions. Case in point: Union Omaha showed potential against Forward Madison with four second-half subs that jumpstarted offensive chances. With each passing week, the players show the potential. Union Omaha scored two goals in their last home game, so let’s hope that’s the start of a trend and not the exception.
Union Omaha and Chattanooga have only faced each other four times since the Owls joined the league. All time, Chattanooga has two wins to Union Omaha’s one win. In the last three matchups, neither side was able to score more than one goal. Tonight’s match could be a fast a furious affair, filled with plenty of physicality. Keep an eye out for Chattanooga’s Juan Galindrez, Rafael Mentzingen, and Moe Espinoza. Those guys are all routinely punishing their opposition.
Another exciting development for tonight’s match is the possibility for a huge crowd. Current ticket sales are high, the weather will be beautiful, and Union Omaha is looking to capitalize on the situation. If you don’t have tickets already, you may have a tougher time finding tickets, so go to the team website now to reserve your spot in the stadium and witness history. While you’re preparing for the festivities, don’t forget to get to the stadium early to check out the tailgate. As usual, there will be plenty of games, music, food, and beverages to keep you entertained. Bring the noise, bring the passion, and cheer on the Owls to another victory. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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