Union Omaha (10-12-6, 3rd Place) vs South Georgia Tormenta FC (11-8-9, 4th Place)
All competitions: OMA (14-12-7) vs TRM (13-8-10)
Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska
7:00 PM (CST) ESPN+
A huge game with playoff implications kicks off at 7 tonight, as #4-ranked Tormenta FC travels to Werner Park for the first time in 2022 to face #3-ranked Union Omaha.
In a season where over half of the clubs in the league earned only four wins on the road, Tormenta FC has doubled that win total. And make no mistake about it: they intend to add one more to that count tonight against Union Omaha, tonight. Having only lost once in their last five matches, Tormenta FC is closing their regular season with high ambitions. Before those aforementioned five matches, Tormenta FC was in seventh place, hoping to squeak into the playoffs. There were murmurs of this Tormenta FC team extending their streak of never making the playoffs. Now, the club is in fourth place and could rise even higher with another win.
A big reason for their success is the pairing of forward Kazaiah Sterling and midfielder Adrian Billhardt. Sterling leads the club with 12 goals, 36 shots (25 on target), and has the least amount of minutes between goals (125.6). Billhardt ranks next in the list of each of those categories. Another highly influential player for Tormenta FC is midfielder, and team captain, Gabriel de Freitas. He has the second-most minutes and starts on the team, ranks among the highest in passes per 90 minutes, and creates a lot of chances in the final third. His invisible labor has been greatly appreciated by his teammates this season.
Union Omaha look to take advantage of playing in front of a possible record crowd at Werner Park tonight and take ownership of the three points on the line. The Owls play their last two games of the regular season at home, where they have only lost two matches all season. Tormenta FC may have performed well on the road in other stadiums, but tonight’s crowd could be a game-changer. Union Omaha players will look to feed off the imposing energy of the crowd and make life even more difficult for their opposition on the field.
Though the Owls drew against North Carolina FC last week, the team saw strong performances from left back Ryen Jiba, center midfielder Conor Doyle, and the goal-scoring forward Corey Hertzog. The stability of JP Scearce next to Doyle in the middle will create a lot of trouble for Tormenta FC players, not to mention the center back pairing of Daltyn Knutson and Alex Touche, who combined to lose only two duels last week. Union Omaha fans will hope to see the return of Golden Glove leader Rashid Nuhu in net, as well.
The implications of tonight’s match are huge. For both teams, it’s simple: win or draw and you’re in the playoffs. Let’s be honest, neither team is simply looking to lock up a playoff spot tonight. With a first-round bye within sight, both teams are clamoring for that finish to the regular season. In order for either team to finish second place at the end of the regular season, they need to win out to control their destiny, but also need a little help along the way. Having Greenville lose or draw tonight to Charlotte would be of great help, as well as Chattanooga losing or drawing to North Carolina tonight. Both teams would love the extra week of rest, as well as the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd.
In the previous two matches between these clubs, things got a little heated. During the Week 3 matchup, played to a scoreless draw, there were six yellow cards and a straight red card. In the Week 13 matchup, in which Union Omaha won 3-2, there were 7 yellow cards, 2 of which led to a soft red card to the same player as the first matchup, Tormenta FC’s Joshua Phelps. With the recent spell of red cards raining down on matches in recent weeks, tonight could be another card-friendly occasion.
Tonight is Hispanic Heritage Night at Werner Park, so get to the stadium early to celebrate with the rest of the fans and go to the tailgates. There’s sure to be plenty of music, food, beverages, and fun people. Once the gates open, make sure you get inside, get your merchandise, and are at your seat when the teams take the field. You may have purchased a ticket for your seat, but you won’t be sitting much tonight. Stand up, display your colors proudly, make as much noise as you can, and cheer the Owls on to victory. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
Who Gives A Hoot? 