Union Omaha (10-13-6, 4th Place) vs Central Valley (10-7-12, 8th Place)
All competitions: OMA (14-13-7) vs CV (11-7-13)
Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska
4:00 PM (CST) ESPN+
Decision Day. The day that brings so much excitement, anxiety, and heartbreak. It’s finally upon us. For Union Omaha and Central Valley, their fates have already been decided – the former is in the playoffs, the latter starts their offseason after tonight. The Owls can host the first round of the playoffs with a win tonight, so make sure you are inside Werner Park to witness all of the action as the USL League One regular season comes to close tonight. Kickoff between Union Omaha and Central Valley is slated for 4 PM and you can also catch the broadcast on ESPN+.
Central Valley Fuego FC remained in the playoff through Week 27, despite two losses in the same week, but Week 28 saw the club’s playoff chances disappear after results from other matches around the league. Fuego FC can still play the spoiler, but there’s little meaning to tonight’s match beyond that.
Fuego FC’s offense will be a good test for Union Omaha’s defense tonight, as the methodical unit ranks third in the league in shots, third in total passes, second in passing accuracy, and nearly 75% of their goals involve assists. Their leading goal scorer, Christian Chaney, is also tied for second place in team assists and has the second highest shot count in the entire league. Midfielder Villyan Bijev leads the team in assists, while also boasting the team’s third-most goals, second-most shots, and third-most chances created. Victor Falck, another midfielder, leads the team in chances created, is second in goals, and third in assists. The trio leads the club in almost every offensive statistic. Meanwhile, netminder Ofek Antman has amassed seven clean sheets this season, enough to rank him third highest in the league. Antman is also fourth highest in saves. Defensive efforts from Michael Hornsby, Ozzie Ramos, and Nathan Smith have frustrated teams throughout the season, as well.
Union Omaha looks to give team captain Conor Doyle a belated birthday present as they battle to secure a home match in the first round of the playoffs. In Week 28, the Owls battled Tormenta FC to a 1-1, which was enough to earn the club an automatic bid to the playoffs. By the end of tonight, Union Omaha fans could see the Owls rise as high as second place, or fall as low as fifth. There’s plenty of drama in store for tonight and the math determining each placement involves a lot of math.
The Owls will look for production from proven leaders like Noe Meza, who still leads the team in goals, assists, shots, shots on target, and is tied for the lead in goals from inside the box. Midfielder JP Scearce isn’t far behind Meza, ranking second in nearly every one of those categories. Mid-season signing Corey Hertzog has made an impact in his 12 appearances, scoring 4 goals and leading the club in minutes between goals. On defense, the center back duo of Daltyn Knutson and Alex Touche continues to lead the team in clearances and blocks during their consistently strong performances. It’s possible that fans could see Rashid Nuhu in net tonight, but backup keeper Kevin Piedrahita has filled the position during his recent absence and could also mind the net again tonight. There are no clear indications as to who will start, so fans will have to wait and see on that front.
These two clubs have only met twice in history. In Week 4, Fuego FC was the sacrificial lamb in Union Omaha’s home opener, losing 0-3 to the Owls. When the teams met again in Week 19, Union Omaha traveled to Fresno and defeated Fuego 1-0. Central Valley has failed to score on Union Omaha so far this season, the only club in the league to do so. A win tonight from the Owls would give the club a clean sweep on the season series.
Make sure you get to Werner Park in time for all of the early action ahead of Fan Appreciation Night. There will be tailgates with food, beverages, music, and games. The Parliament tailgate is going to include merchandise available for purchase, with purchases over $25 receiving 3 raffle tickets. Some of the prizes from the raffle include gift cards, with the main prize being a brand new laptop. Once you get into the stadium, the club has personalized the walkout music for Hoot, the trivia theme, and even the kit design to the will of the fans. It’s going to be a great day, so don’t miss out on any of the fun! Be loud and support the Owls to victory. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
Who Gives A Hoot? 