In the dying moments of the match, midfielder Joe Gallardo scored the match-winning goal as Union Omaha defeated Central Valley Fuego 2-1.
Image courtesy of Union Omaha Twitter: @Union_Omaha
The first half was a highly tactical 45 minutes, consisting of both sides battling for control in the midfield. While both clubs found their own measures of success in the final third, most of the possession was in the middle third of the field. Central Valley stacked their midfield and condensed the personnel in order to thwart Union Omaha’s advancement up the field, but the Owls started to find the crack in their armor as the half drew toward a close. Despite that confidence going into the break, it was Central Valley who would score first.
For the first time since Week 11, Union Omaha played a home match from a losing position as Central Valley scored in the 56th minute. The goal may have put Fuego ahead, but that was the only goal they would score on the evening. The rest of the night belonged to Union Omaha.
Nearly 20 minutes later, second-half substitute Noe Meza received a cheeky backheel pass from Pedro Dolabella and found the net for the equalizer. Meza’s 11th goal of the season couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Owls were searching hard for that breaking point. In the last 10 goals scored by Union Omaha, Pedro Dolabella has been involved in nearly half of them, scoring 2 goals and assisting 2 more.
As regulation time ticked away, the Fourth Official raised the board, alerting the Werner Crowd of seven additional minutes of stoppage time. All it took was two minutes for Union Omaha to find the lead, thanks to a goal from substitute Joe Gallardo. After receiving a pass from Dion Acoff, the midfielder took an extra second to measure up his shot and sniped out a shot to the top bin of the far post. Gallardo’s stoppage-time goal was also his first goal ever scored inside Werner Park. The remaining five minutes were wasted using various measures of possession and taking up residence in the corner.
The win gives Union Omaha another batch of valuable three points, which keeps them on pace with the top of the table. Though the Owls have already locked up a playoff spot, the battle for a first-round bye is heating up, so every point goes a long way in achieving that goal.
Union Omaha’s next match is Friday, September 29th as the Owls travel to Cary, North Carolina to take on the first-place club. Kickoff is scheduled for 6PM CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The next home match is Wednesday, October 4th when the Charlotte Independence comes to town. The promotional theme that night is Fan Appreciation Night, so don’t miss out on the Rashid Nuhu bobbleheads.
Postmatch Quotes
Head Coach Dominic Casciato
General thoughts on the evening:
“Yeah, obviously great to get the win. First and foremost, I think we made life difficult for ourselves. We gave away too many big chances against Fuego. Credit to them. I think Edison’s [Gonzalez] done a good job with that team and he’s got them organized and made them dangerous. I think we probably gave away too many big chances, but credit to the guys for showing us the fight and the spirit and the quality to score the two goals. Later on, I think Noe’s goal is exceptional. Joe G’s is exceptional as well. The individual quality to do what he does is great. [I’m] really happy with those two having a big impact from the bench and not to forget guys like Chavany [Willis] and Lagos [Kunga], as well. He came on and gave us the boost when we needed it. So, yeah. [I’m] really, really pleased for the group. I think everybody played their role. Definitely my hairline is getting bigger and bigger by the week if we keep winning this way. We need to get better. We need to be tighter defensively, but [I’m] looking forward to North Carolina this week.”
On instilling faith and belief in the locker room at half time:
“We showed a few clips. We showed some of the chances we were given away. We needed our defensive lines to be more united, a little bit closer to get a little bit tighter. We showed some of the areas we were getting in, as well. Then we said, ‘Look, if we continue to play this way, play with a little bit more urgency and get into the same areas, eventually one of those chances is going to go in.’ I think that’s what happened with the first one, when we were down the right hand side and had some good combination play in the box to finish.”
On working around Central Valley’s attempts to close down the midfield half spaces:
“I think anytime a team tries to do that, and they get compact in the middle, you want to play centrally to make it even more compact. Obviously that’s gonna open up space somewhere else, right? We speak as a group about whatever the opposition does to adjust to us. They’ll be wrong, right? Because if they want to stop us playing, why don’t we play through, you want to stop us playing through them? Okay, we’ll go outside you. So we always try and have an answer, we always try and be one step ahead and it doesn’t always work, but you know, tonight, in the second half, we made a couple of adjustments, and thankfully it paid off.”
On what is said to players before they are subbed on, make an impact on the match:
“Normally, we give the players one of three different roles coming into the game… One of the things we spoke about today before the game was when you come on, if you come on with one role, that role can change. If we score or they score, maybe what you need to give the team in that moment is a little bit different. Then, once you’re on the pitch, you’ve got to figure out what the team needs in that specific moment. We go over the set plays with them, we go over the role that they’re gonna fill and then obviously the guys have to deliver and I thought the guys were excellent. Obviously Joe and Noe got the goals but Chavany was excellent at pressing, holding the ball in a corner for us when we needed to kill a little bit of time at the end. Lagos is a real threat, maybe could’ve helped Noe finish that last one. At the end, they made it a more comfortable victory. [I’m] really pleased really guys and not just those guys that played. Everybody is contributing to the team’s success right now. We just need to keep that rolling.”
On next week’s away match at North Carolina FC:
“These are the games you want to play in, right at the business end of the season. You want to be going there and playing for something to be on the line and obviously it’s all on the line right now. So we’re looking forward to going there and trying to get three points.”
Team Captain JP Scearce
General thoughts on the evening:
“Yeah, it feels good to get the win and get the three points. [We] probably made it way too close than it should have been, but at the end of the day, we did what was necessary to get the win. So, [I’m] happy with that.”
On the tactical battles in the midfield, working around Central Valley’s midfield shape:
“I think they were sitting back a lot. Definitely, like you said, shutting down those spaces, and it was tough to play through them. So, I think we managed to play around them a few times and we just tried to keep doing that, get Dion [Acoff] and Shaft [Brewer Jr.] on the wings and got some chances out of it, but I think we kind of lacked in finishing those chances, which is kind of what affected us in the game, but it ended up working out.”
On his speeches to inspire perseverance:
“We all know how dangerous Shaft and Dion are, know how fast they are, how good they are with the ball in the space on the wings, so we try to use them as much as we can. Like I said, it wasn’t working out in the first half on the final end of those crosses, but we just kept pushing and knew eventually it would fall for us. We just didn’t give up.”
On inspiring bench players to make an impact after subbing into the match:
“Dom says it before every game in his pregame speeches where the guys that are starting on the bench, they have a big role. If they do come on, he always says the impact [comes] from the bench. So everyone, whether you’re starting or not, if you’re coming off the bench, you have a big role to play. If you do come in, you have to make an impact in the game, whether it’s bringing up the tempo or closing the game out. Like you said, you mentioned Noe [Meza] and Lagos [Kunga], they had a pretty big impact. Obviously, Noe getting that tying goal and the subs coming in after the second goal like Chavany, closing the game for us and holding it up in the corner. So, they play an important role for us.”
On his ability to keep the team focused during this historic streak:
“We just try to maintain a high level at training and we just have to keep doing what we’re doing. Obviously, coming into this game, you look at Fuego and you look at us, on paper, it should have been a much easier game, but there’s no easy game in this league and we just have to maintain a high level and treat every opponent equally. We know it’s going to be difficult. So we just have to keep doing our thing and keep playing our football and we know we are the best team in the league.”
On the upcoming away match at North Carolina FC:
“It’s another big game, obviously. We’re all in the title race. We beat them once and we know we have the capability of beating them, so hopefully we have a great week of training and focus on what they could bring to the game and try to get a result over there in North Carolina.”
On being voted the “Supporters Group Player of the Month”:
“Yeah, it feels great. It feels good. I just try to do my best to contribute to the team. [I’m] so thankful and blessed that I was chosen to be a Player of the Month.”
Noe Meza (1 goal)
General thoughts on the evening:
“Coming off the bench, I knew we had a lot of good chances in the first half. We just had to put one away and build off of the momentum, so going in, I knew I just wanted to make an impact as fast as possible. Luckily, we could get that goal and then the second one late in the match.”
What it means to him, knowing he has the support around him to provide chances on goal:
“Yeah, I knew going in [and that] I was going to get a chance. At least one, for sure. I know my teammates all year, we’ve been really good at creating chances. So going in, I knew I just had to do the most with the opportunities I got. Luckily, I found the net and we were able to build from there.”
On combining with Steevan Dos Santos after subbing into the match:
“He’s [Steevan] really good at holding the ball and also flicking on, so we were looking to go after them. We knew we had to be a little bit more direct, so I knew playing off Steevan, I could be the one that made those runs through and he could be the one kind of holding the ball and flicking it for us.”
On being a part of the historic streak:
“It feels incredible. I think we have an amazing team. We’re just taking it one game at a time. We know we have everything in front of us, so we’re just looking to focus on the present moment and making the most out of the rest of the season.”
How he feels after reaching top speed several times in the second half:
“I’m feeling great. Yeah, I’ve been training full on this past week, week and a half. I’ve been feeling great. I’m glad to be in good form heading into the playoffs.”
On the upcoming away match at North Carolina FC:
“I think we’re excited and we’re ready for that game. We know it’s like a Final basically. We can decide the season and we’ll prepare this week for it and we’ll be ready to go on Friday night.”
Joe Gallardo (1 goal)
General thoughts on the evening:
“We went 1-0 down and I was on the bench. Thankfully, I was able to come on and help the team with the win. Sometimes games are going to get difficult, but if we keep pushing and believing in ourselves, I feel like we’re the best team in the league.”
On scoring his first goal inside Werner Park:
“It was a great feeling, coming off the bench and being able to make that kind of an impact in the game.”
On being a versatile player within the club this season:
“It feels great. Just being able to come on and help my team. Sometimes I’m not going to start every game, but as long as I can come in and make an impact in the game, that’s all that matters.”
On his goal:
“I received the ball and I was looking around to see if there was anyone open and I just decided to make some space for myself and just take a shot.”
On staying focused during the historic streak:
“I feel like every game the boys show that they want it more than anything and I feel like that’s what’s getting us wins.”
On the upcoming road trip to play North Carolina FC:
“We just have to take game by game. We’re going to concentrate on winning the next game. I feel like every game we play, we just focus on who’s next. We’ve been there before and we can do it again.”
Random Facts
- Union Omaha extended the USL League One consecutive wins record to 10 matches.
- The Owls preserved an ongoing club record of 10 straight undefeated home matches.
- The win also extends an ongoing club record of 9 straight wins at home.
- The Owls also have ongoing club records in goals scored at home (34) and points earned at home (33).
- Union Omaha currently holds the club record for most points earned in a single season and are a point away from surpassing the all-time point accumulation record of 56 points in a single season. North Texas SC earned 56 points in 2019 during their 28-match regular season.
- With the win, the Owls have swept Central Valley in the regular season series, winning each of the three matches they’ve played this season.
- The victory extends Union Omaha’s lead in regular season matchups against Central Valley Fuego. In six matches all time, the Owls have now won five of those matchups.
- In the all-time series against Central Valley Fuego, Union Omaha has never conceded a first half goal to the Fuego.
- Union Omaha is still undefeated when scoring 2+ goals in a single match.
Match Summary
Attendance: 3,442
Goal Summary:
56’: CV – #14 Zahhir Vazquez (unassisted)
77’: OMA – #7 Noe Meza (assisted by #9 Pedro Dolabella)
90’+3: OMA – #11 Joe Gallardo (assisted by #26 Dion Acoff)
Substitution Summary:
50’: CV – #7 Mouhamed Dabo replaces #27 Qudus Lawal
63’: OMA – #70 Lagos Kunga replaces #8 Joe Brito
63’: OMA – #7 Noe Meza replaces #20 Luis Gil
69’: CV – #3 Jesus Partida replaces #4 Razak Cromwell
76’: OMA – #11 Joe Gallardo replaces #28 Shaft Brewer Jr.
87’: CV – #5 Andrew Forth replaces #77 Billy Forbes
90’+4: OMA – #6 Chavany Willis replaces #9 Pedro Dolabella
Discipline Summary:
27’: CV – #77 Billy Forbes (Yellow card)
34’: OMA – #20 Luis Gil (Yellow card)
37’: CV – #10 José Carrera-Garcia (Yellow card)
73’: CV – #11 Alexis Cerritos (Yellow card)
81’: OMA – #26 Dion Acoff (Yellow card)
Who Gives A Hoot? 