Union Omaha (5-8-2, 7^th Place) vs Chattanooga Red Wolves (6-3-8, 8^th 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 8^th 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 22^nd, 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!

Forward Madison (6-5-4, 5^th Place) vs Union Omaha (5-7-2, 7^th Place)

All competitions: MAD (7-5-5) vs OMA (9-7-3)

Breese Stevens Field – Madison, Wisconsin

7:00 PM (CST)            ESPN+

            Good morning, Búhos Nation!  Just when you were starting to recover from last week’s action, USL League One throws another game at you for more excitement.  Union Omaha plays their second midweek match of the season as they travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on Forward Madison.  Tune into ESPN+ at 7 PM for all of the action.

            Forward Madison currently sits in fifth place after having a week-long break from league action.  The Flamingos didn’t rest the entire time, though.  Instead, they scheduled an international friendly against Pumas Tabasco, a professional team from Liga de Expansión MX.  The friendly was played a week ago, ended in a 2-2 draw, and gave them value playing time during a bye week.

            In league play, Forward Madison’s most recent game was a home win against South Georgia Tormenta FC in Week 16.  The 2-0 victory allowed Forward Madison to remain in third place in the standings.  As is expected of the Flamingos, they have an impressive home record of 4-1-2, with the last home loss happening back on May 21^st (Week 8).  In the last five weeks, they’ve only lost one game, while winning three.  The team is led by forwards Jeremiah Streng and Matheus Cassini, both with four goals on the season.  Their goalkeeper, Raiko Arozarena, has impressed in his short time with the club.  Arozarena was loaned to Forward Madison from the Tampa Bay Rowdies in exchange for fellow goalkeeper Phil Breno.

            Union Omaha managed to earn a draw during Saturday’s game against Greenville Triumph, remaining undefeated in their last five games.  While the score ended 0-0, there were still a lot of positives to take away from the performance.  The Owls seemed to explore a new formation, showed decent passing, and moved personnel efficiently to maintain pressure on the Triumph for the full 90 minutes.  Despite earning the point, Union Omaha fell to seventh place in the standings.  Fear not, as the Owls are still in second place for average points earned per game.  This is the first week that Union Omaha will make up one of their games in hand.  Each of those games will be very valuable as the season progresses.  For example: if the Owls win tonight, they will jump to third place, sitting behind Richmond only because of the total-win tiebreaker.

            Fans inside Breese Stevens Field will be treated to a special occasion involving both Forward Madison and Union Omaha.  Earlier this season, both clubs announced the Unified Soccer Series. In conjunction with Special Olympics Nebraska and Special Olympics Wisconsin, both clubs held tryouts for players (with or without disabilities) to play during the halftime break of the two remaining matchups between the two clubs.  The first game will be played tonight, while the second will take place on August 31^st, when Forward Madison visits Omaha.  It does not sound like the game will be broadcast by ESPN+, so stay tuned to social media for videos and interviews with the players.

            It may be a work day, but it’s definitely a game day.  Wear the team’s colors, proudly display your pride, and spread the word about the game tonight.  This rivalry has brought plenty of entertainment in the past, so tonight should be no exception.  Whether you watch at home, or at a viewing party, bring the noise and support the Owls.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

On Friday, exciting news broke as Union Omaha announced the signing of midfielder Luis Gil.  The 28-year-old California native brings a wealth of experience, ranging from Major League Soccer (MLS) to Liga MX to virtually every ladder of the US Soccer national team, culminating in two caps for the senior squad.

            Luis Gil grew up in Garden Grove, California and started playing soccer at the age of three.  By the time he was 15 years old, he was already attending the IMG Soccer Academy and playing with the US Soccer Development Academy.  From 2008 to 2009, Gil made 32 appearances with the U17 National Team, scoring 5 goals.  In 2010, Gil signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer.  Despite gaining the attention of Premier League-side Arsenal, Gil’s professional rights went to the Kansas City Wizards.  With a backroom deal in place, Gil was traded to Real Salt Lake, where he would go on to make 134 appearances and score 11 goals.  In October of the same year, Gil made his Real Salt Lake debut in a CONCACAF Champions League group-stage match against Cruz Azul.  His first MLS goal came against the New York Red Bulls in 2011.

            While playing with Querétaro of the Liga MX, he experienced a series of loan spells that saw his return to the MLS with clubs like Orlando City, Colorado Rapids, and Houston Dynamo.  In 2019, Gil felt the need to get out of his comfort zone and try to redefine his career.  It took a surprising move to Czech Republic and a stint with FK Viktoria Žižkov to really rediscover his strengths and enhance his play.  In an interview 2020 with Brian Sciaretta, he spoke about his decision:

            “I had options in MLS, but I kind of wanted to get away from that.  The whole idea was just kind of get away from where I was comfortable.  I feel like I was just so used to a certain way and a certain style…It was kind of a quick decision in a way.  It was just something where I can get back to where I wanted to be – the player that I wanted to be, where coached didn’t know me.  I wanted something different.”

            Adjusting to Czech soccer took some time for Gil, but he learned to embrace the style and began having fun playing the beautiful game again.  In the same interview with Sciaretta, he said:

            “The soccer here is actually very distinct.  Czech football, I would say more in the second league, than first, it’s very, very physical and very direct.  It’s kind of its own football in a way.  It’s kind of under the radar, but it’s actually a very pretty decent high level even at the second tier.  Then obviously, once you get to the first divisions, you can start seeing the Sparta Prague’s, the Slavia Prague’s.  Those teams are consistently fighting in the Europe League.  It’s been an adjustment at first, but I have found some success here.  I’m playing consistently, scoring some goals, making some assists, making some plays.  I’m getting back into it and getting back to myself.  Hopefully I continue to grow.”

            The hard work and perseverance paid off and his current coach, Jay Mims, doled out the compliments.  In Union Omaha’s press release, Mims said:

“Luis adds great quality and experience to our team.  He has played at the highest level in our country, including at every level with the USMNT.  Adding an experienced, quality player like Luis will have such a great impact on our team on and off the field for the second half of the season.  We are excited to welcome Luis to the club and I know the players are eager to have another hardworking, humble person in the locker room.”

In the same press release, Gil shared his own excitement.  “I’m thrilled to be a part of a championship team.  [I’m] Hoping to help bring another to the city of Omaha!”

Gil joins Union Omaha just as the team travels to Greenville, South Carolina to face off against first-placed Triumph.  Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday night at 6 PM and will broadcast on ESPN+.

Greenville Triumph (9-4-4, 1^st Place) vs Union Omaha (5-6-2, 4^th 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 23^rd, 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!

After a contentious 90 minutes and change, Union Omaha was able to find their 5^th league win of the season, defeating FC Tucson 2-1 on Saturday night.  The Owls even spent a third of the match down a man, after an early (soft) red card was given to JP Scearce in the 30^th minute of play.  It was what happened between Union Omaha’s goals that took attention away from the victory.

            In what could easily be a record-setting occasion, Union Omaha and FC Tucson ended the match having received a combined 14 cards, including 2 soft red cards.  The majority of the yellow cards were handed out shortly after the second half began when, after a foul was called, the two teams came together to exchange pleasantries.  Less than ten minutes later, FC Tucson would receive a soft red card of their own and the two sides would finish on level player counts.  While the cards are what is likely to be talked about, the goals are what ultimately decided the greater scheme of things.

            Union Omaha opened the deadlock with a 14^th-minute goal from Hugo Kametani, assisted by Kemal Malcolm.  In typical fashion, Union Omaha was able to build an attack with less than a handful of passes, but instead of working up the sideline, the link-up play took place straight down the middle of the field.  Malcolm was found along the right sideline and sent a quality service into the box and Kametani was able to finish it with relative ease.  The goal was Kametani’s first since Union Omaha played Minnesota United in the US Open Cup on May 25^th.  The assist was Malcolm’s first assist of the season.  As suddenly as this goal occurred, the second goal took even less time to develop.

            In the 90+1’ minute of play, former Union Omaha player, and current FC Tucson defender, Jake Crull made an errant pass backward toward his goalie.  Union Omaha second-half sub, Alex Bruce, was within striking distance and pounced on the opportunity.  Bruce sprinted toward the ball, was the first to arrive, and swept the ball wide to avoid the FC Tucson goalkeeper.  He made the goal look easy, but it was from a tough angle and in the heat of the moment, so full credit to Bruce for remaining calm and composed enough to score the goal.  The unassisted (Editor’s Note: Jake Crull cannot be credited with an assist but we all know what happened – RL) goal is Bruce’s first goal as an Owl.

            When the dust from Week 16 action settled, FC Tucson remained in last place in the league.  The closest team in the standings is five points away, so if they are going to make the playoffs, they’re going to need a win streak at the end of the season similar to what we saw last year.  FC Tucson will host Charlotte Independence on Saturday, July 23^rd and kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM (CST).

            By virtue of their win, Union Omaha jumped three spots to end Week 16 in 4^th place and return to the playoff grouping after dropping below the threshold in Week 15.  The 4^th-place finish to the week is their highest finish since Week 4, when the Owls finished in 2^nd place.  Union Omaha remains in the thick of the hunt, as teams 4^th through 10^th are separated by a mere 3 points.  Next week, the Owls travel to Greenville, South Carolina for another edition of Belt Week.  Tune into the match on Saturday at 6 PM (CST) on ESPN+.

Wednesday, June 29

Greenville Triumph 3-1 North Carolina FC

The only numbers in this game that would suggest Greenville had such an easy time with North Carolina is the final score. Greenville was incredibly efficient in this game, and North Carolina was anything but. Allen Gavilanes scored on the team’s very first shot, set up by a Conor Doyle-esque pass from Noah Pilato, and they cruised from that point on. North Carolina didn’t register a shot on goal until the second half, their threats were very few and far between. But, both keepers and defensive lines allowed howlers in the second half that probably made Phil Breno blush. Greenville continues to take advantage of its schedule to pad their lead.

FC Tucson 0-1 Richmond Kickers

A spirited at times Tucson squad weren’t able to capitalize on any of its three best chances in this game, and a rip on the bounce by Jonathan Bolanos gave Richmond a vengeance-away win to help separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Tucson looked as creative as a team with only one shot on target could look, but it’s clear their early season problems haven’t been quite fixed yet.

Thursday, June 30

Northern Colorado Hailstorm 2-1 Chattanooga Red Wolves

A lively first half left Chattanooga looking lost, and Northern Colorado looking like they could turn any opportunity into a goal-scoring one. Two first half goals for Hailstorm could have easily been four, and Chattanooga head coach Jimmy Obleda’s anger on the sideline was so evident it could even be seen by a viewer off camera. Chattanooga got one back in the second half, but they didn’t put up near as much of a fight as one would expect a trailing team to do.

Saturday, July 2

Richmond Kickers 4-1 North Carolina FC

Whatever was being used by North Carolina to curse Richmond has apparently worn off, as Richmond were finally able to defeat North Carolina for the first time in six league matchups dating back to last season. Poor passing by Richmond in their defensive-third allowed North Carolina to hold the lead until almost the hour mark, Richmond quickly unleashed a flurry of goals, all either coming from poor efforts to clear by North Carolina’s defense or quick counters from Richmond’s own half. Richmond has lost only one of their last seven (5-1-1) and has emerged as a clear long-term threat for the top of the table over the course of the season.

Central Valley Fuego 0-1 South Georgia Tormenta

Tormenta’s efforts on the road this season continue to keep them within striking distance of a playoff spot nearing the half-pole of the season, and they remain the only team without an away loss. Fuego’s non-stop barrage of shots in the first half proved fruitless, and when they started the second half slow, Tormenta took advantage to sneak in a goal that was akin to a “playoff hockey” goal. Fuego once again found their urgency after conceding, but it’s clear that Tormenta continues to thrive away from the Land of Future Publix.

Sunday, July 3

FC Tucson 1-1 Greenville Triumph

This was about as fair as draws get, because neither goalkeeper deserved to take the loss in this one. Even in their run of really good form, Greenville may still feel a little relieved to go home with a draw, even if a top of the table team is expected to take three points away to the worst team in the league (which Richmond did earlier in the week).

Tuesday, July 5

Northern Colorado Hailstorm 1-2 Forward Madison

This is a game Northern Colorado probably wishes they had to play again. Madison took three shots in the first half and found the net twice, including an Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu goal that was likely a cross, but one he now can’t admit to. Parker Smith started in place of Phil Breno at goal, something to watch for in the coming weeks. Madison bounced back well with the extra rest, and they will once again wait more than a week before their next game.

USL League One Table: Week 15 (and a little extra)

Team	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Richmond Kickers	7	3	4	13	24
Greenville Triumph	7	3	4	5	24
Forward Madison	5	5	4	-3	20
Charlotte Independence	5	3	6	-8	18
Chattanooga Red Wolves	5	2	7	5	17
North Carolina FC	5	2	6	-4	17
Union Omaha	4	5	2	3	17
Central Valley Fuego	4	5	4	-1	17
South Georgia Tormenta	4	5	4	-1	17
Northern Colorado Hailstorm	4	4	5	-1	16
FC Tucson	3	3	7	-8	12

Richmond’s rise to the top of the table is likely the most notable update to the table, along with Madison looking like they can pull away from the middle pack of teams that have played 14 games. Omaha can still make a move from their current position, but draws will need to become wins sooner or later

Week 15 Matches (less one)

Friday, July 8

Charlotte Independence v. Richmond Kickers

This will already be the third and final matchup of these two teams, and Richmond have won the first two by an aggregate of 6-1. Since May 21 Charlotte have only played one match at home, so they’ll be hoping to find comfort in a stadium where they’ve won more than half of the games they’ve played so far this year.

Saturday, July 9

Greenville Triumph v. Central Valley Fuego

After their hot start, Fuego blinked and suddenly fell in a funk. Netting five points in their last six games (five of which were at home) Fuego have to admit they let an opportunity to accumulate points at home slip away and move on. It will be difficult, but not impossible, against a Greenville team that hasn’t lost at home in two and a half months. A draw might be the most they can ask for, but they need to start picking up points soon.

North Carolina FC v. Union Omaha

Both teams can use the win here: North Carolina lost three in a row on a two-week road trip, while Omaha were left with a draw in their second game of a four-game stretch with plenty of opportunities to pick up wins. Look for Rich’s preview at the week’s end.

South Georgia Tormenta v. Chattanooga Red Wolves

It has to happen at home for Tormenta at some point, who have managed a paltry three points in seven games at home, scoring only four goals. A loser in this game will be in trouble, especially if it’s Chattanooga. They seem to be a team whose players have not been in unison with one another these past few weeks.

FC Tucson v. Northern Colorado Hailstorm

This isn’t exactly a matchup of league minnows, but a loss to Tucson will likely insert Hailstorm in the Wooden Spoon race. Tucson will be the last team to play its first game against Hailstorm, and they’ll do so after a string of not-horrible results.