Welcome to Week 4 of USL League One action, Búhos Nation!  Tonight is the home opener for Union Omaha and new-kids-on-the-block Central Valley Fuego FC are coming to town for a high-quality matchup.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM (CST) at Werner Park and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

            The Owls are riding high after an emotional victory in the US Open Cup.  On Tuesday night, Union Omaha became the first USL League One club to defeat an MLS club in the US Open Cup tournament.  After 90 minutes of regulation time, 30 minutes of extra time, and a series of penalty kicks, Union Omaha remained victorious over the Chicago Fire.  It was a statement win that reverberated across social media and truly highlighted the magic that is the US Open Cup.

            Emotions will still be a factor on Saturday evening, as the club announced that they will be handing out the 2021 USL League One Championship rings to last year’s players.  Several photos have circulated online and the ring looks incredible.  The ring ceremony should be starting right around 5:30 PM (CST) and some of the players from last year’s roster will be on hand to accept their rings and celebrate the monumental achievement.  The pomp and circumstance will only last a short while, as kickoff follows closely behind.  Once the ceremony is over, it’s back to business as usual for the Owls.

            Central Valley Fuego has had their fair share of success so far this season, as well.  The club is currently undefeated in USL League One and narrowly lost to USL Championship-side Sacramento Republic in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.  Now that they won’t be vying for the Lamar Hunt Cup anymore, they can focus their attention on league play.  In their first two matches of USL League One play, Fuego has scored five goals and allowed three.  This is a club that has zero doubts about where the goal is and is more than able to find it on multiple occasions.  In fact, across all competitions, only once has Fuego been held to one goal. Across the four competitive matches that the club has played, Fuego is averaging over two goals a match. In Week 1 of the season, Fuego put the entire league on notice as they traveled across the country to defeat last year’s runner up Greenville Triumph 2-0.  There’s rain in the forecast after the match, but Fuego will certainly look to rain on Omaha’s parade a little earlier in the evening.

            Admittedly, there have been expressed doubts pertaining to Union Omaha’s offense, but after Tuesday night’s dramatic victory, confidence should be at its highest within the locker room.  The players fought tooth and nail to prove themselves worthy of greater respect and earned it.  Union Omaha has had four competitive matches so far this season and with each passing match, you can see the team coming together, gaining confidence, and establishing the chemistry that will hold them together through thick and thin.  The goals that we’ve seen so far this season don’t come from giving partial effort.  The team still has that classic “Mims Effect” that we mentioned in Eddie Gordon’s signing.  That grit, that passion, that unwavering devotion to never giving up is firmly installed in this year’s squad and they’re going to need it against the Fuego.

            Fuego likes to line up in a 4-5-1, but completely overloads the middle of the field.  The way they condense their personnel leaves very little room for others to operate, creates early turnovers, and provides more passing opportunities.  Their offense acts like a fast-moving elevator, moving the ball swiftly up the ranks to their frontline.  The team is also fiercely physical and doesn’t seem to be afraid to go toe-to-toe with any opposition.  Forwards Villyan Bijev and Christian Chaney have been an absolute nightmare for defensive backlines and today should be no different.  The Bulgarian and American, respectively, have combined for seven of the team’s ten goals across all competitions.  Union Omaha’s midfield and backline will have their hands full tonight.

            Union Omaha put out one fire this week, can they do it again?  Will the Owls be able to recover from their emotional win and avoid the emotional distractions related to the ring ceremony?  Can Union Omaha’s defense remain stout against the high-scorers?  Will former FC Tucson defender Maxi Schenfeld earn another red card during his return to the Omaha area?  How will newly-appointed head coach Martín Vásquez change his tactics this week?  Be at Werner Park or tune in to ESPN+ for answers to those questions and more.

            With all of the excitement surrounding tonight’s match, don’t forget that the excitement starts well beforehand.  There are a number of supporters groups that will be hosting tailgates before the gates to Werner Park even open.  Bring your friends and family, wear volt, make some noise, and make sure the Owls know that they have our full support.  After the match, stay tuned for more coverage from Who Gives A Hoot.  We’ll keep you updated on statistics, breakdowns, and all of the banter you could ever desire.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

With the first match on the horizon, and I’m sure a few new faces showing up to Union Omaha matches this year I thought it would be the perfect time to spread the word about one of the tailgate options available to everyone! The biggest option right now is the Omaha Parliament tailgate. I reached out to @ChrisSoeur79, the head of the committee to discuss the upcoming tailgate and the future.

B: What are your plans for this weeks tailgate?

C: This weekend is the beginning – so we want to keep it casual, with opportunities for attendees to mingle and get to know any newcomers. Vincentini Plumbing is the sponsor of the tailgate and Thou Chum (from Vincentini Plumbing and Blek Omaha) will be making up some tasty Bánh mì’s. We will also have Asian Chips and other items for sides/desserts.

B: Do you have any plans for tailgate themes this upcoming year?

C: For the most part, I plan to try to keep the tailgate themes aligned with the Union Omaha themes for each match.

B: Can you let readers know where our tailgate is located?

C: The Omaha Parliament Tailgates are located in the southwest corner of lot F4.

B: Is there anything you need for upcoming tailgates?

C: Prior to each tailgate, we will add a Facebook event that will include links to our sign up sheets, if additional assistance is needed. Anyone interested in helping set up can show up an hour prior to the tailgate start – it’s a great way to get your workout in that day if you want to skip the gym. Otherwise, just show up a couple hours prior to the game, grab some merch, enjoy the camaraderie and get pumped up for the game!

B: Why did you want to be on the tailgate committee?

C: I am a planner. A hostess, if you will. I love to coordinate events and this is kind of my wheel house. Being that it is outside and the crowds can be unpredictable at times presents a challenge, but I THRIVE on this.

B: What can we do as a group to make our tailgates better?

C: The biggest thing as a group to make our tailgates better – spread the word. Share the events to your Facebook friends. Encourage them to go to the Union Omaha games and the Omaha Parliament Tailgate prior to the games. Invite your friends, coworkers, your entire family including your second cousin’s oldest son and your mom. Help spread the mission of Omaha Parliament – to support Union Omaha and the growth of soccer in the Greater Omaha Metro Area at the pro and amateur level

B: What vision do you have for future tailgates?

C: For future tailgates – my vision is short sighted at this point – I am looking ahead to this weekend’s tailgate at the moment. But for future tailgates maybe have more games or activities that are family friendly and inclusive to all? UO Trivia contest maybe?  I am always open to suggestions. People can find me on Twitter at @ChrisSoeur79.

You can see the passion being brought into the tailgate scene around our club. It is a great way to come show support and be with like minded people before the match even starts! It was a pleasure to be able to do this interview and I look forward to what the future holds for this Supporters Group and the tailgates it supplies to the community!

Let’s talk game winners. Since this column last appeared, Greg Hurst scored two consecutive game winners against New Mexico United. While that’s great and exciting for Greg (let’s be serious, and us too), Jake Crull was out there hurting teams in our league. His 81st minute goal stole two points from Forward Madison last weekend. Congrats to Jake for now scoring in 2 straight games. Oh and Dami scored on his league debut too. Oh and, and, Christian Molina made his debut for the Kickers.

Games 4/14 thru 4/17

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	New Mexico United	1-0	Y	LW	90	1	0	8.1
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	Oakland Roots	2-2	Y	LM	90	0	0	6.7
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	Lou City FC	2-5	N		45	0	0	6
Damia Viader	Republic FC	Orange County SC	1-1	Y	LW	90	1	0	0
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	Orange County SC	1-1	N		5	0	0	0
Devin Boyce	Memphis 901 FC	Colorado Springs Switchbacks	2-1	Unused Subsititue
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	Indy Eleven	1-2	Y	CM	90	0	0	7
John Murphy	NYRB 2	RGV FC	0-1	N		21	0	0	6.1
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Charlotte Independence	1-2	Y	CM	83	0	0	6.1
Jacob Crull	FC Tucson	Forward Madison	1-1	Y	LCB	90	1	0	7.7
Tobias Otenio	South Georgia Tormenta	Union Omaha	0-0	Not on bench
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	Chattanooga Red Wolves	0-1	Unused Subsititue
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	Chattanooga Red Wolves	0-1	Y	CB	90	0	0	7.2

US Open Cup 3rd Round

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	New Mexico United	2-1	N		29	1	0	7.3
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	LA Galaxy	0-1	Y	LM	90	0	0	6.2
Damia Viader	Republic FC	Cental Valley Fuego	2-1	N		24	0	0	6.8
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	Cental Valley Fuego	2-1	Unused Substitute
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Real Salt Lake	1-0	Y	LM	56	0	0	6.2
Jacob Crull	FC Tucson	Cal United Strikers	1-2	Y	CB	90	0	0	6.4
Tobias Otenio	South Georgia Tormenta	Birmingham Legion	2-0	Not on bench
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	North Carolina Fusion U23	1-0 ET	Y	RW	45	0	0	6.1
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	North Carolina Fusion U23	1-0 ET	Y	CB	120	0	0	7.5

Since its inaugural season, no team in USL League One had advanced past the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. Union Omaha didn’t become the first, only because South Georgia Tormenta didn’t need extra time to defeat Birmingham Legion. Union Omaha will gladly take becoming the second, and also will gladly take being the first USL League One team since the start of the league to beat an MLS team in the U.S. Open Cup. Union Omaha did in fact make history with their 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire, and their 5-4 win in the resulting penalty shootout advances them to the Round of 32.

This match was far from the defensive slugfest most fans were expecting: the two teams combined for 37 shots, with each managing six on target. Though Chicago scored twice, both goals did come from the spot, extending their goalless drought from the run of play 398 minutes by the time the final whistle was blown. In contrast, Union Omaha did in fact score from the run of play; twice, in fact. Noe Meza scored the first professional goal of his career with a hammer of a shot on a half volley, and Alex Touche scored his first goal with the club, a loose ball in the box that he tucked away into the right side of the net a little more than ten minutes after coming on for Gabriel Claudio, and only a minute before the final whistle.

The start of the match was a positive one for Union Omaha; Chicago’s defensive line was a mix of experience, from a reserve player making his first team debut to a center back that spent his most recent three and a half years at FC Köln, but Omaha had a few really good chances in the first fifteen minutes. Attacking efforts seemed to be met with a little bit of bad luck, either catching the final attacking player on the wrong foot, or with his weight shifted to the wrong side, or looking for that final ball a second too late to finish the attack. After about the 15:00 mark, Chicago seemed to settle down, and dictated the pace until the halftime whistle, albeit to a 0-0 result.

The second half kicked off looking similar to how the first half ended, all the way through Rafael Czichos slotting home a goal from the spot provided to him by a foul in the box on Eddie Gordon. Less than ten minutes later, Dion Acoff and Meza subbed on for Union Omaha, and the game took a noticeable turn in their favor. Besides Meza’s obviously beautiful finish of an equalizer, both he and Acoff were obviously trouble for Chicago’s tiring defense. Acoff was finding space close to the endline with ease, and he seemed to always put the ball in a more favorable position than it was in when he received it, in the most important moments.

Just before full-time, Chicago decided they wanted to go deeper in the well than they intended. Stanislav Ivanov (7 MLS starts, 1 goal this season), Kacper Przybyłko (7 MLS starts, 2 goals this season) and Federico Navarro (3 MLS starts, 3 MLS sub ons this season) spelled some of the match’s starters to try and hammer home the remaining 30 minutes. However, the three of them managed only one shot between them. In fact, both teams each had five shots after those substitutions. The only one of those that Chicago managed to put on frame was Czichos’ second penalty, while Omaha managed to put four of their five shots on frame, with the last one of course being Touche’s dagger at the death.

If you didn’t admire Union Omaha’s resiliency during the final 60 minutes of this match, you couldn’t ignore it during the penalty shootout. A big moment for any lower division team trying to knock out a giant; a moment where your opponent is no longer the opposing team. Instead, the opponent is yourself, and your own thoughts. Chicago won the opportunity to pressure Omaha first, but Przybyłko found the crossbar [Editor’s note: what a coup for Jay Mims’ to sign Wood Work this offseason] (with a little backspin, causing Rashid Nuhu to pay attention for too long) with the opener, immediately giving away the advantage. Fire goalkeeper Spencer Richey saved Meza’s attempt in the third round, giving the Fire the leadoff advantage once again, but Daltyn Knutson and Giovanni Montesdeoca were up to the challenge of matching their counterparts on the other side. Nuhu’s save of Miguel Navarro in the sixth round put Omaha on the brink, and Acoff icily quieted the crowd (at his own suggestion, it would appear) to stamp Omaha’s ticket to the Round of 32.

As a fan, I think it’s obvious what one word comes closest to describing my feeling following this game, and that word is ‘pride’. I almost always feel proud of this team that I follow, but damn did those guys leave it all on the field that night until the very end. We honestly could not have asked for a better performance, roughly 72 hours after a tough draw at Tormenta. Now, we have a huge opportunity to further advance in this tournament with a home match against fellow League One side Northern Colorado Hailstorm. I’ll be back soon to preview that matchup, as we all wait to see if we can make it three down with four to go.

I see a lot of potential in tailgating for Union Omaha games. We have a well-established following that continues to expand year after year, a front-office support system that listens to supporters organizations and incorporates their input into decision-making, and I see a region with a wonderful tailgating scene. We only need to go 40 minutes southwest to find the answers we need.

I began going to Nebraska football games when I was about 5 or 6 years old. However, I didn’t begin tailgating until I was about 21 years old. That’s when I fell in love with the idea of a group of fans getting together to talk shop about the team and upcoming games while also enjoying an adult beverage. Let me set the scenario for those of you who haven’t or won’t attend a Nebraska football tailgate. You arrive at the parking lot around 4 hours before the game and are never the first ones there.

Someone is always there before you set up the grill and get the lawn games out. Everyone in your immediate vicinity is dressed in Scarlet and Cream (and black but that is a different discussion). There are also spaces where rival fans can gather and discuss the sport that we all love. Despite the fact that there is no “formal” march to the game, everyone seems to know when it is time to enter the stadium. You’ll pass by tens of thousands of other people along the route.

With a few adjustments, we can accomplish the same thing with our clubs and supporters groups. This is a rough outline of my dream scenario:

• As you drive into the parking lot, you’ll see signs pointing to the “tailgate section,” where you’ll see rows of tents and people sitting around coolers and fold out chairs.
• Soccer tennis nets and small goals  are strewn throughout the grassy spaces behind the vehicles that aren’t in use.
• As you pull into the parking lot and begin unloading your belongings, a member of the front office greets you, thanks you for coming and offering to answer any questions you may have regarding the game or the gameday experience.
• They point out the different supporters groups in the area and tell you that all are welcome here and they’re happy to have your support.
• You’re meeting up with some old friends to speak about the upcoming match when you notice a team bus going down the lane, notice the opposing team’s logo on the side of the bus, then hear our fans’ drumlines start up and see smoke billowing from the side of the road. “We’ll conquer all of League one!, We’re never going to stop!” chants everyone in the region as they line the sides of the main thoroughfare. This certainly provides the opposition team a taste of what they’re in for over the next few hours.
• Everyone returns to their vehicles as soon as the buses pass, to enjoy what is left of the tailgate.
• The bullhorn suddenly sounds, announcing that the march into the stadium is about to begin, and that everyone should gather behind the “Welcome to tailgate row” sign above the entrance to the parking area.
• Hundreds of people marching into the stadium, accompanied by drums, chants, and smoke.
• And we’re all watching Union Omaha romp to a 6-0 win.

It’s the ideal setting for a gameday outing. Together, we can make that dream a reality. We’ve started putting that dream together as a team. Another excellent team like Union Omaha can and will be supported in this state. And the tailgate scene can be the make-or-break sense of community that such individuals require.

While the outcomes are promising, the last two games haven’t been what we expected. However, Werner (and, hopefully, our own stadium) can be turned into a fortress. Take a look at what Liverpool accomplished at Anfield from 2017 to 2021. At home, the team had gone 68 games without losing. This is owing to Liverpool’s superiority, as well as the support of its fans. That is something we can and will do here.

Another week, another first for Union Omaha. While most, if not all, Union Omaha fans would have wanted the club’s first official match against an MLS side to be played at home, we’ll have to make do with a road affair. Union Omaha will take on Chicago Fire in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday^TM, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. at historic Soldier Field, just off the shore of Lake Michigan.

Going over recent form is obviously a little bit of a crapshoot for Union Omaha, who have only played three official games so far in 2022, and Tuesday^TM will be Omaha’s second match in four days. In league play so far, Omaha have played two very different style of games. A pair of away draws starting with a “keep the ball, we’re just gonna shoot it when we get it” style 2-2 draw at Forward Madison, followed by a “this game got down in the mud and we can’t get out of it” 0-0 draw at South Georgia Tormenta.

The latter game might be the style to expect with a match against Chicago Fire, because scoring does seem to be at a premium in their games so far this season. In their seven games so far this season in MLS, there have been only seven total goals scored. Not by Chicago, not by their opponents, but by both. Now Chicago have only conceded two of those goals, but have only managed a 2-4-1 start in those seven games. It’s a disappointing start for Fire, who expected Xherdan Shaqiri to inject some offensive life into the club. In his five starts, he’s managed only one goal (a penalty) with an xG of 0.9. Offensive underperforming seems to be a theme for Chicago, with 5 goals from an xG of only 7.0 in seven matches overall.

With such a quick turnaround for this match, what kind of lineup can we expect to see from Union Omaha? We’re starting to figure out some of whom are in Jay Mims’ preferred XI, but most of those players were pretty obvious in the preseason. The recent match at Tormenta also gave us our first look at what a rotated lineup might look like, with Gabriel Claudio getting the start at center back and Giovanni Montesdeocca starting up top, moving Hugo Kametani to the wing (if you believe the league provided starting formation). What was more noticeable is that Union Omaha made three(!) subs at one time(!) just after the 60th minute(!) [Editor’s note: !!!]. Players rotated out were JP Scearce (who had taken a knock late in Madison), Noe Meza, and Montesdeocca, and they were replaced by Ricky Rivera and a pair of recently announced signings, midfielder Eddie Gordon and forward Kemal Malcolm.

The players that were spelled at Tormenta probably gives us more insight to this match’s starting XI than does the starting XI from that match itself. There are of course still some unanswered questions, including whether or not some of the veterans that went 90 minutes at Tormenta will start (Conor Doyle and Emir Alihodžić have played every minute so far in 2022). If we’re assuming that some of those players will only be made available as substitutes, here’s what the lineup may look like:

I’m obviously taking a couple pretty big swings here, but Jay Mims hasn’t invited me to any staff meetings yet, so I really don’t have much of a choice. I obviously think it’s possible that some players that played 90 minutes one night can turn around and start a match just three days later, but assuming all of them will is probably reckless. I’m making assumptions with where some players can be positioned, but with Chavany Willis and Isaac Bawa yet to make appearances with Union Omaha (Bawa has yet to make a team sheet) I’m not willing to assume they’ll suddenly make the starting XI.

As for who Chicago Fire starts is anybody’s guess. For MLS teams in the third round of this tournament, it’s safe to assume that if a player has played in well more than half of their team’s games in this early stretch of the season, or if they’re close to having a ‘3’ in the front half of their age, they won’t be in the starting XI. Expect little to zero from Kacper Przybyłko, Shakiri, Mauricio Pineda and Stanislav Ivanov, and a little more of Andre Reynolds, Javier Casas, Jhon Durán and Chinonso Nnamdi Offor. Who are these players? We’re likely about to find out.

In conclusion, expect to see a slow pace in this one. Do not be surprised if this starts scoreless for quite a while, and don’t be surprised if this game goes the full 90 minutes 0-0, and don’t be surprised if this game goes to penalties 0-0. It all depends on if Fire manager Ezra Hendrickson values not having to play the additional 30 minutes, in that case his second half substitutes might be some better quality, more recognizable players. A 1-0 victory from either side is absolutely possible, and the fourth round is waiting for the winner.

Good morning, Búhos Nation!  It’s a Union Omaha gameday, so grab your gear, wear the colors, and support the Owls as they take on Tormenta FC tonight at 6:30 PM (CST) at Erk Russell Park in Statesboro, Georgia.  The match will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

The 2021 edition of the Tormenta FC was a team that had potential, but ultimately never achieved said potential.  The team started off the season with six losses in their first seven matches.  They were able to achieve a four-match winning streak, which saw them flirting with playoff contention, but soon suffered injuries on the backline and couldn’t sustain the winning momentum.  By the final whistle of the last match of the season, Tormenta FC saw themselves in 11^th place, only 5 points above last-placed North Carolina FC.  The club was busy in the offseason and hopes to find more luck and success along the path of the 2022 USL League One regular season.

Much like most of the clubs in USL League One, Tormenta FC has seen a large roster turnover prior to the start of the 2022 regular season.  The 2021 team leading scorer, midfielder Marco Micaletto, is plying his trade in the MLS Next Pro with Columbus Crew 2.  Another major producer from last year’s squad, forward Azaad Liadi, is playing with Loudon FC in the USL Championship.  The last major piece of their 2021 roster, midfielder Luca Mayr-Fälten, crossed the Atlantic to return home and play for SK Vorkwärts Steyr in Austria.  Though this trio was essential to the roster last season, Tormenta FC has brought in some talent, as well as retained some, as well.

One familiar face for many USL League One fans is goalkeeper Pablo Jara.  By the end of the 2021 season, Jara had earned five clean sheets and was awarded the Week 10 USL League One Save of the Week and Team of the Week honors.  He’s returned for yet another season and hopes to see the club rise in the standings.  Another familiar name to Tormenta FC is midfielder Adrain Billhardt.  He had a lot of buzz surrounding him during his rookie season in 2021, but tore his ACL within the first five matches of the season and had to spend the rest of the season recovering from that injury.  He seems to be healed up and ready go, but it remains to be seen if he can substantiate the hype around him.  A new face to the club is forward Arthur Bosua.  The South African spent the 2021 season with New Amsterdam FC (NISA) and the 2020 season with the Charleston Battery (USL Championship).  He has a big frame, even bigger presence, and loves to hunt down cross.  With Jara in net, Billhardt in the midfield, and Bosua up top, the team has already laid a solid foundation for link-up play.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the all-too familiar name now associated with Tormenta FC: Toby Otieno.  A member of the 2020 and 2021 Union Omaha squad, many fans were excited at the prospect of seeing the Kenyan midfielder returning for a third season, but things just weren’t meant to be.  During the offseason, Otieno accepted a deal that would move him to Statesboro, Georgia and mind the midfield for Tormenta FC.  At this moment in time, Otieno is stuck in Kenya and waiting for his visa approvals before he can join his new club.

Union Omaha and Tormenta FC have only played each other four times, but I don’t think I have to go out on a limb when I say that Tormenta FC may be Union Omaha’s biggest supporter.  Aside from a draw during their first match in 2020, Union Omaha has collected three points each time they played.  In fact, it’s been 583 days since Tormenta FC has scored a goal on Union Omaha.  Remember when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the royal family and moved to Canada?  How about murder hornets?  Yeah, those news pieces are just slightly older than Tormenta FC’s last goal against Union Omaha.

As far as what to expect tonight, Tormenta FC head coach Ian Cameron will likely have a similar system in place: lots of possession, lots of commitment to moving numbers up the field, and glaring vulnerabilities in transition.  In the four times that Union Omaha has faced Tormenta FC, Cameron instituted a different formation in three of the matches.  One thing rings true across those formations: the more players he commits high on the field, the more goals the team will let in.  This is because the players transition with excitement on offense, but don’t commitment to getting back on defense and open themselves up to counterattacks.  This was true in Week 1, when Tormenta FC lost 0-1 to last year’s Wooden Spoon winner: North Carolina FC.

Cameron tried to play a 4-5-1 while on defense, but transition to a 3-5-2 (with two Central Defensive Midfielders and three Central Attacking Midfielders).  In the first half alone, there were almost a handful of instances where four to five players were committed high up the field, with only three to four sitting far back on the backline.  North Carolina was able to create turnovers, sneak midfielders into wide open spaces, and transition quickly on offense.  Tormenta FC gave up the game winner in the first half because of this exact tactic, combined with poor defensive tracking inside their own box before the eventual game-winning header.

Tormenta FC does have some quality players on their roster, but it seems that the tactics are still lacking at this point.  If Union Omaha can control the midfield, keep attacking along the flanks, counter attack quickly, and capitalize on set pieces or in-play crosses, the Owls shouldn’t have any trouble continuing their unbeaten streak.  Hopefully Union Omaha can put a cherry on top and make it another clean sheet in the process.  Three clean sheets across four matches?  Not bad.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM (CST), so make sure you plant yourself in front of a TV to watch the match.  If you are in the Omaha area and want to watch with other fans, there will be a watch party at the Corner Kick Cantina located at 132^nd & Dodge.  The watch party begins at 5 PM, but if you’d like to arrive early and help with a special project involving the national flags hung during home matches, feels free to arrive around 3 PM and provide some extra hands.  It’s going to be a fun evening, so where your colors proudly and cheer on the Owls to their first victory of the season.  ¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha continues to find gems in the Omaha area. This afternoon, the club announced the signing of midfielder Eddie Gordon to the 2022 roster.

Eddie Gordon is no stranger to the Omaha area, playing high school soccer at Creighton Prep and college soccer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Before joining the Mavericks at UNO, Gordon was a decorated player for the Junior Jays. In his four years at Creighton Prep, he was a team captain for two years, played in three straight Nebraska Class A title games, won the state title in 2017 (runner-up in 2015 and 2016), was a two-time Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, and was twice selected to the First Team All-Nebraska selection (both times as the team captain). Oh, and was also named the honorary captain of the All-Nebraska Class A team. If he didn’t win the “Most Likely to Succeed” superlative, he definitely used that as motivation to work even harder at UNO.

In his four years as a Maverick, Gordon had 46 starts across 77 appearances, collected 3 assists, and was selected for plenty of conference honors, including Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence, Summit League Academic Honor Roll, CoSIDA Adademic All-District Team, Summit League All-Tournament, and All-Summit Second Team.

The connection between Gordon and Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims has been a long-time development. In a 2020 essay/interview with The Summit League, Gordon spoke about his deep desire to play for Mims. Even before being offered a spot to pay at UNO, Gordon played for Mims at the club level and became fond of, what he would coin, “The Mims Effect.” In the essay titled, “I Will Reach the Summit,” Gordon described the high standards and expectations placed upon himself and his teammates:
“None of the kids on this team were incredible by any means, but we worked harder than anyone else we played, including other teams in Omaha, at regional tournaments. Even though we were never as talented as some of the academy teams, it wasn’t difficult to see which team worked harder, ran farther, and wanted it more. We coined the term, “The Mims Effect”, and no matter what team he coaches, those qualities shine through.”
When he was awarded the no. 6 role on the team at UNO, it meant more than just the number on the jersey. As fate would have it, Gordon’s dad wore the same number during his collegiate soccer career at Notre Dame. To go one step further: growing up, Gordon’s favorite soccer player, Mark Moulton, was both a midfielder and captain at both Creighton Prep and UNO. Playing in the midfield and wearing the no. 6 jersey at UNO was in the stars. His journey didn’t stop upon graduation, as Mims recruited him to play professionally.

In the club’s press release, Mims expressed excitement with Gordon joining the club and seeing his development: “Eddie has an incredible determination to succeed and a great attitude. He is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions. I look forward to his development over the new few years, and I am super proud of him. It really is special to begin his professional career right here in the city where he grew up.”

Gordon was quick to express his own excitement of the signing: “It’s been a dream come true to be able to join this team and be a part of this organization, and I’m so blessed to be able to continue my journey here in Omaha. I’m incredibly excited to have a chance to help this team in any way that I can! I can’t wait to get started!”

Union Omaha has their second match of the regular season tomorrow in Georgia as the Owls take on South Georgia Tormenta FC at 6:30 PM (CST). Tune into ESPN+ for the broadcast and then stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for reactions, breakdowns, and all of the content to feed your Union Omaha appetite. As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha finally dropped the curtains on the long-suspected signing of Kemal Malcolm.  The 32 year-old Jamaican attacking midfielder was announced as the newest addition to the roster for the 2022 season.

Malcolm brings with him a wealth of experience, ranging from the Jamaican national team, Arnett Gardens FC in Jamaica, and AD Chalatenango in El Salvador.  If the Jamaican national team and Arnett Gardens are familiar to you, that’s because fellow-Owl, and Reggae Boy, Chavany Willis also spent time with those squads.  During Malcom’s eight years with Arnett Gardens FC, he was a part of the league-winning squad in 2015 and 2017.  After transferring to AD Chalatenango, Malcolm had 21 goals and 3 assists in 48 matches.  It should also be noted that Malcolm has appeared for the Jamaican national team 8 times and scored two goals.

 With his addition to the squad, Union Omaha greatly supports their offense ahead of this weekend’s match against South Georgia Tormenta.  It remains to be seen if Malcolm will start for the Owls on Saturday evening, but even his inclusion to practices will help develop the youthful attackers who have already signed for the club.  Malcolm doesn’t have many highlight reels available online, and the quality of the videos is even harder to watch, but one thing is sure about him: he knows how to score. 

Though he may be listed as an attacking midfielder, it should surprise nobody that he can also float up top as a striker.  He is a player that brings a lot of speed, acumen in transition, and is a proven finisher.  From what can be made out of the videos online, he routinely terrorizes the opposition along the right side of the field.  He doesn’t stick to the sideline, but likes to float just to the right of center and create a lane for himself.  Melding his style of play to that of Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims will not take long at all.  They complement each other very well and Búhos Nation shouldn’t have to wait long to see Malcolm make a difference on the field, let alone make an appearance.

In the club’s press release, Jay Mims echoed a lot of the sentiments above by saying, “Kemal is a quick, talented striker that is excited to join our club.  He will add immediate quality and experience to our attacking group of players, and I’m excited to work with him soon.”

 Union Omaha is on the road again and takes on South Georgia Tormenta FC this Saturday evening at 6:30 (CST).  If you are looking to watch the match with other people, there are watch parties happening around the city.  One, in particular, will be happening at The Corner Kick, the official watch party location for Parliament this season.  Keep an eye out for further details regarding start time and location.  Whether you’re at a watch party or watching from home, make sure to tune in and watch the Owls continue their title defense.

 Before heading to the watch party, keep up with the latest news and content surrounding your favorite local soccer team via Who Gives A Hoot.  If you like reading, we have articles.  If you like listening to banter, we have a podcast. [Editor’s note: if you like WATCHING banter, we’re putting the pod on YouTube these days.] Subscribe to Who Gives A Hoot and get the latest offerings sent directly to you.  Union Omaha makes it easy to watch soccer, so why shouldn’t we make it easy to root for them?  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Big week for the owls that have flown away with 2nd Round Open Cup matches and league matches on the weekend. The Open Cup provided particularly happy hunting grounds with Evan Conway continuing his hot streak, Dami getting a goal (on a header (assisted by Sousa)) in his debut for Republic FC, and Jake Crull scoring his first professional goal on the same day as his brother Taylor scored his first professional goal. When asked when the last time Jake and his brother scored on the same day, he had a succinct answer: “never.” All but one player involved advanced and the average FotMob rating was 7.5. Wild stuff. (Also, will I use this date point when I continue to tell folks we could have made a super deep run in this tournament last year…yes.)

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	Valley United FC	1-0 ET	N	LM	78	0	0	7.1
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	ALBION San Diego	2-1	Y	ST	63	1	0	7.5
Damia Viader	Republic FC	Portland Timbers U23	6-0	Y	LM	90	1	0	8.6
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	Portland Timbers U23	6-0	Y	RB	90	0	2	8.9
Devin Boyce	Memphis 901 FC	Chattanooga FC	1-3	Y	RM	45	0	0	6.6
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Colorado Springs	1-0 ET	Y	ST	65	0	0	6.7
Jacob Crull	FC Tucson	Las Vegas Lights	3-2	Y	LCB	90	1	0	7.9
Tobias Otenio	South Georgia Tormenta	Charleston Battery	1-0	Not in squad
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	Nova FC	1-0	Not in squad
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	Nova FC	1-0	Y	CB	45	0	0	7

I have less to say about matches over the weekend. BUT, the real MVP and the _REAL_ MVP scored goals the only goals in the Kickers v Hailstorm match on Saturday, so that is fun.

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	LA Galaxy II	3-1	Y	LW	86	0	0	7.3
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	Charleston Battery	4-1	Y	LM	45	0	0	7.1
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	Detroit City FC	0-4	Y	CM	81	0	0	7
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Richmond Kickers	1-1	Y	LM	62	1	0	7.6
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	NoCo Hailstorm	1-1	Not in squad
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	NoCo Hailstorm	1-1	Y	CB	90	0	0	6.8