On May 11, Union Omaha will have nearly all advantages possible in their favor as they look to perhaps become the first USL League One team to ever reach the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup:

• A third division team drawing another third division team this late is remarkable, perhaps even a first in the modern era
• The match will be played in Omaha (albeit, not at the familiar grounds of Werner Park)
• Union Omaha had this past weekend available to rest and recover (Northern Colorado used it to get trucked in Chattanooga)

Regardless, this match guarantees a USL League One team will advance to the round of 16. And, looking at the rest of the bracket, there is a decent chance this match will produce the only remaining team from the third division, in which case the not insignificant sum of $25,000 might be on the line for the winner.

Union Omaha’s start to the 2022 season has been akin to a ship sailing semi-choppy waters. An inconsistent league schedule saw them start the season a week later than most of the league and have already had an additional weekend without a league game. This leaves them as one of two teams in the league to have only played four games so far, Northern Colorado happens to be the other team. Some great results have been mixed with some frustrating ones, the most recent one being a 2-1 defeat at Charlotte Independence, one that felt like it maybe wasn’t quite deserved. Northern Colorado, meanwhile, have had an admirable start to their first season. Having already opened with six straight games on the road, they’ve managed to win three of them with two Open Cup upsets sprinkled in the mix. As mentioned above, the scheduling has not broken in their favor, as they are coming off of a trip to Chattanooga from this past weekend.

Northern Colorado still seems to be figuring out what their default look should be. After starting the season with a standard 4-4-2, they’ve instead opted to go with a 4-1-4-1 in their last two games. Irvin Parra has been the mainstay up top, forward Lachlan McLean has been coming off the bench as a result of the formation change. They’ve also yet to play the same back four in any of their league games thus far. Scoring from open play hasn’t been the easiest for them, as well. In four league games, only two of their five goals have come from open play with one goal coming from the spot and another two coming as the result of free kicks. So this looks like a team that is still trying to find the path they want to go down from this point on, so don’t be surprised if head coach Éamon Zayed goes with an unfamiliar look on Wednesday night.

Union Omaha shook things up a tiny bit in their last match; Yoskar Galván-Mercado got his first career start, Kevin Piedrahita spelled Rashid Nuhu in goal, and Isaac Bawa made a very brief appearance as a substitute for his Union Omaha debut. Otherwise, it was a very familiar lineup that was anchored by a back line of Ryen Jiba, Daltyn Knutson, Alex Touche and Emir Alihodžić for the fourth time in six competitive games. Bawa’s appearance, and the news that his absence had to do with federation approval opens up the possibility we see him perhaps start a game this week, either here against Northern Colorado or this weekend in Richmond. Kemal Malcolm has been consistently finding the field since his addition as well, subbing on the last three league games and starting the Open Cup game at Chicago in between. To summarize, I would not be totally shocked to see at least one of Bawa or Malcolm get the start on Wednesday, especially after having a week and a half to prepare, and a road trip to Richmond around the corner this weekend.

As for the match itself, don’t be surprised if Union Omaha come out the gates strong. Not just with having the extra rest, but also the familiarity of the field. Most of these players have played on the field at least once during the preseason, and those that haven’t I’m sure are going to be given tips and tricks from Jay Mims, the coach that was around when they built it. If there is in fact any advantage to be had for knowing what to expect from how the ball reacts to the turf, Union Omaha will have it. And, hopefully, all of these advantages lead to smooth sailing into the round of 16.

The Queen City reigned supreme on Saturday night as Charlotte Independence scored two late goals against Union Omaha to win 2-1.  With 2,902 fans in attendance at American Legion Memorial Stadium, the Jacks earned a result after a pair of late goals from forwards Iván Luquetta and Khori Bennett.  This was the first ever match between the two sides and the only match that will take place in Charlotte during the 2022 season.  The remaining two matches between Charlotte Independence and Union Omaha will take place at Werner Park in Omaha, Nebraska in May and again in July.

            Union Omaha entered the match in third place, a victory away from the top of the league, and an enormous amount of confidence on their side.  Before the match began, the Owls were also undefeated across all competitions and coming off of two straight clean sheets in league play.  This was a group of men ready to continue that run of hot form and put the league on notice.

            The first half of the match was a relatively even affair.  Aside from the possession favoring Charlotte (58% to 42%), both sides had nearly identical stats.  Union Omaha pressed hard, especially along the right side of the attacking third.  Forward Noe Meza had a header on goal in the first minute of play, but Union Omaha was unable to register a shot on goal for the remainder of the half.  On the other side of the field, Charlotte was able to create chances of their own, but with two shots off target and three blocks from Union Omaha’s defense, they were unable to score a goal, let alone register a shot on target.  After the halftime whistle blew, both teams had plenty to think about as they made their way to their respective locker rooms.

            The second half began much like the first did, but with each passing minute, it was clear that the metaphorical temperature between the two sides was rising.  Charlotte was pressing very high, but losing challenges.  While Charlotte was gaining confidence by continuing to control the greater portion of the half with their possession, they didn’t look as confident against Union Omaha’s offensive onslaught.

            In the 65^th minute, Union Omaha midfielder and captain Conor Doyle passed the ball to forward Hugo Kametani.  The forward was just outside of the penalty area, toward the left side of the attacking third.  Kametani was able to get a cross into the box, where forward Noe Meza was waiting for the service.  Though Meza wasn’t able to win the first aerial challenge, Charlotte defender Diego Rocha’s heading clearance failed greatly, as Meza was able to bring down the second 50/50, turn his body toward the goal, and slip the ball past Charlotte goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas for the goal.  The goal was Meza’s first in league play, but second across all competitions.

            With less than half an hour left to play in the match, Charlotte made a key substitution.  In the 78^th minute, Charlotte forward Iván Luquetta replaced defender Diego Rocha.  Luquetta, alongside fellow second-half substitute Ayrton Páez, continued to press high and open up offensive opportunities for the Jacks.  Charlotte fans would have to wait until the 83^rd minute to see a payoff from the second-half adjustments.

            After a deep ball from Charlotte defender Tomás Maya, Carson Talboys was able to recover the ball just before going out of bounds.  Teammates Omar Ciss and Miguel Ibarra came to the rescue and relieved some of the pressure on Talboys.  After setting up a triangle around Union Omaha players and completing a few passes amongst themselves, Ibarra was wide open for the drop pass.  Ibarra took a couple of touches and used his right foot to send a beautiful cross into the box.  Waiting on the other end of the cross was Luquetta and Union Omaha defender Daltyn Knutson.  The aerial battle was won by Luquetta and he was able to head the ball just inside the near post.  The goal was his first ever with his new club.  With the score tied, neither side seemed willing to share a point from a draw.

            Union Omaha had a couple of key passes from Doyle and second-half substitute Kemal Malcolm.  The passes made their way into Charlotte’s box, but only one of the passes led to a chance on goal.  Malcolm would also have a couple of chances in the box, but both ended up going wide of the goal.  The Owls were generating chances, but only Charlotte was able to produce a goal before the final whistle.

            Three minutes into extra time, Charlotte was able to force a turnover in their own half.  Within seconds, the Jacks were moving into position in the attacking third.  After the center referee gave advantage to Charlotte, Ibarra kept the ball at his feet, turned to the right sideline, and fed a pass to Koa Santos.  The on-loan defender from Charlotte FC sent a great cross toward the back post.  Khori Bennett made a simple run past Union Omaha defender Emir Alihodžić and put himself in prime position to head the ball toward the goal.  His header went immediately to the ground.  As the ball bounced off the ground, Union Omaha goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita was able to get his hands on the ball and deflect it toward the back post.  The deflection off the post was immediately cleared by Knutson, but as the balled sailed into the distance, the decision was already made: goal scored by Charlotte.  In the middle of Charlotte’s calls for a goal, the center referee looked to the assistant referee along the right sideline, who was confident enough to make the decision that a goal had been scored.  The final whistle blew not long after that and Charlotte successfully completed the comeback win, earning three points in the process.

            The loss dropped Union Omaha to sixth place in the league.  Their next match is on Wednesday, May 11^th at Caniglia Field, as the Owls look to be the first USL League One side to make it to the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup.  The next league match for Union Omaha is on Saturday, May 14^th against the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia.

            Charlotte’s win lifted the club into a five-way tie for first place, based on points.  On May 7^th, the Jacks take the road for the first time this season and face off against South Georgia Tormenta FC.  The match is likely to be the headliner for next week’s slate of matches because both clubs are tied for first place.

            Stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for the latest reactions, commentary, and analysis of this match and more, including a deep dive on this match later this week.  You can also subscribe to the website and podcast to receive notifications as soon as content is released on those platforms.  Make sure to follow all of our social media accounts for even more content related to Union Omaha.

Scoring Summary:

65’ – OMA: Noe Meza, unassisted

83’ – CLT: Iván Luquetta, assisted by Miguel Ibarra

90+4’ – CLT: Khori Bennett, assisted by Laukoa Santos

Substitutions:

45’ – CLT: Aryton Páez replaced Will Vint

72’ – OMA: Dion Acoff replaced Yoskar “Edu” Galván-Mercado

72’ – OMA: Kemal Malcolm replaced Noe Meza

78’ – CLT: Iván Luquetta replaced Diego Rocha

89’ – CLT: Héctor Acosta replaced Omar Ciss

90+2’ – OMA: Isaac Bawa replaced Dion Acoff

Discipline Summary:

38’ – CLT: Omar Ciss (Yellow card)

86’ – CLT: Aryton Páez (Yellow card)

86’ – OMA: Jay Mims (Yellow card)

90+6’ – OMA: Jay Mims (Yellow card, Red card)

Happy game day, Búhos Nation!  Today’s matchup is against another new kid on the block: Charlotte Independence.  The two clubs will meet tonight for a 6 o’clock kickoff (CST) inside Charlotte’s American Legion Memorial Stadium.  It should be a great night of Union Omaha soccer, so if you aren’t in person, tune in to ESPN+ for coverage, or find your local watch party to enjoy the occasion with your friends.

            Charlotte Independence joined USL League One during the offseason, after relegating themselves from the USL Championship.  Their time in the new league has been met with mixed reviews.  “The Jacks” – nicknamed after Captain James Jack, who carried the Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia – have started their 2022 season with nothing but home matches across all competitions.  In those four matches, across all competitions, the team has one won one match, drawing once, and losing the other two, including their appearance in the Second Round of the US Open Cup.  With each passing week, the club seemed to reverse their fortunes: a quality 3-3 draw against Central Valley Fuego FC was followed with a loss to NC Fusion U-23 in the Open Cup.  In the next week, the Jacks defeated Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, only to lose to Richmond Kickers a week later.  Without the stability that players, and fans, are looking for, this week’s match should be an interesting one to watch.

            Union Omaha enters Week 5 of the season riding a tidal wave of optimism.  The club is undefeated, preparing for the next round of the US Open Cup, and coming off the home opener which saw the Owls score three goals against Central Valley Fuego FC.  Union Omaha hasn’t given up a goal in league play since the season opener at Forward Madison.  Led by captain Conor Doyle, this team has transformed themselves greatly over the past two weeks and the confidence radiating off the players is infectious to fans.  What seemed to be a season in which fans were preparing for a rebuilding year has turned into a year in which coach Jay Mims and co. could make a quality push in the league.  New players like starters Joe Brito, Dion Acoff, Noe Meza, Hugo Kametani, and Alex Touche have contributed greatly to the club’s success.  Veterans like Daltyn Knutson, JP Scearce, and Rashid Nuhu have continued their runs of excellence in front of fans.  Union Omaha hopes to see that tidal wave carry them to another three points in Charlotte, North Carolina.  A victory tonight would propel the Owls to the top of the league – a first for the club this season.

            Charlotte seems to be a club that molds itself to their next opponent.  The Jacks have yet to line up in the same formation as the previous match.  The club also has quality players, like defender Shalom Dutey and forward Tresor Mbuyu.  The men from Togo and Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively, have combined for five of the clubs eight goals, across all competitions.  The club also acts as a committee for assists, with five players all earning an assist in league play this season.  One thing to watch out for is late goals.  The team has scored two goals in the 89^th minute or later and both of those goals earned the club a result (a draw against Fuego and a win against Northern Colorado).  This club may be erratic, but the fight to the end.

            With kickoff scheduled for 6PM (CST) tonight, make sure you are firmly planted in front of a television to watch and cheer your Owls to victory.  Whether you’re in the stadium, at a watch party, or at home, show your support for the Owls and make them feel loved.  Who Gives A Hoot will continue to provide you with the best Union Omaha content, so keep checking your email for new articles (if you’ve subscribed), episode releases from the lovely crew on the podcast, and all of the happenings on the various social media accounts.  Have a great day and, as always,…¡Viva Búhos!

            Union Omaha gave its fans, all 3,375 of them in attendance, plenty of reasons to celebrate on Saturday evening.  Búhos Nation was able to get a look at the 2021 USL League One Championship rings, applaud the 2021 players who received their rings last night, watch as the Championship flag was raised, and then watch as the Owls defeated Central Valley Fuego FC 3-0.  The winds of change were blowing fiercely, literally and figuratively, throughout Werner Park as the Owls seemed to take a giant step forward in their development as a team.

            Entering the match, the Owls had already played four matches and left many fans asking questions.  After a week in which the team was able to defeat MLS-club Chicago Fire in dramatic fashion and then follow it up with a strong win against Central Valley Fuego FC, many questions are as extinguished as both the Fire and Fuego.

            The first half was a true test of physicality, as Union Omaha pressed repeatedly into Fuego’s half of the field.  By halftime, the two sides combined for 17 fouls and 2 yellow cards, which would come into play again in the second half.  Mother Nature helped move the ball into Fuego’s half, as wind gusts near 30 miles per hour were recorded in the area.  While the Owls were able to take advantage of the gusts by creating opportunities in Fuego’s half, they were unable to record a single shot on frame.  Union Omaha did have five key passes in the attacking third, which allowed them to continuously threaten Fuego’s goal.  Once the halftime whistle blew, the scoreless sides recessed to their locker rooms to prepare for the decisive second half.

            Despite having the wind in their face for the second half, Union Omaha was able to break the deadlock early.  In the 48^th minute, Union Omaha forward Hugo Kametani was able to steal the ball inside of Fuego’s half, carry the ball to just outside of the penalty area, and unleash a shot to the back door.  After several missed opportunities leading up to this point, fortune finally favored the Japanese graduate from University of Nebraska-Omaha, as the ball bounced off the far post and rested itself in the goal.

            The home fans would have to wait until the 90^th minute before seeing another goal.  After a defensive header was cleared to Union Omaha midfielder JP Scearce, he quickly head the ball to fellow midfielder Noe Meza.  With the immediate recognition of forward Kemal Malcolm’s opportunity, Meza fed a long ball into Fuego’s half and sent Malcolm on a fast break.  The Jamaican international was able to calmly collect the ball and feed it to the back of the net, doubling Union Omaha’s lead in the process.  Malcolm wasted very little time in making an impact on the match, scoring only four minutes after being subbed onto the field.

            Another second half sub, Union Omaha midfielder Giovanni Montesdeoca, would make the most of his time on the field, as well.  In the 90+3’ minute of the match, Montesdeoca had the ball at his feet inside of Fuego’s penalty area.  During his scramble to find the best window of opportunity for a shot, he was pulled down by Fuego defender Sergio Chavez.  The foul earned Chavez his second yellow card and an early shower.  Stepping up to take the penalty kick was Scearce.  With so many Owls having already taken a penalty kick this week, it was Scearce’s turn to prove that he could handle the pressure, as well.  Scearce’s kick went to the Fuego goalkeepers left and added yet another insurance policy to Union Omaha’s victory.

            The victory propelled Union Omaha up the USL League One standings from 7^th place up to 2^nd place.  Union Omaha’s next match will be on April 30^th at 6 PM (CST), as the Owls visit Charlotte Independence.

Central Valley Fuego FC’s loss saw them drop to a six-way tie for third place, based on points.  Fuego stays on the road in the Midwest this week, visiting Forward Madison on Saturday, April 30^th at 5 PM (CST).

Scoring Summary:

48’ – OMA: Hugo Kametani, unassisted

90’ – OMA: Kemal Malcolm, assisted by Noe Meza

90+4’ – OMA: JP Scearce (penalty kick)

Substitutions:

63’ – OMA: Giovanni Montesdeoca replaced Dion Acoff

65’ – CV: Christian Chaney replaced Ozzie Ramos

66’ – CV: Anthony Velarde replaced Michael Hornsby

66’ – CV: Diego Casillas replaced Maximiliano Schenfeld

77’ – OMA: Gabriel Claudio replaced Emir Alihodžić

77’ – OMA: Eddie Gordon replaced Joseph Brito

86’ – OMA: Kemal Malcolm replaced Hugo Kametani

Discipline Summary:

15’ – CV: Sergio Chavez (yellow card)

17’ – CV: Ozzie Ramos (yellow card)

63’ – CV: Nathan Smith (yellow card)

90+3’ – CV: Sergio Chavez (2^nd yellow card, red card)

90+4’ – CV: Diego Casillas (yellow card)

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.