PAPILLION (August 19, 2020) – Union Omaha captain Sebastián Contreras’ penalty in the 29th minute canceled out an earlier Forward Madison goal to give the Owls a hard-fought point. Madison got things started in the 9th minute from a set piece when Madison midfielder Eric Leonard headed a looping ball into the back of the net. Union responded 20 minutes later when a Madison defender brought Ethan Vanacore-Decker down in the penalty area. Contreras then stepped up and calmly chipped the ball past the keeper.
“Honestly, I was very focused,” Contreras said. “I took all the time I needed and had confidence that I could turn it into a goal. I got lucky that the goalkeeper went one way and the ball went the other way, and that we were able to celebrate and equalize to 1-1.”
Los Buhos and the Mingos traded half chances for the rest of the game, with Omaha’s best chance coming in the 80th minute when a Ferrety Sousa shot went just wide of goal. Union dominated the possession battle throughout the game, and looked like the side most likely to find a breakthrough.
“Rashid was good tonight, but he had one save – maybe,” Union Omaha coach Jay Mims said. “The game was played in one half. We were really good tonight and a little bit unlucky not to get a couple chances out of it – but super pleased with our commitment, super pleased with our energy, and super pleased with our transition. We talked about Madison being a transition team. They love to go and have the big number-nine hold the ball up and run, and our guys did a fabulous job tonight. They made it look easy tonight but it’s not easy. Madison has such a great team, a good center forward, great transition moments and we really didn’t see that tonight from them. That’s a credit to our guys.”
Either way, Union Omaha are still undefeated one-fourth of the way through the season.
Next up, Union Omaha travels to Arlington to face North Texas SC on August 23rd.
Key Moments
2’ Right off the bat, Damia Viader whips in an inviting cross to Elma Nfor whose header goes just over the Madison crossbar.
8’ GOAL: Madison scores off a free-kick. A looping header from Eric Leonard gives the Flamingos an early 1-0 lead.
12’ Evan Conway plays a neat pass to the feet of Viader, who takes a touch and launches a shot toward goal – it goes over the bar.
18’ Forward Madison midfielder Brandon Eaton finds space for himself in the Union penalty area and fires a header just wide of Nuhu’s net.
29’ GOAL: Ethan Vanacore-Decker is decked in the penalty area and the referee points to the spot. Sebastian Contreras steps up to take the PK, chipping the goalkeeper to even things up for Omaha.
51’ Elma Nfor streaks down the side of the field and rifles a cross into the box. Ethan Vanacore-Decker attempts to meet the cross with a bicycle kick, but it’s just a little high.
62’ Elvir Ibisevic chases down a long cross and nearly beats the Madison goalkeeper off his line, but the keeper recovers and gathers the ball.
67’ Vanacore-Decker beats his defender, sprints toward goal and rips a shot from a narrow angle, but the Madison goalkeeper makes the save.
80’ Vanacore-Decker lays a tempting ball off to Ferrety Sousa, whose shot booms off his foot but goes just wide of goal.
82’ Ibišević is fouled on the edge of the box, and Madison defender Josiah Trimmingham is sent off in the scrum after the foul.
Game Notes
The match may have ended in a draw, but Omaha bested Madison statistically. Los Buhos won the possession battle 64% to 36%, and outshot the Flamingos 15 to 7.
- Damia Viader and Devin Boyce created chance after chance for the Owls. They’ve created the joint-most key chances on the team, with three each.
- Illal Osumanu was a rock in the back for Omaha. Osumanu led the team in clearances, interceptions and possession gained.
Ethan Vanacore-Decker was electric again in the final third for Omaha. His four shots led the team, and his chance in the 80th minute nearly put the Owls ahead. - Tonight’s result could prove to be a vital point for Union Omaha. The Owls remain in second place, and in great shape to challenge for a spot in the league final down the road.
Next Game
Union Omaha will head south to take on North Texas SC on Sunday, August 23 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm C.T.
Union Omaha vs North Texas SC
August 19, 2020
Werner Park (Omaha, NE)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Union Omaha 1 0 1
Forward Madison 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
OMA: Sebastian Contreras 29’
MAD: Eric Leonard 8’
Misconduct Summary:
OMA: Elma Nfor (Yellow Card) 45+3’
MAD: Josiah Trimmingham (Yellow Card) 31’ (Red Card) 83’
Lineups
OMA: GK Nuhu, D Osumanu, D Crull , D Hauswirth, D Viader, M David, M Boyce, M Contreras © (Mare 90’), M Conway (Sousa 59’), F Vanacore-Decker, F N’For (Ibisevic 60’)
MAD: GK Marceta, D Toyama, D Tobin ©, D Trimmingham, D Diaz, M Eaton (Fernandes 71’), M Smart, M Leonard, F Vang (Cox 58’), F Junior (Lockaby 85’), F Wojick (Fuson 71’)
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.