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USL1 Union Omaha

Owls Brave the Hailstorm in U.S. Open Cup Round of 32

May 11, 2022 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - It was another match and yet another historic night for Union Omaha on Wednesday in their inaugural Open Cup run as they defeated Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2-0 in the round of 32.

The warm night featured a return home for former University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks Eddie Gordon, Hugo Kametani, and Emir Alihodžić to Caniglia Field with head coach Jay Mims at the helm. At a storied stadium with lots of history, Union Omaha was ready to make some of their own and seal its spot as the first and only USL League One team to make it to the round of 16.

In order to get there, however, they had to go through League One newcomers Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. It was the first meeting for two clubs that have already made history as the first and second League One teams, respectively, to take down MLS opponents. Just 24 hours after Union Omaha sent Chicago Fire home on penalty kicks, the Hailstorm went on the road and silenced Real Salt Lake 1-0. Both teams came ready to make even more Open Cup noise.

It was clear from the first minute that the Hailstorm were going to come out physical, as Jerry Desdunes recorded a quick yellow card in the 1st minute.

Omaha came out with the first promising look in the 9th minute, as Kemal Malcolm slid the ball past a defender into the middle of the box, but couldn't find an Omaha foot to take advantage.

JP Scearce, tied on the team for most goals on the year, had several early looks. Another chance came in the 16th minute off a deep corner kick from Joe Brito, as he tried to replicate his first Open Cup goal with a header that missed just wide. He got another opportunity in the 22nd minute, this one off another Brito set-piece that found the back of the net but was called back after a close offside ruling.

Malcolm was ready to strike in the 25th minute, racing past his defender and sending off a shot across the goal that soared wide. Brito, once again delivering an attractive ball in the 30th minute, sent it bending back at the endline for a teammate, but Hailstorm goalkeeper Thomas Olsen was able to get hands on it. Olsen would be busy again in the 34th minute, with Scearce bursting into the box and sending off a zinger that fell into the former's hands.

The Hailstorm recorded their second yellow card on the night in the 36th minute after Stefan Lukic sent Scearce to the ground. A third would be issued 6 minutes later to assistant coach Kevin Sawchak.

Omaha earned its first yellow card in the 45th minute on an aggressive challenge from Isaac Bawa. Despite this, the Owls had all the pieces in place to go up at the half with the advantage, as Alex Touche found himself open in the box but sent the shot over the goal for what would've been his second score of the Open Cup.

It wouldn't take the team long to turn the corner after the half, though. Kametani looked ready to take a stab at the goal himself in the 47th minute, but with some unselfish passing and a beautiful set-up from Malcolm, Noe Meza issued a strike that tipped off the hands of the goalkeeper and into the top of the net. It was the second consecutive Open Cup match with a Meza goal, as he also scored the opener in the comeback against Chicago.

The Owls were poised to double their advantage in the 57th minute when Ryen Jiba struck the far post after a dangerous look from outside the box.

With 59 minutes on the clock, it was finally veteran Conor Doyle's time to shine as he found his first goal for the club. The captain capitalized off an assist from Brito and some skillful footwork to put the club up 2-0.

Mims made his first switches of the night in the 71st minute, bringing on Alihodžić for Brito and Ricky Rivera for Malcolm. Another swap was made in the 80th minute, as Meza left the pitch to an ovation from the fans and gave way to Yoskar Edu Galvan.

A second Omaha yellow card was given to Rivera in the 83rd minute after a challenge on Olsen in goal.

Northern Colorado threatened to chip away at the deficit in the next minute, as Trevor Armann's header hit the crossbar and was handled by Nuhu. Mims made another pair of substitutions in the same minute, trading Alex Bruce for Kametani and Eddie Gordon for Doyle.

The crowd roared in the 98th minute as Mims got a yellow card of his own, but just a minute later, the referee would blow the final whistle to punch Union Omaha's ticket into the round of 16 as the last League One team standing in the Open Cup.

Union Omaha will find out its next opponent in the round of 16 draw, held on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Until then, the Owls will turn their attention to league play as they move onto Richmond on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT, taking on the Kickers as they try to rebound from last week's loss at Charlotte.

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