April 23, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
PAPILLION, Neb. – After capturing their first USL League One Championship on their home field five months prior, Union Omaha returned to Werner Park on a windy April night looking to secure their first win of 2022. Their challenge came in the form of Central Valley Fuego FC, the League One rookies that have already established themselves as a team to keep an eye on in the opening weeks of play. Last week at South Georgia Tormenta FC, Omaha’s defense excelled while the offense struggled to find its footing. With a whole new look for 2022, the team stepped into their first home match ready to make a statement.
The Owls’ first chance came early in the 2nd minute as Joe Brito lasered a free kick into the box that Daltyn Knutson headed just over the crossbar. Omaha would get another chance in the next minute, with Noe Meza nearly finding his second professional goal with a flashy bicycle kick that missed wide.
Union Omaha created several chances in the opening five minutes. The Dion Acoff to Hugo Kametani connection looked promising on several occasions, one sailing just off to the left. It was the beginning of a night full of scoring opportunities for the University of Nebraska-Omaha product.
The Fuego had to bring several aggressive challenges in order to counter the persistent attacks from Omaha, resulting in a pair of yellow cards to Jordan Chavez and Ozzie Ramos, respectively, just two minutes apart.
Central Valley Fuego would come up with its first hopeful look in the 26th minute with two consecutive corner kicks. Taken by Vilyvan Bijev, one of the team’s top goal scorers, Knutsen was able to head out the first blast and Rashid Nuhu came out of goal to block the follow-up. Nuhu, coming off a Week 3 Team of the Week performance, flashed his gloves again in the 30th minute with a save off a Maximiliano Schenfeld shot.
Meza again got the goalkeeper’s attention in the 36th minute with a…