September 5, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Spokane Velocity FC News Release
Spokane Velocity FC (6-4-4) continued their hot run in regular season play with a 2-1 victory over Union Omaha (8-3-4) who sits second on the table. Velocity has only lost one of its past seven regular season matches.
The match was tightly contested throughout, but second-half goals from Luis Gil and Camron Miller gave Union Omaha their second road loss in 2024, both of which came at the hands of Velocity.
CBS’s national broadcast of the match provided a big stage for USL League One, and offered Velocity its first national pedestal, with fans repping Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) rally towels for the match’s “Blue-Out” theme.
“We’re aware of the occasion, but it’s business as usual for us,” said head coach Leigh Veidman. “We prepared after a long trip; there was probably one more day off than I would have liked to prepare for this game, but the guys came in fresh mentally, physically, and I think you saw their energy defensively tonight.”
Veidman’s squad came out on the front foot, registering the match’s first shot on goal within the first minute, coming from Josh Dolling. Soon after, a good counterattack came from Masango Akale.
Despite the aggressive start, Union Omaha started to assert themselves defensively as the match progressed. Their uncharacteristic high pressure and ability to read and jump into the passing lanes put Velocity on the back foot for most of the first half.
“We scouted [Omaha], they have a specific way of playing, and they actually changed how they play to play against us, so we had to adapt within the game,” Veidman said.
The closest chance in the first 45 for either team was inches away from falling behind the goal line off Union Omaha forward Pedro Dollabella’s header. His shot bounced off the crossbar and nearly fell in the net before keeper Brooks Thompson was able to fend off the scoring opportunity.
The half ended with Velocity’s only shot being their first-minute Dolling strike, while Union Omaha registered eight shots, and missed two big chances.
Once the second half got underway, Velocity’s offensive prowess that had been suppressed suddenly opened up.
In the 47th minute, Luis Gil read a poor backpass from Omaha centerback Blake Malone to get an uncontested run at the keeper. Gil dribbled around the final defensive member of his former team to place the ball into the back of the net and register the match’s first score.
“I was kind of waiting…