Owls Drop Last-Minute Heartbreaker Against Richmond Kickers
September 15, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
PAPILLION, Neb. – Despite a favorable stat line and an amazing performance from JP Scearce, Union Omaha lost 3-2 in dramatic fashion against Richmond Kickers Wednesday night.
The midweek match-up featured a thrilling top of the table battle at Werner Park between the Owls and the Kickers, who had been trading turns in 1st place coming into the week. With just a month left in the regular season, the stakes were as high as ever, with both teams vying for a coveted first-round playoff bye. The test for Omaha would be to rebound from its 3-0 loss late Sunday at FC Tucson in the midst of another busy three-match week. The Kickers, on the other hand, came into the night riding a two-match win streak and hoped to knock off the Owls for the second straight time to cement their first-place status heading into the weekend.
The opening minutes featured plenty of dangerous looks for the home side, forcing league saves leader Akira Fitzgerald to stay alert. He first batted away a missile from Ryen Jiba in the 4th minute before saving a shot from Dion Acoff. Captain Conor Doyle got in on the fun minutes later, almost heading in a challenging set piece opportunity that just skimmed the top of the net.
Scearce, the reigning Team of the Week selection, got his night started in the 14th minute, with a rocket shot from way outside the box that pinged off the crossbar. It was all Owls to open the match, the home side looking determined to rectify their previous loss at the hands of the Kickers.
Doyle prompted yet another pounce out of Fitzgerald in the 30th minute, with Luis Gil challenging on the rebound.
“I thought the first half was one of the better halves of the year we’ve played,” Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims said. “We got on the ball a ton. The game was going one direction. We had full control of the game. We were playing good soccer, knocking the ball around, and getting chance after chance.”
The second half kicked off with a bang, starting with a frenzy of Owls in the box. Noe Meza threatened to tap it in several times before Corey Hertzog drew a foul, prompting a point to the spot from the referee. It was Scearce, who has taken all of Omaha’s penalties of the year, who stepped up to take the ensuing shot and calmly netted his third of the season.
A free kick given after a yellow card on Luis Gil would set up Richmond for the equalizer in the 57th minute, when former Owl Ethan Vanacore-Decker was able to bank the header in past Rashid Nuhu in goal. Shortly following, Owayne Gordon earned a yellow card shortly after with a takedown on Ryen Jiba.
It only took the Owls two minutes to take back the lead. Doyle was the chosen Owl who set up to take a corner kick, who sent into a crowded box before Scearce rose above the rest to head it home for his second score the night. The score marked Scearce’s second brace of the season and his seventh goal overall in league play.
Richmond, however, refused to go down without a fight, with Stephen Payne recording the Kickers second tying shot in the 90th minute.
Alex Touche earned the Owls’ second yellow card on the game, and Conor Doyle earned another to follow. A foul on Daltyn Knutson set up the Kickers with a last-minute penalty kick, which Jonathan Bolanos was able to convert to give the visitors the 3-2 lead that carried them all the way to the final whistle.
“We stopped playing and sat back too much and that gave them an opportunity to get back in the game,” Mims said. “It was unfortunate, the way it ended.”
It was an otherwise dominating performance for the Owls, who controlled possession, led in passing accuracy and outshot the Kickers 17-14 while earning 10 corner kicks on the night. Omaha will get another chance to bounce back Saturday when they take on Greenville Triumph SC for Oktoberfest.
“This one definitely hurts, but you have to keep your chin up, and you get to play again,” Mims said. “The only way you can do it is go out and have a good performance on Saturday.”
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