Fuego FC looks for another league win, while Union Omaha comes in hot after a US Open Cup upset of El Paso.
Fuego FC: What to Know
Last Result: a 1-0 win at Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
What Fuego FC brings from the last result: evidence that they may be competing in the league this year. The club took the longest to complete their roster, and many of us seemed to have them written off in our pre-season rankings. But down to the wire, they mostly finalized a roster, less a lot of injuries and a couple of visa issues, and left Chattanooga with a 1-0 win.
In the meantime, Fuego FC hosted USL Championship side (and bitter enemies) Monterey Bay in US Open Cup action on Wednesday and took a 3-1 loss. Zahir Vazquez had the lone extra-time goal in the 116th minute.
Fuego FC’s x-factor: will any of the missing players appear? The club only had four on the bench besides goalkeeper Ofek Antman, who backed Mitchell North. And coach Martin Vásquez used all four by the 89th minute. Notable among the missing players was José Carrera-García, possibly missing due to a last-minute visa issue. The ever-versatile Ozzie Ramos resumed his duties in the central midfield spot, a position in which the club is deep even without Carrera-García.
Available on the bench squad:
- Othoniel Arce made his club and league debut off the bench in week 3 but started and played the full match in the US Open Cup as Villyan Bijev had the night off.
- Andrew Forth made his club debut off the bench in week 3.
- Harold Hanson made his club debut off the bench in week 3.
- Zahir Vasquez appeared off the bench in week 3.
- Ofek Antman backed up Mitchell North from the bench.
Not Available or Questionable for Week 4: Abdul Cromwell (injury), Cherif Dieye (injury), François Dulysse (injury), David Ramon (injury), Sam Strong (injury), Adrian Vera (injury), Razak Cromwell (unknown), Jose Carrea-García (visa)
Fuego FC Previous Week Setup
Opponent: Red Wolves SC
Result: WIN 1-0
Union Omaha: What to Know
Last Result: DRAW vs Forward Madison 1-1 (last scheduled match at One Knox SC postponed)
What Union Omaha brings from the last result: an eagerness to test themselves against another league opponent. The Owls did not play in week 1, and then week 3 saw a postponement due to weather-related travel delays to Knoxville. So far their only test was against a new and improved Forward Madison, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. In the meantime, they kept busy by dispatching USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in a US Open Cup matchup by the score of 2-0. Off-season signee Steevan Dos Santos factored in both goals, with an assist and a goal, after not having much of an impact off the bench against Forward Madison.
Union Omaha’s x-factor: It’s still Steevan Dos Santos. Union Omaha has all the pieces to score goals, something they were just not good at in 2022. Dos Santos’ showing in the US Open Cup proves he still has what it takes, given the chance. The only question is, how many minutes will the 33-year-old be ready to play just three days later on the road?
Available on the bench squad:
- So far we’ve seen Alex Steinwascher and Steevan Dos Santos swapped out on the right side. Given Dos Santos’ minutes in the US Open Cup on Wednesday, it would not be a surprise to see Steinwascher get the start against Fuego FC.
- Pedro Dollabella started week one and the US Open Cup on the bench, subbing in for Noe Meza in both matches.
- Shaft Brewer subbed in the 85th minute of the Forward Madison match with a 3-4-3 setup but got the start at right-back in the US Open Cup, where the club opted for a 4-4-2 setup.
- Marco Milanese, Chavany Willis, and Joe Brito did not feature in the Forward Madison match but subbed in during the US Open Cup match.
- Ian McGrane backed up Rashid Nuhu.
Not available or questionable for week 4: Yoskar Galván-Mercado, Eddie Gordon, Luca Mastrantonio
Union Omaha previous match setup
Opponent: Forward Madison
Result: DRAW 1-1
2022 Head to Head
Union Omaha wins the series 2-1-0
April 23: Union Omaha 3-0 Fuego FC
Omaha goals: Kametani, Malcolm, Scearce*
August 6: Fuego FC 0-1 Union Omaha
Omaha goal: Scearce*
October 15: Union Omaha 0-2 Fuego FC
Fuego FC goals: Dieye,* Chaney
* Returns to club in 2023