Hearts Of Pine Draw Union Omaha 2-2
Hearts get a point on the night that Union Omaha get their rings from 2024 USL League One Championship
The Portland Hearts of Pine secured a point on Saturday night against Union Omaha.
The first half of the Portland Hearts of Pine match saw Union Omaha possess 67 percent of the ball, get off 10 shots (four of which were on target), and all saved by the Dirigo Union man of the match Hunter Morse. The defending USL League One champs were applying the pressure early and often to the expansion side for much of the first half.
The Hearts had a dangerous look in the 22nd minute when Masashi Wada ran onto a ball before the Union Omaha keeper Rashid Nuhu could get his hands to it just inside the box. Wada kicked the volley with the outside of his right foot, trying to direct the chip up and over Nuhu but the shot fluttered just wide of the top right corner of the goal and the Union Omaha keeper could breathe a sigh of relief.
It was in the second minute of first half stoppage time that Wada threaded a ball through the Union Omaha back line for Mikey Lopez to run onto. The Union Omaha defender running just inside of Lopez got a slight touch on the ball sending it into the path of Azaad Liadi. The striker finished with a swift strike to the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
Few would argue that the first half belonged to Union Omaha, and the Hearts went into the locker rooms stealing the Owls’ thunder.
In the second half, Union Omaha scored on a corner kick to the back post in the 54th minute. A ball looped into the back post found a backpeddling Samuel Kwaku Owusu, who headed it into the net from short range.
A foul in the box by Sean Vinberg trying to snuff out a counterattack from Union Omaha’s Josue Gomez would give Joe Gallardo an opportunity to pull ahead in the 83rd minute. Gallardo would shoot it into the right side of the net, just over the top of the hands of a correct-side choosing Hunter Morse.
Falling behind late in the match, head coach Bobby Murphy went to his bench. Michel Poon-Angeron came off the pitch with Natty James replacing him in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, James footed in a smooth Nathan Messer cross, and Hearts of Pine equalized with just minutes left in the match.
With a few chances on goal coming up in extra time, the Hearts could not find the back of the net. 2-2 was the final scoreline that looked fair to both teams.
The Portland Hearts of Pine will face FC Naples on home turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium on May 17th. Kickoff is at 5:30 PM EST.