Ollie Wright's Hat Trick Ousts Owls Out of Three Points at Fitzpatrick Stadium
Ollie Wright caught fire in the second half, and lifted his team to their 2nd win of the season.
Some 5,700 people filled the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium to witness Portland Hearts of Pine square off against reigning USL League One Champions Union Omaha.
Union Omaha came into the fixture sitting at 9th in the standings. The first matchup between the two sides on May 10 at Werner Park ended in a 2-2 draw, with each club collecting one point for their efforts.
The first half of the matchup saw the Hearts second-best to most balls, lines were askew, allowing for easy attacking runs on goal, and passes were off the mark, stalling any Hearts attacks against the Union Omaha defense.
It was in the 37th minute that Portland’s backline would allow DJ Acoff a pocket of space in their jagged back line to remain on side. Acoff made the run, received the ball on the attack to goal, and shot it past Hunter Morse for the early lead. 0-1 Union Omaha
At the half head coach Bobby Murphy had a very frank and honest discussion with his side on the first half performance. Murphy gave his team credit for responding to the challenge in the post-match press conference.
“They came out and competed,” he said.
Ollie Wright scored all three goals in the second half, displaying patience, vision, technical ability, and of course, the trademark Ollie Wright flair.
The first goal started with a pass over the top from Michel Poon-Angeron to Azaad Liadi running into the box with his back slightly turned to receive the ball. Liadi played the ball first time out to Wright who played it out to the left to Nathan Messer. The outside back then found Wright, who received it near the top of the 18-yard box.
Wright sat down an Omaha defender and ran to the near post. Once the keeper committed to protect the near post on a slide, Wright lifted it over his outstretched leg and splashed the side netting on the far side.
Poon-Angeron air mailed another precision pass with backspin over the Omaha defense from his position near midfield. When the ball landed in front of an attacking Wright, it slowed up nicely at his feet from the backspin applied. The forward switched the ball onto his right foot and beat the keeper far side of the goal. It’s one of those goals that the pass was probably better than the goal and gave Portland a 2-1 lead.
Wright saved the best for last.
He received the ball on the half turn high up the attacking half on the left wing. The first move was to immediately nutmeg the defender and motor passed on the attack running at another defender. Wright then crossed over the defender at the top of the box and placed the ball on his right foot, sending a curler by the keeper.
Wright’s shirt came off and the celebration was on! The entire stadium was on its feet, crescendoing a roar that could be felt through the grounds.
The Hearts second half performance was truly inspiring. The players responded, and the supporters love them for it.
With the win the Hearts of Pine move up into 10th place, tied on points with Union Omaha, one point out of 8th, which is the final playoff spot in USL League One.
Hearts of Pine are on the road against 5th place AV Alta in Lancaster, California Saturday, June 21 at 11 PM EST on ESPN+.