Forward Madison FC and Union Omaha played to a 0-0 draw Sunday afternoon at Hart Park. 

After a stop-start opening ten minutes, Forward Madison created the first quality scoring opportunity of the match after a neat exchange between Jiro Toyama and Paulo Jr. down the left flank. Following the give-and-go Toyama fizzed a low cross through the six-yard box, but no Madison attackers were there to turn it on goal. 

Five minutes later, Toyama served another teasing ball in behind the Omaha back four but again it evaded the runs of the Flamingo forwards. 

J.C. Banks created space with a clever dribble on the right flank near the half hour mark and nearly picked out Wojtek Wojcik with a cross, but Rashid Nuhu came off his line quickly to punch the serve away. 

Union Omaha’s first shot came in the 38th minute as JP Scearce collected a partial clearance and smashed a right-footed shot towards goal from 30-yards out, but his well-struck effort banged off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick.

Scearce continued to create in the attacking third for Omaha on the other side of the halftime break and had another look at goal from distance, but his shot was always rising and didn’t trouble Chris Brady who didn’t make a save in the match. 

The Flamingos had a chance from a free kick from the right side of the field in the 58th minute. Michael Vang delivered a teasing cross towards the back post, but Josiah Trimmingham’s header went wide of Nuhu’s goal. 

Madison’s next quality opportunity came from a counterattack in the 86th minute as Jamael Cox found Eli Lockaby’s overlapping run with a pass that played him into the penalty area. Lockaby laid the ball back towards the penalty spot that again evaded everyone but Banks chased down the loose ball near the endline. Banks squared up to the goal and struck a shot that went just high of Nuhu’s goal from a tight angle. 

Omaha looked to have a game-winner in the third minute of second half stoppage time as Iallal Osumanu nodded a loose ball on frame that had Brady beat to his right post, but Gustavo Fernandes was in a good position and cleared it off the line.

The goal line clearance was the last quality chance of the match and the sides settled for a 0-0 draw that does little to help either in the race for a place in the League One Final. Union Omaha sits in third place, tied on points with the second place Richmond Kickers; while Madison sits in eighth, seven points behind Richmond. 

SCORING SUMMARY 

None

NEXT MATCHES

Forward Madison FC: October 14 v. Fort Lauderdale CF (A)
Union Omaha: October 18 v. Greenville Triumph (A)