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Match Report: Omaha Battles Back To Tie Toronto

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 06/03/21, 12:15AM EDT

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Knutson's equalizer canceled out Thompson's opener in an entertaining second half

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. - Union Omaha battled back from a second half deficit to earn a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC II on Wednesday night at Grande Sports World.

The first half was cagey as each team looked for an advantage, and the both sides' best chances of the first 45 minutes came from set pieces. Omaha's JP Scearce saw his header cleared off the line by Toronto's Garrett McLaughlin following a corner kick on the half-hour mark, and the Young Reds rattled the crossbar at the end of a free kick routine minutes later.

On the other side of halftime, it took TFC II just three minutes to find the breakthrough. Enric Bernat played a beautiful one-two combination with Steffen Yeates, and Bernat's cross then found Kosi Thompson in the penalty area.

Thompson leapt and connected with the ball mid-flight, steering it past Kevin Piedrahita in the Omaha net to give Toronto the lead with his first professional goal.

Going behind seemed to galvanize the visitors, who brought on a handful of substitutes and showed increased attacking intent as the second half wore on. Los Búhos were rewarded for their initiative on 73 minutes, when Dámia Viader's pinpoint cross was headed home by Daltyn Knutson to level the score.

It took some heroic defending late on, including an incredible save from Piedrahita in stoppage time, to ensure the match finished all square, but the two sides settled for a point apiece in the end.

Both clubs are back in action at the weekend. TFC II will make the short trip south to close out its time at its temporary home in Arizona against FC Tucson on Saturday, while Omaha heads to Wisconsin for the second time in 11 days for a rematch with Forward Madison FC on Sunday.

USLLeagueOne.com Man of the Match

Dámia Viader, Union Omaha - As he has been so often this season, Viader was absolutely everywhere for Omaha. In addition to picking up the assist for Knutson's equalizer, he led all players in the match with six successful dribbles and five chances created.

Goal Summary

  • TOR (49') - Thompson (first), assisted by Bernat
  • OMA (73') - Knutson (first), assisted by Viader

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