Union Omaha Defeats Forward Madison at Morrison Stadium

The Owls secured a 1-0 victory over Forward Madison in a hard-fought match.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:10am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a soccer match, with players and the field rendered in sharp, overlapping planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the intense battle on the pitch as Union Omaha and Forward Madison fought for a crucial victory.Omaha Today

Union Omaha hosted Forward Madison on Saturday afternoon in a closely contested match at Morrison Stadium. The game remained scoreless until the 78th minute, when Pato Botello converted a penalty kick to give the Owls a 1-0 lead. Union Omaha held on to that slim advantage until the final whistle, securing the victory over their visiting opponents.

Why it matters

This win keeps Union Omaha in the hunt for a top spot in the league standings, as they continue their push for a playoff berth. The closely fought nature of the match also highlights the competitive balance in the league, with no easy games for any team.

The details

The match was a defensive battle for much of the 90 minutes, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut scoring chances. It wasn't until the 78th minute that Pato Botello stepped up and converted a penalty kick to break the deadlock and give Union Omaha the lead. The Owls' defense then held firm, denying Forward Madison any late opportunities to equalize.

  • The match was played on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Union Omaha took the lead in the 78th minute of the match.

The players

Pato Botello

The Union Omaha forward who scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 78th minute.

Cole Johnson

The Union Omaha goalkeeper who helped preserve the clean sheet with several key saves.

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What they’re saying

“What a story that Messi will be able to tell his grandkids, that he played with @ColeJ_4!”

— Union Omaha, Twitter account

What’s next

Union Omaha will next travel to face the Richmond Kickers on April 18 at 6 p.m.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory for Union Omaha demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to grind out results, even when the match is closely contested. The Owls will look to build on this momentum as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the coming weeks.