A special first season got even better as Omaha Street Futbol Club defeated Worthington, Minnesota 2-1 to win the UPSL NE/IA/SD Championship Final.
“We wanted to compete and be here and we felt we had a strong chance of winning it and that’s exactly what the guys did,” coach Rodrigo Retana said.
This was the third match between the teams this season. Omaha Steet lost at home 4-2 the first game of the season and tied at Worthington 3-3. Worthington was undefeated while Omaha Street’s one loss was to Worthington.
“It was exciting to win a championship especially against such a talented team,” Retana said. “The fact that we beat them on the road and handed them their first loss of the season, makes it even better.”
Cesar Hernandez scored a left footed 35-yard shot that dipped into the left corner of the goal in extra time of the first half to put Omaha Street up 1-0.
“One of the best goals of the season in the league,” Retana said. “We had a lot of opportunities in the first half that we couldn’t finish. “After Cesar scored, we gained more momentum and were very excited going into the half.”
Early in the second half Jose Valesquez Nava tied the game for Worthington. With eight minutes remaining in the game Worthington earned a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Jaxson Staples, a Bellevue University player, saved the penalty to keep the score tied.
“There was such a rush of emotions, but I was confident I could make the save,” Staples said. “It was such an amazing feeling to finally beat them especially the way we did.”
In the 90th minute leading goal scorer, Oumar Sissoko, who played at Bellevue University, scored the game winner.
“Cesar got the team momentum with a beautiful first goal and Jaxson kept us in the game with his save,” Retana said. “The game winning goal started with a beautiful cross from Javier (Baide) and a heck of a finish from Oumar, Retana said. “It was just a great team effort and all the players on the team had an impact in helping us win this championship.”
Captain Anthony Genchi said he was proud of the way his teammates played.
“It was such a beautiful game with lots of emotions,” he said. “We fought until the end and this team is just incredible and we deserve this win.”
There are 32 teams remaining in the UPSL national tournament. Omaha Street soccer is hoping it gets the chance to host the next game, but that will not be determined until later this week. Their opponent will be Dodge City Toros from Kansas.
“Our goal is to make it to the top 16 teams and take it game by game,” Retana said. “We are ready.”
Ann Carlson is currently a freshman at University of Nebraska Lincoln studying Sports Media and Broadcasting.