The Road to Omaha

Photo Courtesy: Tormenta FC
Sebastian Vivas celebrates after scoring goal
against Charlotte this past Saturday.

We're going to get to Omaha. I promise. But before we look forward to Saturday night's matchup, we need to look back. And not looking back at Charlotte and the Jagermeister Cup game this past Saturday. We need to go back almost two weeks to Tormenta's 3-0 home loss to Greenville.

It goes without saying that Tormenta's performance that night was not great. You don't lose 3-0 if you played really well for 90 minutes. There were stretches they played well, but then there were more stretches when they didn't and the end result is what it is. 

Tormenta Manager Ian Cameron was quite frustrated after the match. Some quick context for you. Usually after the game the team huddles for a quick debrief and the players and coaches walk over and give high fives or take photos or sign autographs for the fans before either going to the locker room or coming to talk to the media. After that Greenville game, Cameron finished his debrief and immediately came to talk to the media. He was professional and answered questions, but it was clear he was upset. I've talked to him after losses before and sure he'd be disappointed, but he would be affable in a "we played well, it didn't break our way, we'll get 'em next time" kind of way. This was not that. Which, I get. The team deviated from the game plan the coaches put in and the results showed that. All perfectly normal stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary.

After the Charlotte game, I had the chance to talk to Conor Doyle and Cameron. Both of them, unprompted brought up the Greenville match and how they thought they didn't deserve to lose like they did in that match.

"I thought we were pretty good again. I thought we were pretty good (against Greenville) on Sunday as well. We definitely didn't deserve to lose 3-0 on Sunday and we didn't deserve to lose this game," Doyle said after Charlotte.

Which, ok, sure. He's comparing how they played against Charlotte to how the played against Greenville. 

"We didn't create enough clear chances, but I don't think we deserved to lose the game. I don't think we deserved to lose last Sunday. But that being said, two games at home, we should be winning one of those two games. That's something we need to analyze ourselves," Cameron said following the Charlotte game. 

Again, this was unprompted. 

In interviewing Preston Kilwien for a US Open Cup preview for their game against Charleston next week that ran in Thursday's Statesboro Herald (possible paywall), he also brought up the Greenville game without being asked about it specifically.

"I think we're starting to click in the right ways," Kilwien said. "The game against Greenville isn't really indicative of the progress that we've really made this year." 

It would seem that game struck a nerve with Tormenta and it's something they don't want to see a repeat of this season. They've still got three more games against Greenville (two Jagermeister Cup games and another regular season match) against the Triumph, including a week from Saturday when they travel to Greenville. 

"I think what was positive for the staff is that they understood the detail that was lost that didn't make us successful that night but they also didn't overreact and as a group to throw out all the good stuff we were doing," Cameron said in his press conference Thursday. 

He went on to say that every game helps the team grow along the way to learn from their mistakes and what they do well but also what they need to improve on going forward.

"The Knoxville game, away, was a rude awakening for us a few weeks ago in terms of the physicality, dominance, in that game and we responded well from there. Hopefully that Greenville game leap frogs us again and we anticipate seeing that this week," he said. 

But before that, there are two other games to worry about as Tormenta has three road games in three different competitions coming up next week. 

"We play not just three good opponents, but three top, top opponents. Omaha and Greenville have probably been the top two teams and organizations in USL1 history," Cameron said before adding, "Charleston Battery have had a resurgence in the last couple of years and have done an incredible job."

First up is Omaha, who are fresh off a shootout win over Northern Colorado Wednesday night in their opening Jagermeister Cup match. Missael Rodriguez scored two goals in 82 seconds at the end of the first half to account for the scoring for Omaha. 

The Owls have only played three regular season League One matches so far, but like Tormenta, have won all three of their US Open Cup games as well. They'll face off against MLS squad Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday in a game they'll get to host.

Omaha has looked very good in League One play, surrendering only one goal and that was on the road. They are undefeated in their two home matches and have yet to be scored upon.

I'm not one who is big on how teams did in previous seasons affecting this year's team, but Tormenta hasn't won in Omaha in the past three years. 

"Their home environment is a peculiar one, the size of the field, the fan base, the infield area and their history at home will be really strong. So there's a lot of things we're going up againsg, but that provides an opportunity to say 'ok, can this be the first group that goes to Omaha and wins. We've got some results here but we've not yet went there and won one yet in the last three years," Cameron said. "So I hae great believe that this group are capable of doing it, but it's going to take a very good execution come Saturday night."

Cameron said both Jake Dengler and Nick Akoto have recovered from injuries sustained against Charlotte on Saturday and are available to be selected for the roster.

"How we utilize them will be a staff decision because we've got three games this week," he said. "We feel, having gone through the training sessions (Thursday) morning, we have both of them at our disposal and both are capable of having a big, big say in the success of the team over these next three games."

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Eastern and can be streamed on ESPN+. There is also a watch party at The Clubhouse Saturday night starting at 7:30 p.m.