Zalihic Equalizer Earns Roots 1-1 Draw at Club Atletico Omaha

Behind from the second minute and on the road against one of the division’s best sides, Capital City Roots FC needed one moment in Papillion. Ademir Zalihic #7 found it just after the hour. The Roots drew 1-1 with Club Atletico Omaha on Sunday evening, stretching their unbeaten run to six matches.

Atletico struck almost immediately. Their number 9 found the net with the hosts’ first shot on target, inside two minutes, before the visitors had settled. What followed was a tight, physical half with few clear looks at either goal. The Roots worked their way forward through set pieces and forced a header off target just past the half hour, while Atletico picked up two cautions before the break. Nga Reh #29 was booked in the first half, and the staff turned to Makryous Kori #9, an attacking midfielder by trade, to take over at right back. The hosts carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The Roots came out of the break with more intent, putting three efforts toward goal inside the first ten minutes of the second half. The equalizer arrived in the 61st minute. A Roots throw-in was flicked on to Zalihic, whose first shot was blocked, but the ball came straight back to him and he made no mistake the second time, slipping it through the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 1-1. It was his third goal in two matches, and his second against Atletico this season after the free kick he scored at TrailRidge in September.

Atletico pushed for a winner over the final half hour, earning two late corners and testing the Roots with a shot on target in stoppage time, but the visitors held firm. It was a combative evening. Amir Carrillo #16, Domnick Miyeng #28, Loli Lonyome #19, and Ronaldo Ordaz #15 joined Reh in the book, as did head coach Hamed Alic, and Atletico finished with four cautions of its own. Credit to Club Atletico Omaha, who made the Roots work for every inch on their own field. Shots finished nearly even, 6 for the Roots and 5 for Atletico, with two on target apiece.

Zalihic was named Player of the Match. The point moves the Roots to 16 points from seven matches and six straight without a loss, five wins and a draw since an opening-day home defeat to Ryogoku Soccer Academy. It is the first time the Roots have dropped points since that opener, coming a week after a 3-1 home win over Reapers FC.

The result keeps Capital City Roots FC top of the UPSL Premier NE-IA-SD table and firmly in control of a playoff place with three matches to play. Elsewhere in the division, Omaha Street FC and Reapers FC drew 3-3, leaving the order of the table unchanged. The Roots’ aim from here is the regular-season title and the top seed, which brings home field throughout the conference playoffs.

The Roots were awarded two spots on the UPSL Premier NE-IA-SD Team of the Week for Week 7, and both went to Sunday’s standouts: Zalihic at attacking midfield and Kori at right back. Alic singled out Kori’s night in an unfamiliar role.

“Kori played out of position after Nga got a yellow card early in the first half. Kori came in and played perfectly in that role. He deserved it.”

Hamed Alic, Head Coach

The Roots return to Waukee High School Stadium on Sunday, November 8 to host Heartland United FC at 5:00 PM, with the free Rising Roots youth clinic beforehand. The following Sunday, November 15, they are home again against Omaha Street FC at 5:00 PM. Roots FC II is also in action, visiting Rangel City FC on Saturday, November 7 at 6:00 PM at CHI Sports Complex.

Roots Run Deep.