July 30, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
Papillion, NE – Union Omaha was able to keep its record intact at home Saturday thanks to some late stoppage time heroics.
Omaha and Chattanooga came in back-to-back places in the standings, sitting at 7th and 8th, respectively, with both sides looking for statement wins in their July finales. Chattanooga came in losing 3 of their last 5 matches but still boasting the league’s second-highest scoring offense. Subduing a powerful attack was going to be the main task for the Owls’ league-leading defense on the night.
It was a strong start for the home side, who came racing out of the gates applying lots of offensive pressure early. Omaha recorded its first shot in the second minute, with Luis Gil taking a heading stab from Conor Doyle.
Kemal Malcolm attempted a banger from outside the box in the 11th minute but couldn’t get enough on it as it was scooped up by Carlos Avilez. JP Scearce targeted another shot just moments later, attempting from distance but narrowly missing over the crossbar.
“I thought we had probably our best start of the year at home,” Doyle said. “The first 10 -15 mins we had 3-4 chances that if we put away, probably would’ve been an entirely different game.”
It was Chattanooga’s Pedro Hernandez who broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, taking advantage of a rare defensive miscue by the Omaha defense. It was the first goal the Owls had given up in three matches and just the fourth they had given up all season at Werner Park.
Rashid Nuhu nabbed a beautiful save at the end of the first half, preventing Rafael Mentzingen from doubling the advantage by punching the shot out of play.
Omaha went into the half still looking to find the breakthrough on the scoresheet but had plenty of time to do so in front of the home crowd.
Chattanooga’s first caution came in the 51st minute on Pedro Hernandez after a foul on Nuhu. Union Omaha head coach brought in a pair of substitutions later in the 62nd minute with Alex Bruce and Dion Acoff coming on for Malcolm and Gil.
Omaha got its biggest advantage in the 66th minute, when Hernandez was issued his second yellow card and promptly sent off the field to give the Owls an extra man to close out the match. The Red Wolves earned another yellow card with a referee challenge, this time falling to Aaron Lombardi.
The Owls had a golden opportunity soon after to equalize in the 78th minute, when Conor Doyle found Alex Bruce in the middle of the…