April 26, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Owls’ U.S. Open Cup campaign ended in Third Round as Omaha fell to MLS side St. Louis City SC 5-1 Tuesday night.
Facing its fourth MLS opponent in club history, Union Omaha took the seven-hour drive to St. Louis SC’s CITYPARK to take on the newest first-division side after securing its first “cup-set” of the 2023 tournament by defeating USL Championship member El Paso Locomotive in the second round.
Last season, Omaha became the first USL League One team to defeat two MLS sides, taking down both Chicago Fire and Minnesota United on their home fields, and the giant slayers would be chasing a similar result Tuesday. This time the Owls would be taking on a St. Louis side that has gone on a tear to kick off its first MLS season, sitting atop the standings in the Western Conference.
Hungry to prove itself quickly in its inaugural Open Cup match, St. Louis was quick to pounce on the attack as Aziel Jackson scored his first goal to bring the home side up 1-0 in the 3rd minute.
Rashid Nuhu had an active first half, recording 4 saves in the opening half of play, starting in the 25th minute by swatting away a near-post attempt from Célio Pompeu.
JP Scearce and Steevan Dos Santos combined for their first two on-target shots of the night in the 14th minute, Dos Santos trying to score in his second consecutive Open Cup match but being denied by Benjamin Lundt.
The hosts threatened again in the 35th minute, when Jackson struck again from distance, catching Nuhu out of goal, but Shaft Brewer Jr. was able to step up with the goal line clearance to limit the damage and keep the lead to 1-0 before the half.
St. Louis doubled its advantage in the 48th minute, capitalizing off an unlucky deflection from a clearance attempt for an own goal.
The barrage of St. Louis continued in the second half, with Akil Watts netting a goal in the 62nd minute and Jackson securing a brace with another score in the 67th minute.
Substitute Pedro Dolabella came off the bench and put his stamp on the game almost immediately, using some crafty footwork around the endline to pivot around two St. Louis defenders and slam home the Owls’ first goal of the night in the 79th minute.
St. Louis ultimately proved to have too much firepower, scoring its fifth goal in the 86th minute to officially dash the Owls’ comeback hopes. Despite the scoreline, Nuhu still came up clutch for the Owls in multiple instances,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Outdoor Soccer News…