June 6, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Union Omaha firmly put recent disappointments in the rear-view mirror with a five-goal salvo on Chattanooga Red Wolves.
Five different goalscorers put the Red Wolves to the sword to put the Owls atop USL League One by the time it was all said and done.
“That’s a great win tonight,” said Head Coach Dom Casciato. “We’re really pleased with that one. I think the impact we had from the bench was outstanding, as well as our starting guys. I thought we controlled the game for 90% of it. There were a couple of moments when we conceded from the second wave of a set-piece and then a long ball; they’re things we’ve got to eradicate and things we’ll work on to get better, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
It was May Player of the Month nominee Pedro Dolabella who opened the scoring in the 15th minute. It took only two passes from beyond the midfield line to put him in on goal, with Nortei Nortey sending a diagonal pass in for Aarón Gómez to flick on to third man Dolabella. The Brazilian took a touch to settle it and bring himself a little more inside, but with work to do yet, he blasted the ball past T.J. Bush from a tight angle.
Just moments later, though, the home team fought back. Owen Green’s deep cross floated to the far post, where Gustavo Fernandes nodded it back across. Rashid Nuhu dove, expecting the first man there to reach it, but that Red Wolf was shrugged away, leaving Declan Watters alone on the other side of goal to send a volley into the roof of the net from a standstill.
After a period of relative inaction, Union Omaha busted it open with a pair of goals all their own. First, PC marked his first start since April with an assist, his inswinging corner finding the leaping Blake Malone for a perfectly placed header. PC was also integral in the buildup to this goal, masterfully helping reset play under pressure as the Owls showed some of their best possession play of the season.
Perhaps this rattled the Red Wolves, as minutes later Player of the Month nominee Joe Gallardo fizzed a free kick in from just off the corner of the penalty area, and T.J. Bush hardly reacted until the ball bounded into the net. It was nearly 4-1 right after too, when Mechack Jérôme unleashed Dion Acoff down the flank, but after a perfect square ball to Dolabella, Bush made a point-blank save on the first-time shot.
Despite a little trouble late in the first half…