July 29, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release
Papillion, Nebr. – A typically direct Chattanooga side finally exorcised recent demons with a dogged 1-0 victory against Union Omaha.
Twice before, the Owls had rebounded from a loss by taking their frustrations out on the Red Wolves, to the tune of 5-2 and 4-2 victories. This time, their attack was silenced. The only man who found the net was Mechack Jérôme, but tragically, it was his own.
“It was tough,” said midfielder Nortei Nortey after the match. “I feel like we created a lot of chances, and we had a lot of moments. Maybe we could have been a bit more clinical when we did get into certain areas. Towards the end, with us having the extra man, maybe we could have moved the ball a little better, and shifted it into the wide areas to pull them out a bit more.”
Chattanooga actually came out with the early run of play, though it didn’t translate into a real quantity of chances. Soon the tides would shift towards the home side, but at times it seemed the Owls were trying to ride them a little too long. Speculative shots from long-range never really threatened, but more of those opportunities were passed up to try in vain and craft something better. Headers across the box and drives by Lagos Kunga would only beget corner kicks at best.
As the half wore on, it felt as if the levee was due to break. In the 38th minute, Kunga would get to the byline and put the ball on a plate for Steevan Dos Santos, but the rangy striker didn’t have the fast feet to get anything on it, instead watching it ricochet into goalkeeper T.J. Bush’s grateful grasp.
Just a minute later came the big break for Union Omaha. Marco Milanese put a ball over the top to Missael Rodríguez, which Chattanooga’s Gustavo Fernandes slowed up to track. That was a fatal mistake, as the hesitation spurred him to tug on Rodríguez just outside the box to deny him a one-on-one date with Bush. It would earn Fernandes his own tête-à-tête with the locker room for the rest of the match, as he was red carded for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
After the break, it was halftime sub Max Schneider, in his first match at Werner Park, who catalyzed the one moment T.J. Bush was beaten on the night. With Chattanooga scrambling to clear the ball from the box, the Indy Eleven loanee stepped up to unleash a wicked shot from deep. It took a deflection before ricocheting off the inside of the post and out, maybe millimeters from instead…