Union Omaha look to bounce back after first loss of 2023
Union Omaha are facing adversity for the first time in 2023. Following their first loss of the season this past weekend against North Carolina FC, they now have to deal with Charlotte Independence, who hold the top of the table at this early stage of the 2023 season, on short rest on the road.
Even at this early stage of the season, it probably isn’t going far to say that this will indeed be a test for UO. Even as a fringe playoff team last year, Charlotte was still the second-best team in the league at home. It’s been Charlotte’s returning players that have provided strong performances so far this campaign, most notably veterans Gabriel Obertan and Miguel Ibarra. Charlotte also had the luxury of not having to play last weekend, getting a respite following three straight matches on the road, where they accumulated seven of a possible nine points.
With slight differences in the lineup last weekend against NCFC, how much (if any) was a result of lineup rotation with this short turnaround in mind? It is, of course, next to impossible to say this early in the season. Marco Milanese’s first career professional start was a mild surprise, while the omission of JP Scearce from not only the starting XI, but also the bench was the biggest surprise of all. This author has no knowledge of whether or not this is rest, injury or something else.
We’re no closer to discovering what manager Dominic Casciato’s preferred starting XI is, both in personnel and where they are positioned. Scearce’s absence provided more evidence to this, as he was one of the few consistencies of Casciato’s starting XI’s at this early stage of the season. Scearce was listed as a right-midfielder in both of the first two league games, and favored the right side in those games. Joe Brito, listed as Scearce’s replacement, technically started at left-forward at UO’s game the weekend before at Central Valley Fuego. However, it was obvious Brito favored playing on the right side that night, which was also the side the team favored attacking from that night.
Will that be how UO approaches this game on Wednesday? It may very well be up to them to choose, as Charlotte have yet to out-possess an opponent this season, even as they’ve finished two of their four games with one-man advantages. That isn’t to say that Charlotte will necessarily just let UO attack and respond with the counter, as this same strategy also led to them outshooting Richmond 17-3 in their season opening draw. Omaha hasn’t had to face that kind of an offensive onslaught yet this year, but the potential for the defense to face an intense test is certainly there. With no match this upcoming weekend, there is also little chance that UO are overlooking this match before their Third Round U.S. Open Cup match at St. Louis FC. So this game has real, real potential to be a very competitive one for the full 90.
Who Gives A Hoot? 