Goalkeeper Showcase Maintains Draw

It may have been a scoreless draw, but it was an action-packed 90 minutes as Union Omaha earned a point against league-leading Charlotte Independence.  In what was largely regarded as a litmus test for both clubs, it was goalkeepers Austin Pack (Charlotte Independence) and Rashid Nuhu (Union Omaha) who performed more dazzling aerial moves than a Cirque du Soleil show to earn their respective clean sheets.

Wearing the lightning yellow kits with black shorts, Union Omaha wasted little time in applying pressure to the undefeated hosts.  From the opening kickoff, the Owls showed a sense of urgency to not only take residence in North Carolina’s half, but to also test the backline of the Jacks.  Forwards Noe Meza and Steevan Dos Santos routinely pressed high, while midfielders JP Scearce, Luis Gil, and Joe Gallardo provided a layer of support.

Charlotte, donning the pure blue kits, had their own arsenal of threats.  Off-season signing and USL star Dane Kelly paired up with Gabriel Obertan to give chase in Union Omaha’s half.  The Jacks also started a loaded midfield with names like Omar Ciss, Tresor Mbuyu, and Miguel Ibarra.

Union Omaha’s earliest quality chance on goal came in the 25th minute of play.  After Charlotte’s Mbuyu tried to force a pass into Union Omaha’s box, JP Scearce was able to collect the ball and start the counterattack.  He was able to find Joe Gallardo, who was able to connect with Noe Meza on the left flank.  Having Meza along the sideline attracted defenders toward him, affording Luis Gil the opportunity to find space at the top of the box.  As all of this was happening, Scearce snuck up the field without a defender tracking him and received a pass from Gil just outside the penalty area.  With a one-touch shot on goal, Charlotte’s Austin Pack had to go horizontal in order to save the scoring opportunity.

In a surprising adjustment to tactics, Búhos Nation saw Union Omaha channel a lot more of their attacks through the middle of the field.  The Owls have the height to win the air from crosses along the flank, but seemed to operate more on the ground with their threats.

By halftime, both sides had their fair chances on goal, but it was Union Omaha who seemed to be the aggressor.  The Owls carried 60% of possession, with 87% overall passing accuracy and 82% passing accuracy in Charlotte’s half of the field.  While the visitors had six shots, only one was on target.  They did well to vary their attacks, as fans witnessed seven crosses, four shots from outside the box, and two shots inside of Charlotte’s box.

The second half seemed to belong to Union Omaha, as the Owls unleashed a total of 14 shots, 8 of which were inside the box.  Union Omaha also had two shots inside Charlotte’s goal area.  It was 45 minutes of almost pure offense for the Owls, but the heroics of Austin Pack kept the Jacks in the game.  An example of this came in the 51st minute.

After Union Omaha’s Junior Palacios cleared a Charlotte goal kick, Joe Gallardo wound up with the ball at his feet and dribbled toward the Charlotte penalty area.  With four defenders surrounding him, he was somehow able to evade any challenges and put a shot on frame.  Austin Pack parried the ball away, only to find it land in the path of an incoming Steevan Dos Santos.  His follow-up shot wasn’t as strong as he would’ve liked and the Jacks were able to escape another quality chance on goal from the visitors.

The draw keeps the Jacks undefeated and alone at the top of the league standings, while Union Omaha dropped three spots to finish Week 5 in 7th place.  The Owls will have nearly a week off before traveling to St. Louis on Tuesday, April 25th for a US Open Cup showdown against MLS club St. Louis CITY.  The next league match for Union Omaha will be on Saturday, April 29th, when the undefeated Northern Colorado Hailstorm come to town.  That match will be the first held at Werner Park this season.  The promotional night for April 29th is “Pups at the Pitch,” so don’t forget to sign up and bring your dog to the stadium.

Match Summary

Attendance: 467

Substitution Summary:

63’: CLT – Brad Dunwell replaces Tresor Mbuyu

63’: CLT – Khori Bennett replaces Miguel Ibarra

74’: CLT – Luis Álvarez replaces Gabriel Obertan

74’: CLT – Fabrice Ngah replaces Joel Johnson

90’+1: CLT – Héctor Acosta replaces Avionne Flanagan

62’: OMA – Joe Brito replaces Joe Gallardo

62’: OMA – Pedro Dolabella replaces Luis Gil

86’: OMA – Alex Steinwascher replaces Noe Meza

87’: OMA – Dion Acoff replaces Marco Milanese

Discipline Summary: 

21’: CLT – Tresor Mbuyu (yellow card)

39’: CLT – Gabriel Obertan (yellow card)

43’: OMA – Joe Gallardo (yellow card)