The elements of a hot, muggy night at Werner Park were quickly forgotten as the Owls struck early and never looked back, winning 2-1 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves.
Above image courtesy of Union Omaha Twitter: @Union_Omaha
Despite the elements, all 3,356 fans filed into Werner Park for Hispanic Heritage Night as the Owls took on the Chattanooga Red Wolves. Reports had field-side temperatures as high as 108℉ and the idea of having two hydration breaks per half were discussed, but ultimately nixed by league management. With the stage set and clubs lined up, it was time to settle the contest with a valuable three points on the line.
Chattanooga opened the match with the kickoff, looking to expose Union Omaha’s backline immediately, but it was easily thwarted. The Red Wolves wouldn’t have their first shot of the match until the fifth minute of play, which went well wide of the goal and never gave Union Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu cause for concern. On the other end of the field, the Owls experienced much more success early in the match.
In the 10th minute, Union Omaha midfielder Joe Brito combined well with Luis Gil to exchange a couple of passes, evading multiple Chattanooga defenders. As more players arrived to stop Gil, he threaded a pass to forward Alex Steinwascher, waiting at the penalty spot for a one-touch shot to the back of the net. In his second start of the season, Steinwascher took advantage of the opportunity and scored his second goal of the season. The assist was Gil’s fifth of the season, tying him with Conor Doyle for club assist leader.
The rest of the half was all Union Omaha. By the time the halftime whistle was blown, the Owls had amassed nine shots, six of which were inside the box. For 30 minutes, the Union Omaha defense prevented Chattanooga from taking a single shot. The Red Wolves only had one shot on goal, which came in first half stoppage time. Overall, it looked like a comfortable half for the Owls as they made their way to the locker room at the break.
Any comfort that Union Omaha felt at halftime was quickly abated as the second half began. Chattanooga applied early offensive pressure, resulting in two shots on goal within the first seven minutes of the half. Rashid Nuhu was called upon several times in the second half, working hard to preserve a possible seventh clean sheet. Some of that pressure was relieved as the Owls doubled their lead partway through the second half.
After recovering from his recent injury and taking the field for the second time this season, defender Eddie Gordon made an immediate impact on the match. Mere seconds after being subbed on in the 65th minute, Gordon made his way up the field during a counterattack. Midfielder Pedro Dolabella capitalized on an interception and immediately fed the ball up to Joe Brito, who led a wide-open Gordon on the right side of the field. As Gordon approached the goal line, he fed a low cross back into the box and Chattanooga defender Aarón Lombardi sent the ball into his own net. While the own goal was awarded to Lombardi, fans were still jubilant for Gordon and the rest of the Owls as they inched their way closer to another victory at home.
That previously-mentioned possible seventh clean sheet for Nuhu was erased in second half stoppage time, as Chattanooga was awarded, and scored, a penalty kick. Though the Red Wolves looked to even up the scoreline, the evening would end with a 2-1 victory for the Owls.
Union Omaha’s win was their fifth straight league victory and sixth straight victory at home. The victory and three points kept the Owls in second place. In Week 24, Union Omaha pays a visit to the Greenville Triumph on Saturday, August 26th. The next home match for Union Omaha will be on Wednesday, September 6th when current league leader North Carolina FC comes to Werner Park for Cancer Awareness Night, presented by XCancer.
Random Facts
- Union Omaha continues to make club history, winning their fifth straight league match and sixth straight match at home.
- Union Omaha is one home result shy of matching the club’s home undefeated streak record. The 2021 and 2022 editions of Union Omaha both had home undefeated streaks lasting eight matches. The 2023 Union Omaha squad currently sits at seven straight matches.
- The 2023 Owls have scored more goals at home than any previous season, collecting 26 goals so far this season. They eclipsed the 2021 Owls, who scored 23 goals at home.
- With the win, Union Omaha matched last year’s team by collecting a total of 24 points at home. The 2021 Owls hold the current record with 25 points earned at home, so that’s a record to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
- Union Omaha remains undefeated at home against Chattanooga Red Wolves. The visitors have only earned two points in four total visits to Werner Park all time.
- Union Omaha remains the leading scorers at home with 26 goals. The next closest club is Charlotte Independence with 21 goals scored at home.
- Union Omaha forward Alex Steinwascher is the only player for both clubs in the all-time series against Chattanooga to collect more than one goal. His goal last night was his second goal all-time against the Red Wolves. His first goal was scored in the Week 10 match.
Postmatch Quotes
Head Coach Dominic Casciato:
General thoughts on the evening:
“Good [win]. Difficult game. I think Chattanooga came in with a good game plan. Obviously conditions made it super difficult. It’s really, really hot and really, really humid, but guys stepped up and executed our game plan really well. Good to get the second goal when we did. Most of the game was pretty comfortable until the penalty end, so we definitely like to keep it interesting. Great support again from all the fans at Werner tonight.”
On JP Scearce playing at left back:
“Yeah, we were a little beat up coming into the game, so tonight was a big one for us to get through. You look at certain guys, like Eddie Gordon just coming back from injury, Yoskar getting his first appearance of the season. We’ve spoken about how everybody’s responsible for the team’s success, so those guys stepping up and contributing to a really important win is super important. I’m really pleased and happy for those guys because they work hard every day and they continue to do that. They’ll get more opportunities.”
More thoughts on Yoskar and Eddie appearing for the club:
“We weren’t planning for Eddie to play as long as he did, but just with the conditions being as hot and humid as they were, we had to get him into the game a little bit earlier. Eddie’s somebody that’s got a huge heart, a great engine, and just super proud of him for coming into the game. He’s only really got back to training properly this week, so coming into the game and having the impact that he did – fantastic. And his first professional goal, as well. So delighted for him and always great to see a local lad come on and make an impact.”
On next week’s match at Greenville:i
“Yeah, obviously Greenville is a big one, right? Greenville is always going to be a battle. There’s history between the clubs. It’s an important game for us and our fans and we’re going there to take the game to them, so we’re looking forward to it and can’t wait for the challenge.”
Team Captain JP Scearce:
General thoughts on the evening:
“Yeah, it feels good to get another victory, get three more points, and keep climbing the table. Obviously, it was a tough game. Not every game in this league is easy, regardless of Chattanooga’s position on the table, but I think we did well to fight and to earn the three points tonight.”
On the crowd inside Werner Park:
“We always have great support from the fans. The best support system in the whole league and you could feel them out there, especially a game like today where you feel the weather and they’re just there to keep pushing us on. Feels good.”
On Eddie, Chavany, and Yoskar getting minutes:
“Yeah,I mean the squad was a little thin tonight. We have a couple guys banged up due to injury, but it’s important for guys like those three who haven’t got as many minutes the whole season, but they come in and make an immediate impact. Eddie obviously forcing the second goal. Chavany had a couple chances where he could have gotten one for himself and Yoskar came in to close the game, so the depth is important and, yeah, it’s good to have players like that that can make an impact.”
On next week’s match at Greenville:
“Yeah, we’re excited, obviously. We’re feeling pretty confident. The last two games we played against them, we’ve tied, so this is one to close the series out against them and try to get three more points. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Forward Alex Steinwascher (1 goal):
General thoughts on the evening:
“Felt awesome. Struggled towards the end a little bit, but overall, I think the guys did really well to come together.”
On scoring his second goal of the season:
“Felt good. I mean, I think the win’s more important here though, because obviously getting five straight wins is pretty impressive. Six straight wins at home is very impressive. At this point, we’re just looking to keep getting wins here.”
On playing the number nine role in the 4-2-3-1 formation:
“Feels good. I mean, obviously there’s some better guys there, too. I think I did the most I could today. I tried and obviously did everything we could to get a win and ended up coming out with a win, so I’m happy with that.”
On playing in front of the crowd:
“Obviously, we love to have the fans there. The louder they are, the better it is. Always more excitement, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of fun when a lot of people are here.”
On next week’s match at Greenville:
“Let’s get another win.”
Goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu:
General thoughts on the evening:
“Feels great. We just get into the momentum and we just have to keep it going. We just have to take it game after game. We can’t let these wins get into our heads. We just have to keep our heads straight and take it game after game.”
On playing in front of the crowd:
“Hey, I mean it always feels great to play at home. We get our crowd behind us sometimes when we feel like the referees are against us and we have the fans. They just keep us going. They’re like the plus one for us and it’s just great. We love playing in front of them and we’re just happy to be giving them results, too. It’s great.”
On being in second place:
“Hey, it feels great. As you guys probably know, there were some fans who thought we weren’t going to make it up there and we’re just trying to prove everyone wrong. We’re just trying to fight til the last game, so we just have to keep going. We don’t have to focus too much on the standings. We just take it game after game and let it play out like it’s supposed to.”
On next week’s match at Greenville:
“I feel good. I mean, we’ve got some momentum going and we just have to keep the confidence up and keep the togetherness we’ve got going on. I think no team is going to come at us and walk all over us. Now we’re ready.”
Match Summary
Attendance: 3,356
Availability Report:
OMA: DF #3 Stefan Mueller (Out – Injury)
OMA: FW #7 Noe Meza (Questionable – Injury)
CHA: MF #6 Christian Enriquez (Out – Injury)
Goal Summary:
10’: OMA #44 Alex Steinwascher (assisted by #20 Luis Gil)
66’: Goal for OMA. Own goal by CHA #22 Aarón Lombardi
90’+8: CHA #11 Chevone Marsh converts the penalty kick
Substitution Summary:
57’: OMA – #6 Chavany Willis replaces #44 Alex Steinwascher
63’: CHA – #14 Pedro Hernández replaces #2 Richard Rentería
64’: CHA – #11 Chevone Marsh replaces #9 Marios Lomis
64’: CHA – #98 Ryley Kraft replaces #13 Felipe Liborio, Jr.
65’: OMA – #12 Eddie Gordon replaces #20 Luis Gil
66’: OMA – #13 Anderson Holt replaces #11 Joe Gallardo
69’: CHA – #21 Jonny Filipe replaces #17 Omar Gómez
78’: CHA – #15 Walter Varela replaces #8 Ualefi
90’+5: OMA – #30 Yoskar Galvan replaces #8 Joe Brito
Discipline Summary:
9’: OMA – #11 Joe Gallardo (Yellow card)
82’: CHA – #21 Jonny Filipe (Yellow card)
Who Gives A Hoot? 