It was another point for Union Omaha on the road as the team recorded a 1-1 draw at WakeMed Soccer Park Saturday night.
The Owls were facing another team they had an unblemished record against in North Carolina FC, which they took all 6 points from in two meetings last season. In order to keep their form up and retain their recent road success, the Owls would have to deal with a lethal attacking duo, as North Carolina’s Garrett McLaughlin and Oalex Anderson have both solidified their names as solid threats on goal. In Week 15, the sides sit at the brink of playoff contention in 6th and 7th place, respectively, with all signs pointing to a tight competition on a Saturday night in North Carolina.
After a nearly 2-hour weather delay, the teams were finally given the clearance to kickoff.
Rashid Nuhu made back-to-back saves in the 21st minute, solidifying his reputation as one of the hardest goalkeepers to score on in League One. Showkat Tahir sent in a hard shot from outside the box with Nuhu pouncing to bat away the chance. He got right back up to deny Anderson, this time holding the ball just over the goal line to give Omaha the reset and get his team out of the defensive third.
Dalton Knutson helped keep a threatening home side off the board in the 31st minute, as Jaden Servenia sent a far shot that Knutson was able to deflect into a hard knock off the crossbar.
From there, it was right back the other way, as the Owls looked to capitalize off the counter-attack. Noe Meza, leading the team in assists, sent the ball up for Kemal Malcolm to try and make some magic happen. Malcolm, always a threat with his impressive speed, tried to chase down the long ball, which got scooped up before he could catch a foot on it.
Servenia was clocked in for the first caution of the night after a takedown on Joe Brito in the 32nd minute.
Ryan Jiba made a strong run, slashing between two navy blue jerseys and found Malcolm for another shot, which was captured by Will Pulisic in goal for North Carolina. The teams fell even in yellow cards just after, as Isaac Bawa was booked for a late challenge.
North Carolina ultimately found their opening in the 39th minute, with Servania slinging a tough low strike from outside the box past Nuhu. It was one of only a handful of times the Owls have trailed in league play this season, but with several minutes and another whole half to play, the visitors showed no early signs of defeat.
Brito got the ball after some late, heavy Omaha pressure in the 44th minute, shuffling around a North Carolina defender to put another banger attempt on frame, but was handled by Pusilic. The Owls went into the half down a score, but after a half full of quality offensive chances, the equalizer looked well within reach.
Anderson threatened for North Carolina again in the 53rd minute with a deep run, using the wide stretch of clear green grass ahead of him, but Knuston was able to close down the lane and record the clearance to keep it a one-score affair.
Seconds after, Omaha had a chance of its own, picking up an interception and taking it back down the other direction. Jiba cut a pass from the outside wing into the middle of the box, looking to find an Omaha attacker and getting on in JP Scearce. The Owls’ leading scorer was able to get a shot off but was deflected off a defender over the top of goal.
The Owls’ attack, recording 17 total shots for the second consecutive week, looked to quiet the home crowd again in the 62nd minute, as Meza fed Conor Doyle, whose shot almost found the far post for his second club goal.
The miss was no deterrence, as just a minute later, Omaha was ready to strike again, this time thanks to Jiba. He took a ball deep in the corner and sent a beautiful service back into back into the middle for Noe Meza to head down and into goal for his 4th league score of the season. The Owls had leveled the score with 25 minutes left in play, still plenty of time to try and take all 3 points back home with them.
Doyle showed his defensive prowess in the 81st minute, saving a potential go-ahead goal. The captain raced down the field to track down McLaughlin and snag an interception before the leading Golden Boot candidate could take a shot at the leading Golden Glove candidate in Nuhu. It was a highly anticipated battle on the night that Nuhu managed to win by keeping the dangerous attacker off the board.
The second goal looked to be just on the horizon for the Owls in the 85th minute, as the sub Dion Acoff clipped it to Meza for a gorgeous chance for a brace, but ended up headed just too high over goal. The final whistle sounded just minutes later, cementing another come-from-behind result for the visitors this season.
With the draw, the Owls remain unbeaten in their last five road matches. Werner Park awaits them again next Saturday, July 18, when they host FC Tucson at 7 p.m. for 402 Night. It will be another chance for Omaha to mount some momentum before tough back-to-back road trips to Greenville Triumph and Forward Madison.