Solid road point keeps Owls within a point of first place down the final stretch
CARY. N.C. (September 29, 2023) – USL League One playoff soccer will return to Werner Park after Union Omaha grinded out a shared point against North Carolina FC Friday.
The highly anticipated match-up pitted top-ranked North Carolina against second-ranked Omaha, with a single point separating the two in the table in the tight race for the USL League One Players’ Shield. A win for either side would have proved crucial in the final standings down the homestretch of the regular season.
The showdown proved to live up to the hype early, as Rashid Nuhu was called on to make a big save off a dangerous free kick in the 6th minute.
A hectic scramble in the box gave way to an opening goal from the home side, putting the Owls down 1-0 early in the 12th minute.
Although North Carolina came out firing strong, the Owls turned things around at the end of the first half, finding their offensive rhythm with several solid scoring opportunities.
Reigning League One Goal of the Week winner Joe Gallardo nearly gave another candidate for the award in the 35th minute, striking a free kick from outside the box that just kissed the top of net.
It was the 40th minute, however, when Omaha found its equalizer. Nearing the endline, Steevan Dos Santos cut back the ball for Luis Gil, who slammed home a perfect finish in the top of the net to level the score and silence the crowd just before the break.
The Owls nearly took the lead just minutes after, with Joe Brito taking an easy interception off a defensive miscue from North Carolina and just missing the chip shot over the goalkeeper.
The chances continued in the second half for los Búhos, who ended the night with 16 total shots.
Shaft Brewer Jr. used some shifty footwork to work around a Carolina defender and send a cross into the box, where Dos Santos received and hit a solid tap that just pinged off the near post to deny Omaha’s go-ahead score in the 84th minute.
Nuhu made one final clutch save off a banger attempt from North Carolina to solidify the draw. Although the Owls’ historic league-record win streak caps at 10, they extend their unbeaten streak to 11 straight with the last loss coming in July.
“It’s a decent point away from home,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “If you look at balance of play, I think we were much better and really dominated the second half and probably the end of the first half as well, so I think we’re unfortunate not to win, but the guys put in a great effort. If Steevan’s chance doesn’t go off the post and goes in instead, then I think we’re celebrating a well-deserved victory. We move on and look forward to Charlotte next week.”
Still just a point out of first place with a game in hand, the Owls will be back home for the final time this regular season Wednesday, October 4 for Fan Appreciation Night against Charlotte Independence. The first 1,000 fans in stadium will get a free Rashid Nuhu bobblehead presented by Nebraska State Soccer. Omaha will then close out the regular season with two road matches before hosting its first playoff match at Werner Park.
Depending on where the Owls finish in the standings, they will host a quarter-final match on October 20-22 or a semi-final match on October 27-29. Tickets for the match can be purchased here.
