TUCSON, Ariz. (September 12, 2022) – It was a frustrating night for second-place Union Omaha Sunday as the Owls dropped a 3-0 contest at FC Tucson.
Sunday night marked the beginning of a challenging slate for los Búhos, who would play 4 matches in 11 days, including two showdowns with top-of-the-table contestants. The quick turnaround in between matches meant the Owls’ depth would be tested in matches that likely would feature lots of lineup rotation. The Owls hoped to start the stretch off on the right foot with a win at FC Tucson, a side they have two victories over already on the season.
The Tucson weather had other ideas, trickling the Sunday night contest into early Monday morning. A kickoff nearly three hours delayed, the teams finally were able to kick off after multiple lightning delays.
Once the whistles sounded, Tucson wasted no time getting right on the board. The delay appeared to render the Owls a bit sluggish, as the Tucson offense rushed down the field and set up Tarn Weir to score in the 1st minute. It was a less than ideal start for the visitors but the early tally still left plenty of time for a comeback, the Owls being no strangers to salvaging points this season.
The Owls’ offense would get a dangerous look of their own in the 10th minute, with Brito putting a shot on-frame that got Tucson goalkeeper Carlos Merancio involved early.
Omaha’s offensive rhythm appeared out of sync on the night, with the Owls struggling to connect passes through the midfield to capitalize off the counterattack, which where the team is typically the most dangerous.
As if the late start wasn’t enough, the teams were sent back to the locker room in the 35th minute due to another lightning delay, putting any thoughts of equalizing off of Omaha’s momentum further on standby.
Ricky Rivera earned the first yellow card of the match and his first of the season at the end of the first half, and that was all going for the Owls as they were sent back to the locker room again at the half.
Nuhu looked determined to keep Tucson’s lead to a single score, recording a brilliant close-range save in a one-on-one battle against Donny Toia in the 57th minute. A minute later, Burke Fahling earned his 9th caution of the year and Tucson’s first of the match.
It wasn’t too long after when Tucson found life again. Starting with a tricky quick throw-in, Donny Bedoya doubled the home side’s advantage in the 62nd minute, finding space in between Omaha’s back line for a tough low strike outside the box.
The Owls were only narrowly outshot by Tucson 11-9, with the home team having one more shot on-target . The usually formidable Omaha defense just had no answer for the Tucson playmakers, who scored again in 76th minute, with Donny Toia finding the goal himself after recording the assist on both of Tucson’s previous scores. The score was 3-0, tying Omaha’s largest deficit in league play of the season, a number that proved to be too much for the Owls to mount a comeback together this time.
With the result, Omaha suffers just its fourth loss of the season and its second-ever defeat to Tucson. Luckily for the Owls, they will have plenty of chances to bounce back in the coming days, starting with a battle for 1st place against Richmond Kickers on Wednesday, September 14 for Hometown Heroes Night presented by Woodmen Life. They will follow it up with a contest against third-place Greenville Triumph SC for Oktoberfest presented by Family Fare.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and by Head Coach Jay Mims on the field.
