Different pitch, same result for Union Omaha as for the second consecutive year Los Búhos would oversee El Paso Locomotive’s exit from the US Open Cup, advancing 5-3 on penalties. An occasionally frantic 120 minutes saw the teams finish scoreless despite a missed Locos penalty, several incredible saves, and a late red card for Noah Dollenmayer that opened the door for the hosts decide the match in extra time. A breakthrough wouldn’t come, however, and the match came down to a well-timed Rashid Nuhu save and a cooly slotted final penalty kick by 17-year-old Mark Bronnik.
Last year, Omaha beat El Paso 2-0 at Creighton University in the Second Round.
Despite being the side in the lower division, Union Omaha came out of the starting gates quickly. Their tenacious pressing led to several shaky moments at El Paso’s back that put keeper Ramón Pasquel under duress early in his first start of the season. The FC Juarez loanee found himself facing a shot in the 2nd minute from Lagos Kunga following a turnover deep in the defensive half that was kept out by the striker’s hesitation and timely defending in front of goal.
That would end up being a sign of things to come for both sides. A stout Omaha midfield would control the game and force the Locomotive back line into mistakes or poorly played long balls, the hosts would attack up the wings, and in the final moments the attack would fizzle out either by off-target shooting or Los Locos finding just enough to keep the ball out of the net.
When El Paso was able to connect their passes together, the danger was very real. The visitors’ first real opportunity to show their teeth came in the 24th minute as defender Nick Hinds worked his way past two Owls to make some space on the left side. With time to place his cross, he found Javier Nevarez, who took the ball on his right foot and blasted a shot on target. Rashid Nuhu’s diving save would be the first of six often mind-boggling saves that would keep the clean sheet intact. Nevarez, on the other hand, would also continue to be a major thorn in Omaha’s side.
Play returned to favor the hosts as they outpaced, out-muscled, and out-skilled an Locomotive team that seemed to be lacking steam. El Paso looked like they had no answer for the attacking creativity of Los Búhos and were playing dangerously close to the fire.
That is until the end of the first half when Nevarez took the ball in the attacking third and slipped past Marco Milanese to take a run toward the box. Milanese was able to catch up just enough to foul Nevarez just outside the penalty area to give El Paso a free kick in a tempting area. As Joaquin Rivas struck the free kick, Nortei Nortey blocked shot with an arm extending from his body. The referee was in perfect position to see the foul and pointed immediately to the spot.
Unfortunately for Locomotive, Amando Moreno’s kick sailed well over Nuhu and the supporters behind his goal. Minutes later, they would have the ball in the back of the net, but that would be ruled offsides. By the time the half time whistle blew, the feeling was that El Paso may have squandered the best chances they’d seen all night.
If the first half was hallmarked by the hosts’ control of the match, the second half would be noted for its chaos. Neither side could build on the positives they’d created in the first half, and the opening 15 minutes were marred by poor passing, turnovers, and a lack of any momentum for either team. There were still the occasional sharp runs and moments of creativity, but the match had gotten more physical as each side tried to break through the frustration and find the opener.
By the time the first substitutions came on the energy and pace had evened out between the teams. Union Omaha continued on their way to dominating the shot chart (32-12), but a heavy majority of those would be off the mark or blocked. Locomotive would make better use of their chances, putting a total of six on Nuhu’s frame, but the Búho’s number one would show his quality time and again.
The match had the chance to turn itself on its head in the 90+3 minute when Noah Dollenmayer would receive a straight red card for a dangerous challenge at the ankles of Marco Milanese. The Locomotive defender was initially shown a yellow card, however, after consulting with his assistants, Referee Esad Omanovic upgraded the card and reduced the visitors to 10-men going into extra time.
With the man advantage, Omaha began the extra period much the same way as they began the first half. In the 91st minute, Brandon Knapp was able to find a completely unmarked Adam Aoumaich inside the Locomotive box, but Aoumaich’s shot would sail over the bar. 7 minutes later, a Ryen Jiba corner would find Joe Gallardo who put a close range shot into Pasquel’s body. The rebound fell to Marco Milanese who put the shot over the bar.
As the second half of extra time came around, both teams ran at each other alternating squandered chances, yellow cards, and the occasional word or two for the referee. Despite their renewed energy and efforts, this match was seemingly destined to end 0-0 and have to be decided by penalties.
Electing to go first, Omaha put their first two penalties into the net, matched by Los Locos. Adam Aoumaich’s kick wasn’t the prettiest in the world, but managed to get in off Pasquel’s glove to give Omaha a 3-2 advantage awaiting Gonzalo Pelúa’s kick. The young Uruguayan would test Nuhu to the keeper’s right, but Nuhu was well on it to put Los Búhos on the brink of the next round.
The two teams would trade penalties bringing up 120th minute substitute Mark Bronnik. Despite his age, the Brooklyn native placed a pinpoint shot in the bottom left corner that left Pasquel with no chance, despite his guessing correctly. The youngster was mobbed by his teammates as he send Union Omaha on to the next round, and El Paso back to the station for the second straight year.
After the match, Omaha’s Dominic Casciato had nothing but praise for the mentality of his team, and of the 17-year-old match winner. “Sometimes when you have that many shots and that many opportunities and the ball doesn’t go in, you start to think maybe this isn’t going to be our night…but the guys have got a real strong mental capacity to break through.”
On Mark Bronnik taking the final kick, Casciato said, “I told him to take the fifth one. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him, he’s a top young player, and he’s going to have a really good career.”
Union Omaha will need every bit of that confidence and mentality as they continue their all-competitions unbeaten run to start the season and look forward to the entrance of the seeded-USL Championship clubs as well as the entrance of MLS first-team sides in the upcoming round of 32. On the other side, El Paso is winless in their first four appearances in the US Open Cup, joining MLS side NYCFC as the only teams in the Modern Era to fail to win their first four consecutive Open Cup games.