The Charlotte Independence came up short on the road Wednesday night, falling 4-1 to Union Omaha in a hard fought match in Nebraska.
Omaha struck first with an early header at point-blank range that slipped past Matt Levy, putting the Jacks on the back foot. The hosts doubled their advantage at the 30-minute mark with a perfectly placed cross, but Charlotte continued to push forward and create chances. Fabrice Ngah nearly cut the deficit in the 35th minute with a strong opportunity that missed just wide of the net.
Union Omaha added another shortly after halftime, but Charlotte kept fighting. Marou tested the Omaha keeper with a rocket from distance that was denied by a great save. Minutes later, he broke through on a deflection, finding the back of the net
to put the Independence on the board. Defender Nick Spielman also came up big in the first half, blocking what looked to be a sure goal to keep the Jacks within striking distance. Despite Omaha’s attacking pressure, Charlotte continued to create dangerous chances, including a Marou breakaway in the 68th minute that nearly cut further into the deficit.
Charlotte finished the night with 57% possession, keeping Omaha under pressure throughout the second half. While the result didn’t go their way, the Jacks showed resilience and energy until the final whistle.
Charlotte still holds strong in 5th place with 31 points as they head into a challenging September stretch. With several key matches ahead, every game will be an opportunity to add points, climb the standings, and continue their push toward the playoffs. The Independence showed fight and energy in Omaha, and the squad will look to carry that momentum forward as the season enters its most important stretch. Come On You Jacks!