Napoli saw off Union Omaha 2:0 in a USL League One Group Stage fixture on 26 August, a result that keeps the hosts in 11th place while the visitors remain second in the table. The match opened with a yellow card for O. Ciss in the third minute, and it would be a long evening for the visitors before Napoli found their rhythm. To be fair, the home side did not look like beating a team that had won 14 of their 24 league games, but they found a way through.
N. Likulia gave Napoli the lead in the 40th minute, a goal that came after 16 throw-ins and only one corner from the hosts. Union Omaha responded with pressure, earning 16 corners of their own, but the visitors could not find the equaliser before half-time. By then, L. Mastrantonio had also been booked for the away side in the 30th minute.
The second half brought further substitutions for both teams, with Napoli bringing on A. Mesias and N. Likulia in the 58th minute, followed by E. Caceres and P. Botello Faz in the 61st. Union Omaha pushed forward, but when A. Ferrin missed a penalty in the 85th minute, the stadium fell silent for a moment. Ferrin had already scored in the 75th minute to double Napoli's advantage.
The statistics told a different story than the result. Union Omaha enjoyed 62 per cent possession and 88 attacks compared to Napoli's 38 per cent and 64, yet the visitors could only manage three shots on target. Napoli were more clinical, landing six shots on target with 43 per cent accuracy. And here's the thing — many shots with one goal means chances went begging.
Napoli's record stands at eight wins, two draws and 13 defeats from 23 games, accumulating 26 points. Union Omaha sit on 46 points from 24 matches, still second in the group. The result ended a run of mixed form for the hosts, who had won two of their last five matches, while the visitors have not lost in their last four outings.
