Forward Madison FC and Pumas Tabasco Draw 2-2 in International Friendly

Forward Madison FC took on Liga de Expansión MX club, Pumas Tabasco, at Breese Stevens Field on Wednesday, July 20th at 7:00 pm CT. The international friendly resulted in a 2-2 draw. Forward Madison’s Jeremiah Streng put on a stellar performance at home, notching a goal and an assist in 62 minutes of action.

Forward Madison began the first half strongly as Jeremiah Streng stole the ball in the 4th minute and almost created a chance for the ‘Mingos to score off the counterattack. An injury in the 9th minute forced Pumas Tabasco to sub off defender Juan de Dios Aguayo for Pablo Jaquez. In the 13th minute, the Flamingos nearly got a goal past Pumas Tabasco thanks to a perfect through ball pass from Streng to Rojay Smith. Smith shot a low, left-footed shot at Pumas Tabasco’s Joel Garcia that got saved. At the 19th minute mark, Juan José Machado led his squad on the counterattack and slotted a shot just past the Forward Madison goalkeeper, Raiko Arozarena, giving Pumas Tabasco a 1-0 lead.

The Flamingos got one on the board in the 27th minute thanks to an acrobatic pass from Alvin Jones to Jeremiah Streng, who comfortably headed the ball into the net. With the score all knotted up at 1-1, Streng continued to make his presence felt. In the 29th minute, the Finnish striker dished an impressive pass to Rojay Smith who shot the ball right past the Pumas Tabasco keeper and into the open net. A minute later, coach Matt Glaeser subbed some fresh legs onto the field, pulling Cyrus Rad and Eric Leonard for Mele Temguia and Christian Dean. The remainder of the first half ticked away as both teams struggled to record chances. Forward Madison entered the halftime break leading Pumas Tabasco 2-1.

The second half started off with some substitutions for both clubs. Forward Madison subbed in goalkeeper Parker Smith for Raiko Arozarena and Carl Schneider replaced Alvin Jones. As for Pumas Tabasco, Eduardo Chacon and Rafael Duran subbed onto the pitch for Alejandro Zamudio and Brian Figueroa. Pumas Tabasco picked up a couple of yellow cards in the 52nd and 54th minute marks. In the 61st minute, Parker Smith came up with a huge save on a breakaway to keep Pumas Tabasco stuck at one goal on the scoreboard. Coach Glaeser elected to make some more substitutions in the 62nd minute, subbing in Nazeem Bartman, Abdou Mbacke-Thiam, and Mikey Maldonado for Jeremiah Streng, Rojay Smith, and Derek Gebhard. At the 69th minute mark, Pumas Tabasco nearly evened up the score after a perfectly placed cross was headed just wide of the net. Forward Madison recorded a couple of quality chances and nearly scored in the 78th minute thanks to an exceptional cross from Nazeem Bartman, who pulled the Pumas Tabasco goalie out of the net. At the 84th minute mark, Pumas Tabasco’s Rafael Duran got deep into the box and slotted a short shot past Parker Smith to tie up the score at 2-2. The final six minutes of the friendly winded down quickly as the squads ended up tying 2-2.

Next up, Forward Madison returns to its USL League One schedule with a match against Union Omaha at home on Tuesday, July 26th. After that, the Flamingos will conclude its four-game home stretch with a match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday, July 30th. As for Pumas Tabasco, they’ll head back to Mexico for a Liga de Expansion match against Atletico Morelia.

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Major Moments

1’ early ball over the top but Jeremiah Streng can’t get there before the Puma goalkeeper
5’ Jeremiah Streng is through on goal again but cannot get the angle for a shot and the chance is gone.
7’ now Pumas have a chance on goal from Carlos López but Eric Leonard is there to close him down.
9’ forced substitution for Pumas Tabasco as #44 Pablo Jaquez is off and replaced by #71 Juan de Dios Aguayo
11’ a deep cross to the back post is punched clear by Pumas goalkeeper Joel García as Jeremiah Streng was rising to meet it.
13’ Rojay Smith makes his way into the box after a through ball from Jeremiah Streng, he beats the defender and beats the goalkeeper with a low shot on his left foot but it’s bravely cleared off the line by the covering defender.
16’ Another forced change, this time for Forward Madison, as #8 Drew Conner is off and replaced by #18 Alann Torres
18’ a Yellow card is shown to #19 Justin Sukow for a late challenge
19’ Goal! Pumas Tobasco. A deflected shot fell to #53 Juan José Machado who slotted into the goal to the left of the diving Madison keeper
22’ A shot from outside the box by Pumas Tobasco Alejandro Zamudio is dragged wide
23’ A freekick is awarded to Madison just inside their own half for a late challenge
26’ Omar Islas is just caught offside after a lovely long pass
27’ #9 Jeremiah Streng scores with a comfortable header into an open net after Alvin Jones pulls the ball over the diving keeper
29’ A yellow card is shown to #59 Alejandro Zamudio as he prevents a quick counter
29’ Goal! #11 Rojay Smith passes into an open net after Jeremiah Streng slides the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. 2-1 Madison.
30’ A double substitution for Madison as #6 Mele Temguia is on for #3 Eric Leonard and #5 Christian Dean is in for #47 Cyrus Rad
36’ Free kick to Pumas just inside the Madison half after a late challenge
39’ Yellow Card to Pumas #47 for a high tackle
44’ Corner, Pumas
45’ Corner, Pumas
45’ One minute of stoppage time is added
45+1’ Yellow card to #60 Diego Gallegos

HALFTIME: Forward Madison FC 2 – 1 Pumas Tabasco

46’ Substitution Pumas Tabasco, Eduardo Chacon and Rafael Duran subbed on for Alejandro Zamudio and Brian Figueroa
46’ Substitution Forward Madison, 0 Parker Smith on for 56 Raiko Arozarena,
49’ Multiple yellow cards are shown to the Pumas Tabasco bench coaching staff
52’ Yellow card for Pumas #52 Juan José Miguel
54’ Yellow card for Pumas #68 Omar Islas
56’ Chance for Pumas Tobasco as a low cross comes into the box but goes under the strikers outstretched foot
59’ Good looking chipped pass to Pumas striker who gets there ahead of the Forward keeper but he can’t keep it in play
61’ Forward keeper Parker Smtih with a great save low down to his right from #68 Omar Islas after he makes some space with a step over and zips into the box
62’ Forward substitutions; 17 Derek Gebhard off, #7 Abdou Mbacke Thiam on and #24 Nazeem Bartman on for #9 Jeremiah Streng
64’ Pumas with a free kick in a dangerous position, headed clear
67’ Another yellow card is shown to the Pumas coaching staff
69’ Pumas Tabasco just miss with a wonderful headed chance after a cross from the right. It sails agonizingly past the post.
71’ a couple of good chances for Pumas from crosses from the right
75’ A chipped cross from Pumas is collected by Parker Smith
77’ Corner Madison
79’ chance for Madison smothered by the charging defender
79’ a flurry of chances for Madison
80’ Yellow card Cesar Murillo Jr.
80’ Dangerous free kick whipped in by Pumas but slashed clear by Madison
81’ Another cross runs through to Parker Smith in goal
82’ Pumas substitution, #54 Jose Alcantara enters the field
83’ Yellow card Madison #24 Nazeem Bartman
84’ Goal! Pumas #70 Rafael Duran volleys in after a deflected cross
85’ Yellow card Pumas Tobasco #191 Emiliano Freyfeld
88’ A second yellow and red card is shown to the substitute goalkeeper on the Pumas Tobasco bench
90’ Full Time.

FULL TIME: Forward Madison FC 2 – 2 Pumas Tabasco

Forward Madison FC

56 Raiko Arozarena

2 Cesar Murillo Jr.

3 Eric Leonard

47 Cyrus Rad

13 Christian Enriquez

8 Drew Conner

16 Alvin Jones

17 Derek Gebhard

11 Rojay Smith

19 Justin Sukow

9 Jeremiah Streng

Substitutes: 0 Parker Smith, 99 Coltrane LoBreglio, 5 Christian Dean, 6 Mele Temguia, 18 Alann Torres, 28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, 21 Carl Schneider, 15 Mikey Maldonado, 24 Nazeem Bartman, 7 Abdou Mbacke Thiam

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

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Pumas Tabasco

Starting XI:

43 Joel García (P)

60 Diego Gallegos

44 Pablo Jaquez

191 Emiliano Freyfeld

47 Diego Rosales

46 Brian Figueroa (C)

52 Juan José Miguel

68 Omar Islas