Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023; 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Regal Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
It’s a quick turnaround for Forward Madison, as they transition from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home against Charlotte to a road matchup against USL League One newcomers One Knoxville on Wednesday night at 6pm CT.
Forward Madison enter the match sitting in 9th place, but with the least games played thus far in the season amongst USL League One squads. Knoxville sits in 7th place after gaining three important points against Central Valley Fuego in Fresno this past Saturday. This will be both clubs first matchup against one another in any competition.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records:
Forward Madison FC (1-0-3)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
One Knoxville SC (2-2-1)
Head Coach: Mark McKeever
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Jayden Onen: After serving the one match suspension for his red card against Greenville in the Home Opener, Onen is expected to return to the starting lineup against Knoxville. Look for Onen to provide a spark to the Forward Madison attack against a Knoxville defense that has looked vulnerable at times in the early season.
Isidro Martinez: Martinez was all over the pitch against Charlotte this past weekend, creating opportunities while also tracking back and defending well for the Flamingos. Martinez currently leads USL League One with 14 chances created so far this season and will seek to continue adding to that number against Knoxville.
Jacob Crull: Crull, and his counterpart on the other side of the pitch, Stepen Payne, stretched the Charlotte defense with their attacking runs from the back. Look for balls to come into the box from the wings, with Crull being a major supplier.
Key Match Up:
Isidro Martinez vs Derek Waldeck
Two of the league’s best chance creators go head-to-head on Wednesday night. Waldeck is tied third in the league with 37 crosses played, to Martinez’s 19. Martinez has been more efficient with his distribution, boasting 14 chances created to Waldeck’s 8. With both teams coming off of matches this past weekend, early chance creation will be key in this matchup.
Keys to the Match:
- Pace of Play: Legs will be tired for both squads on Wednesday night, with only a few days of recovery for both squads since their last matches. Be on the lookout for Forward to control the pace of play, methodically working their way into the match and controlling possession.
- Convert Set Piece Opportunities: While they haven’t been very prevalent for the Flamingos in the early season, the height of Chaney and Osmond will present an opportunity for FMFC to take advantage of set pieces. Knoxville has 82 fouls conceded thus far this season, so the chances are primed to occur in this match.
- Put Pressure On Early- In a match that is expected to be tight, an early goal would provide the perfect start on the road for FMFC. Derek Gebhard, Jayden Onen, and Christian Chaney are all capable of scoring early, look for the Flamingos to put pressure on the Knoxville defense right after the whistle for the start of the match.
Previous and Next Match:
The Flamingos come into this match after drawing 0-0 with league-leaders Charlotte Independence on April 29th. Next up, Forward Madison stays on the road with a trip to North Carolina FC on Saturday, May 13th at 6pm CT.
