Saturday, June 22nd, 2023; 7pm CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison are flying high after back-to-back victories in USL League One. Most recently, FMFC traveled down to Richmond to take on the Kickers on Saturday, June 17th. A goal from Stephen Payne lifted Forward Madison to a 1-0 victory and a big three points in the Henny Derby matchup. The win vaulted FMFC into fifth place in the USL League One table, with at least a game in hand on clubs in the top three spots.
Forward Madison’s opponent for Thursday night, Lexington SC, enters the match in ninth place after a draw with North Carolina FC on Sunday, June 18th.
Coaches and USL League One 2023 Records:
Forward Madison FC (5-3-4)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Lexington SC (3-5-5)
Head Coach: Sam Stockley
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Stephen Payne: Back-to-back goals from Payne, back-to-back wins for Forward Madison. Coincidence? We think not. Payne’s workrates, paired with Jake Crull’s, have provided FMFC the advantage on the wings in most matchups thus far in 2023. Look for Payne to cause Lexington issues in Madison on Thursday night.
Mitch Osmond: The captain of the Flamingos is finding his midseason form in perfect time for the Flamingos. Osmond was crucial in the FMFC defenses’ clean sheet in Richmond, shutting down significant pressure from the Kickers all match long. Osmond and the back line will be tested against Lexington on Thursday, but one of USL League One’s best defensive units will be up to the task.
Derek Gebhard: He may have not showed up on the scoresheet this past Saturday, but Gebhard’s impact on the match was undeniable. Never afraid to take on defenders, Gebhard’s speed and attacking versatility provided inroads for the Flamingos all match long. Feeding off the energy of a home crowd, Gebhard is primed for another solid performance for FMFC.
Key Match Up:
Bernd Schipmann vs Amal Knight
The goalkeeper position could be the deciding factor on Thursday night at Breese Stevens Field. FMFC’s Schipmann is tied for the league-lead with six clean sheets on the season, making 37 saves along the way. Meanwhile, Knight and Lexington have struggled a bit, with only three clean sheets on the year while giving up 18 goals along the way (compared to FMFC’s 9). Look for Forward Madison to come out attacking often to challenge Lexington’s goalkeeper in order to gain an early lead in the match.
Keys to the Match:
- Energy, energy, energy: The energy and effort displayed on Saturday night in Richmond ultimately powered the Flamingos to a massive road rivalry victory. If the energy can be replicated on Thursday night in Madison, FMFC stands a good chance of gaining another three points.
- Control the pace of play: In FMFC’s last matchup against Lexington earlier in the season, Lexington were comfortable and content with letting the Flamingos control the pace of play in the match. With the quality of FMFC’s attack, there should be no shortage of chances for the Flamingos in this match.
Previous and Next Match:
The Flamingos come into this match after a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on the road. Next up, Forward Madison will head back out on the road to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC on Wednesday, June 28th at 6:30pm CT.
