Goals from Nazeem Bartman, Jacob Crull, and Christian Chaney see FMFC gain three points
MADISON, WI: Forward Madison FC returned home for a match at Breese Stevens Field against Lexington SC on Thursday, June 22nd. Before the match started, Forward Madison released its 2023 “Mingoverse” Alterternate Kit, a reversible and 3-D kit that features imagery inspired by flamingos and the state of Wisconsin. The kit is available now in-store and online. Additionally, Forward Madison fans unofficially broke the world record for most people standing on one leg at once at halftime of the match.
The match was level to start, with both teams trading possession and feeling the game out. The breakthrough for FMFC came in the 18th minute, when the ‘Mingos went on counterattack with Jayden Onen leading the charge. Onen laid the ball off to Bartman just outside of the box, who was able to finesse it into the corner for the goal and the lead. With the lead and the momentum, FMFC searched for a second goal. Off of a set piece, Jacob Crull fired a shot past the Lexington keeper in the 35th minute to double the Flamingos lead. The elation from the second goal only lasted a short while, as Nico Brown got one back for Lexington in the 38th minute. Right before the clock struck 45’, Christian Chaney took the ball off a Lexington defender and beat the goalie one-on-one to regain the two goal advantage. The teams went into the break with FMFC up 3-1.
Lexington SC came out of the second half on the front foot, pressing the ‘Mingos backline. Nico Brown added a second goal off a left footed shot from outside the box in the 60th minute. A 64th minute red card issued to Maruo Cichero left Forward Madison down a man, trying to hold onto the 3-2 lead for the last quarter of the match. FMFC substitutes Robert Screen, Francis Jno-Baptiste, and Eric Conerty helped provide the defensive solidity the ‘Mingos needed to pull out the 3-2 victory in front of a boisterous Breese Stevens Field crowd.
“I think we see the way the team works, the way they fight for one another,” FMFC Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “It’s just about getting on the grind and working to defend whatever it takes.”
“We had the resilience tonight to bounce back after receiving the red card,” Glaeser said. “That’s a game we’re losing in the past, yet the guys refused to let that happen tonight.”
“We’re not done,” FMFC forward Nazeem Bartman said. “The mentality is there in terms of sticking together and working for one another.”
“It’s really rewarding because of the work every single week we’re putting in to defend and attack,” FMFC attacker Christian Chaney said. “It just shows that we’re all bought into the system and we’re working as a team, fighting for one another.”
Next up for Forward Madison is a road tilt against South Georgia Tormenta FC on Wednesday, June 28th at 6:30pm CT. The next home match for FMFC falls on Saturday, July 8th against Central Valley Fuego FC at 7pm CT. Tickets for that match can be purchased here.
