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Forward Madison FC took on the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC at Severance High School on Saturday, August 20th at 8:00 pm CT. The match started an hour later due to weather not permitting the game to start on time. The match resulted in a 3-1 win for the Flamingos. After a hot start by Northern Colorado, Derek Gebhard scored the equalizing goal and then Jeremiah Streng scored the next two goals to help Forward Madison take down the Hailstorm. 

The first half of Saturday’s match began slowly as both teams struggled to get their offenses going. Forward Madison almost recorded its first chance in the 7th minute when Abdou Mbacke-Thiam tried to pass the ball inside the box to Gebhard, but a Northern Colorado defender managed to intercept the pass and force a corner. The Flamingos pressed the Hailstorm and forced another corner but couldn’t record a shot on goal. In the 13th minute, a tie up in the Forward Madison box led to a foul and penalty kick for Northern Colorado. Mitch Osmond was cautioned with a yellow card on the play. Northern Colorado’s leading goal scorer, Irvin Parra, took the penalty and managed to get the shot past Raiko Arozarena to give the Hailstorm an early 1-0 lead. 

After the early score by Northern Colorado, Forward Madison regained momentum in the 30th minute when Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu played a beautiful cross to Gebhard in the box. Gebhard beat the first defender with a move and fired a shot low and hard into the far corner of the goal, evening up the score at 1-1. With the score tied up, Forward Madison began to control the majority of the possession. In the 38th minute Wheeler-Omiunu started to make a run through the Hailstorm defense until Leo Folla made a dangerous tackle and was issued a red card for his offense. Due to the booking, Northern Colorado was forced to continue the match down a man. The first half finished up as Forward Madison applied constant pressure on the Hailstorm, but couldn’t break the deadlock. The squads entered the halftime break tied at 1-1. 

The second half started with limited action until the Hailstorm striker Jerry Desdunes was issued a yellow card in the 51st minute. Moments later, Northern Colorado threatened the ‘Mingos with a cross into the box, but luckily for the Pink and Blue, the Hailstorm forward shot the ball well over the top post. At the 60th minute mark, Matheus Cassini fired a shot from far outside the box that Penaranda barely got his fingertips to. Less than a minute later, Cassini played a cross to an open Mbacke-Thiam in the box. The striker tried to head it past the goalie but Penaranda positioned himself well to save the shot. Head coach Matt Glaeser made his club’s first substitution in the 62nd minute when he subbed on Mele Temguia for Alann Torres. Forward Madison’s strong start to the second half finally paid off in the 65th minute when Cassini crossed the ball to Cyrus Rad. Rad headed the ball back across the net to an open Streng, who easily tapped the ball into the goal to give the ‘Mingos a 2-1 lead.  

The Flamingos continued to pressure and threaten the Hailstorm after taking the 2-1 advantage. In the 73rd minute both squads coaches made some substitutions to get fresh legs on the pitch. Glaeser subbed Nazeem Bartman and Justin Sukow on for Gebhard and Mbacke-Thiam. At the 82nd minute mark, Cassini sent a ball to Streng, who flicked the ball with his backheal past the defense. The flick gave him an easy  breakaway which ultimately put the ‘Mingos up 3-1. Moments after the Streng brace, an altercation by Trevor Amann after the play resulted in another red card for Northern Colorado in the 83rd minute. Four minutes later, Northern Colorado’s Rob Cornwall was assessed a red card for another altercation after a foul. The third red card forced the Hailstorm to finish the match with only eight players on the pitch. Now down two goals and three players, Forward Madison controlled the momentum and coasted to a 3-1 win. 

Next up on the USL League One schedule, the Flamingos will return to Breese Stevens Field on Wednesday, August 24th for a match against North Carolina FC at 7:00 pm CT. As for Northern Colorado, they’ll hit the road to take on the Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday, August 27th. 

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Major Moments:  

• 4’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 5’ NCO Free Kick
• 6’ NCO Corner Kick
• 7’ MAD Corner Kick
• 8’ MAD Corner Kick
• 8’ MAD Shot Missed
• 12’ NCO Corner Kick
• 13’ MAD Yellow Card Mitch Osmond
• 13’ MAD Foul in Box
• 14’ NCO Penalty Kick, Irvin Parra Goal
• 15’ MAD Shot, Corner Kick
• 19’ NCO Foul, No Card
• 21’ MAD Yellow Card Alann Torres
• 23’ NCO Corner Kick
• 24’ MAD Save, Raiko Arozarena
• 25’ MAD Corner Kick
• 25’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 26’ NCO Corner Kick
• 28’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 30’ MAD Derek Gebhard Goal
• 33’ NCO Shot Saved
• 36’ MAD Shot Missed
• 38’ NCO Red Card Leo Folla
• 5 Minutes of Stoppage Time
• 45+2’ NCO Yellow Card Irvin Parra
• 45+5’ NCO Foul, No Card

HT: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC  1  vs.  1  Forward Madison FC

• 47’ NCO Shot Missed
• 47’ NCO Foul, No Card
• 51’ NCO Yellow Card Jerry Desdunes
• 52’ MAD Shot Missed
• 53’ NCO Shot Missed
• 57’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 58’ NCO Foul, No Card
• 60’ MAD Shot Saved
• 61’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 62’ MAD SUB:
  • Mele Temguia Subbed on for Alann Torres
• 65’ MAD Goal Jeremiah Streng
• 69’ MAD Shot Missed
• 71’ MAD Yellow Card Matheus Cassini
• 73’ NCO SUBS:
  • Lukic, Cornwall, and Amann subbed on for Nortey, Desdunes, and McLean
• 73’ MAD SUBS:
  • Sukow and Bartman subbed on for Gebhard and Mbacke-Thiam
• 80’ NCO Yellow Card Wolfgang Prentice
• 81’ NCO Yellow Card Bench
• 82’ MAD Goal Jeremiah Streng 
• 83’ NCO Red Card Trevor Amann
• 87’ NCO Red Card Rob Cornwall
• 88’ NCO Yellow Card Destan Norman
• 90’ MAD SUB:
  • Cesar Murillo Jr. and Rojay Smith subbed on for Mitch Osmond and Matheus Cassini
• 2 Minutes of Stoppage Time

FT: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC  1  vs.  3  Forward Madison FC 

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Forward Madison FC: 

56 Raiko Arozarena

3 Eric Leonard

4 Mitch Osmond ©

47 Cyrus Rad

10 Matheus Cassini

15 Mikey Maldonado

17 Derek Gebhard

18 Alann Torres

28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu

7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam

9 Jeremiah Streng

Substitutes: 0 Parker Smith, 2 Cesar Murillo Jr., 5 Christian Dean, 6 Mélé Temguia, 11 Rojay Smith, 19 Justin Sukow, 24 Nazeem Bartman

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

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Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC:

21 Johan Penaranda

2 Brecc Evans

5 Leo Folla

14 Arthur Rogers

31 Owen Damm

 8 Nortei Nortey

17 Danny Robles

19 Jerry Desdunes

3 Wolfgang Prentice

9 Lachlan McLean

10 Irvin Parra

Unused Substitutes: 4 Rob Cornwall, 16 Destan Norman, 22 Stefan Lukic,  29 Trevor Amann, 6 Shane McFaul, Evans 

Head Coach: Éamon Zayed

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Goals

Forward Madison FC

• 30’ Derek Gebhard
• 65’ Jeremiah Streng
• 82’ Jeremiah Streng

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

• 14’ Irvin Parra

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Discipline

Forward Madison FC

• 13’ Yellow Card Mitch Osmond
• 21’ Yellow Card Alann Torres
• 71’ Yellow Card Matheus Cassini

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

• 38’ Red Card Leo Folla
• 45+2’ Yellow Card Irvin Parra
• 51’ Yellow Card Jerry Desdunes
• 80’ Yellow Card Wolfgang Prentice
• 81’ Yellow Card Bench
• 83’ Red Card Trevor Amann
• 87’ Red Card Rob Cornwall
• 88’ Yellow Card Destan Norman

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Venue: Severance High School, Severance, CO

Saturday, August 20th, 2022; 8:00 p.m. CT

ESPN+

Location: Severance High School, Severance, CO

Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates 

Forward Madison FC is set to head west for a match against North Colorado Hailstorm FC this Saturday at 8:00 pm CT. This will be the ‘Mingos’ 21st match of the USL League One season and it will kick off at Severance High School in Severance, Colorado. The Flamingos are 1-0-1 against the Hailstorm so far this season and both squads are within a few points of being in the USL League One playoffs. 

In Forward Madison’s most recent match, Alvin Jones scored the equalizer for the Flamingos in the 90+5th minute to notch a 1-1 draw against Chattanooga at home on August 13th. Next up on the schedule, FMFC returns home for a rematch against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, August 24th at 7:00 pm CT. 

Northern Colorado heads into the match against the ‘Mingos following a match against FC Tucson on Wednesday, August 17th. After taking on FMFC, the Hailstorm will battle the Greenville Triumph SC on August 27th. 

Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (6-7-8)

Head Coach: Éamon Zayed

Forward Madison FC (6-5-9)

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

Key Players to Watch:

Forward Madison

Eric Leonard: The Illinois native has been the most consistent defender on the FMFC backline all season. Leonard leads the ‘Mingos in clearances (76), blocks (14), and interceptions (34). The 26-year-old even ranks fourth in the league in clearances while possessing one of the highest tackle success rates in the league. Expect Leonard to continue to do what he does best against the Hailstorm.

Derek Gebhard: Gebhard’s been one of the key pieces on the wing who’s helped FMFC produce chances with Matheus Cassini inactive. The man from Maine has created the third most chances on the squad (14) and sits tied for second on the club in assists (2). Expect Gebhard to play an important role on the attack against Northern Colorado. 

Cyrus Rad: The 23-year-old has seen his role increase since the season began, as he’s taken on more responsibility on the offensive end of the pitch. Rad is tied for the squad lead in assists (3) and he’s quietly been producing impressive defensive statistics all season long. Expect Rad to continue creating chances while still helping to lock down the Hailstorm attack.

Key Match Up

Forward Madison Defense vs. Northern Colorado Defense

The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison defense of Raiko Arozarena, Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad versus the Hailstorm defense of Johan Peñaranda, Brecc Evans, Robert Cornwall, Owen Damm, and Arthur Rogers. The first two matchups between these squads have been defensive battles, so whichever defense is able to shut down the other team’s attack should come away with some crucial USL League One points. In the prior two matches, the clubs combined for five total goals with FMFC having recorded eight total shots on goal while the Hailstorm has only logged seven. 

Northern Colorado’s defense has been locking down opponent’s recently, as their squad has allowed only three goals in its last five matches. A big reason why the Hailstorm have been so good defensively recently has been their goalie Johan Penaranda, who’s gotten hot. Penaranda has recorded two clean sheets in the last five matches after not having recorded a clean sheet since May. Expect Northern Colorado to continue to play lockdown defense, especially against a Forward Madison club that’s scored only three goals in its last five matches. 

On the other side of this matchup is the Flamingos defense, which has been stellar in important matches. Goalie Raiko Arozarena, along with the backline of Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad have only allowed four goals in the squads last six matches. The defense will need to continue to force turnovers and prevent counterattacks, which they did effectively against Chattanooga, if they hope to shut down Northern Colorado. This matchup should be intense as both squads have produced similar team defensive statistics this season. 

Keys to the Match

1. Record Quality Set Pieces – Forward Madison’s offense has done a good job of attempting set pieces in recent matches, however, against the Hailstorm this season, FMFC has only recorded four corner kicks in two matches. If the Flamingos can log at least a few corners and some free kicks near the box, the Forward Madison attack should have no problem scoring goals against the Hailstorm. 
2. Control Possession – In the first match against the Hailstorm, Northern Colorado controlled possession throughout the match, as FMFC only had possession for 38% of the match. In the second match against Northern Colorado, Forward Madison improved and owned 58% of the possession. If the Flamingos can once again improve their control of possession versus the Hailstorm, the ‘Mingos should be able to leave Colorado with points. 

Previous and Next Match

Forward Madison takes on Northern Colorado this Saturday following a 1-1 draw against Chattanooga, thanks to an Alvin Jones 90+5th minute equalizer. After taking on the Hailstorm, the Flamingos’ next match will be against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, August 24th at Breese Stevens Field. 

Northern Colorado gets ready to host the ‘Mingos following their match against FC Tucson on Wednesday, August 17th. Looking ahead, the Hailstorm will hit the road for a match against the Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday, August 27th.

Alvin Jones scored the equalizing goal in the 90+5th minute to gain a point

Forward Madison FC returned home to Breese Stevens Field for a USL League One match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. The match kicked off at 7:00 pm CT on Saturday, August 13th. A back and forth close match resulted in a 1-1 draw. The Flamingos’ strong defensive effort along with a late Alvin Jones goal proved to be crucial in helping the Flamingos earn a point at home. 

The opening half of Saturday’s match kicked off just as the rain in Madison came to an end. Chattanooga recorded the first corner kick of the game in the 1st minute, but Eric Leonard managed to clear the ball out of the box. In the 11th minute mark, Leonard made a perfectly timed tackle in the box, leading to a Red Wolves corner. Forward Madison logged its first chance of the match in the 14th minute when Alann Torres crossed the ball to Jeremiah Streng, who just missed the net. Chattanooga opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Juan Galindrez applied pressure on Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu causing Wheeler-Omiunu to push the ball wide. Galindrez beat Wheeler-Omiunu to the ball and shot the ball into the open net, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead. In the 22nd minute, the Red Wolves starting goalkeeper, Tor Saunders, suffered a non-contact injury and was forced to exit the game. Saunders managed to walk off on his own power, but Chattanooga’s backup keeper, Carlos Avilez, had to sub onto the pitch. 

By the 30th minute, Forward Madison began to gain back some confidence on offense. The ‘Mingos recorded a free kick in the 32nd minute which resulted in a cross to Streng, but the striker couldn’t connect with the ball. The Flamingos continued to threaten Chattanooga as the half progressed. In the 37th minute, Rojay Smith drove through the defense and towards the Red Wolves’ box with numbers. Smith shot a slow ball at the lower right corner of the net but Chattanooga’s keeper was able to make the save. With six minutes of stoppage time until the half, Forward Madison ramped up the pressure. At the 45+5th minute mark, Wheeler-Omiunu flashed a cross across the goal, but Streng couldn’t get enough of it. The squads entered the halftime break with Chattanooga ahead 1-0. 

Chattanooga began the second half with a double substitution, as Ryley Kraft and Nicolas Cardona subbed in for Ualefi Dos Reis and DJ Benton. In the 51st minute, Raiko Arozarena came up with a punch save as Chattanooga started to threaten on the offensive end. A few minutes after Arozarena’s save, Leonard got assessed a yellow card on a continuation call. At the 60th minute mark, head coach Matt Glaeser made his first substitution of the game, subbing in Justin Sukow for Abdou Mbacke-Thiam. Chattanooga started to gain some momentum by the 65th minute, but luckily for FMFC, Cyrus Rad made an important one-on-one tackle in the box to stop the Red Wolves. A minute later as Chattanooga started to get on the break, Mitch Osmond made a potential goal-saving, sliding interception. By the 73rd minute, Forward Madison turned on the offensive jets and started to log some chances. Jones nearly tapped in a cross from Sukow but his shot went just wide. At the 78th minute, Streng attempted a scissor kick off a corner from Sukow but the shot hit the head of a Chattanooga player and deflected out of the box. 

With only ten minutes remaining in the match, Forward Madison applied more and more pressure on Chattanooga. In the 87th minute, the Flamingos recorded a quality chance off a corner as Streng flicked the ball into the box but no ‘Mingos were able to connect with the ball. The referee indicated that there would be seven minutes of stoppage time to decide the match. In the 90+4th minute of stoppage time, Rad crossed the ball to Leonard, who nearly headed the ball into the goal, but Chattanooga’s keeper made an incredible save. Exactly a minute later, Streng crossed the ball across the box to Jones who connected with the pass and scored the equalizing goal for the Flamingos! Thanks to Jones’ goal, Forward Madison managed to escape Saturday’s match with a crucial point. 

Following the tie against Chattanooga, Forward Madison hits the road to take on the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday, August 20th at 8:00 pm CT. On the other hand, Chattanooga will head home to battle South Georgia Tormenta on August 20th. 

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Major Moments:  

• 1’ Madison kick off
• 1’ Chattanooga corner
• 2’ corner headed well clear by Leonard from the driven corner
• 4’ mistake by the Red Wolves leads to a turnover but Madison cannot find the final pass
• 6’ whipped in cross claimed by Raiko’s safe hands
• 7’ Torres’ quickly taken shot outside the box is blocked by the Chattanooga defense 
• 11’ Perfectly timed tackle by Leonard in the box, Chattanooga corner
• 12’ Corner is taken short and the short takes a deflection, Raiko punches against another player, the ball hits the post and is cleared by Madison for another corner
• 14’ Free kick on the wing for Madison after a shove in the back
• 14’ Streng is free in the box from a perfect Torres cross but he cannot find the contact
• 16’ Another free kick for Madison as the same player breaks up a break away
• 16’ Yellow Card Chattanooga #18 DJ Benton
• 17’ Pinball in the Chattanooga area but a Madison player cannot get a clear shot away
• 17’ Goal Chattanooga #19 Juan Galindrez from out of nowhere… AWO gives away possession and heads the then heads the through ball past Raiko allowing Galindrez to score from the angle with his left
• 18’ Madison corner but the Chattanooga goalkeeper is down…
• 22’ The keeper cannot continue and the second keeper is in
• 22’ 25 Tor Saunders off for 12 Carlos Avilez
• 23’ Mitch Osmund heads just wide from the corner
• 25’ Raiko is out well to smother a possible Chattanooga chance
• 29’ Chattanooga offside
• 31’ Free kick just inside the half for Madison
• 32’ Another freekick, this one in a dangerous area
• 33’ Streng cannot connect on a great cross
• 37’ Free kick on the wing, again for Forward Madison
• 37’ Shot from Madison, just outside the box, saved comfortably by the keeper
• 38’ Good ball from Torres into the box but Smith can’t control it under pressure
• 41’ Free kick mysteriously given to Madison in midfield
• 41’ High ball into the box and Abdou Mbacke-Thiam collides with the Chattanooga keeper. Chattanooga gets the free kick but both players stay down.
• 44’ both players are back on their feet
• 45’ 6’ minutes are added at the end of the first half
• 45+3’ Close to equalizing right before the half, Jones cannot quite get the header on target as he’s stretching to reach the cross
• 45+5’ AWO flashes a cross across goal, Streng can’t get enough on it and it’s cleared just ahead of Jones at the back post. Madison corner, which comes to nothing.

HT: Forward Madison FC 0  vs. 1  Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

• Chattanooga Sub at the half – 98 Ryley Kraft in for 8 Ualefi Dos Reis and 4 Nicolas Cardona in for 18 DJ Benton
• 48’ free kick called on Madison in the midfield
• 48’ Alvin Jones #16 with the Yellow Card for Madison
• 49’ Headed over by Chattanooga, goal kick
• 49’ Chattanooga foul
• 52’ good save by Raiko from a fierce shot
• 53’ Good chance but Madison can’t find the through ball
• 53’ good hands again from Raiko to claim the cross
• 54 Great header away from Leonard
• 54’ Yellow Card Madison #3 Eric Leonard
• 55’ Shot sails over from Chattanooga from over 30 yards out
• 56’ Madison foul, in central midfield
• 57’ shot wide from Chattanooga
• 58’ great play from Gebhard, running at the defence then cutting across the box, he plays it wide to Jones who whips a cross to the back post the Streng cannot get his foot to
• 60’ Madison Yellow Card #7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam
• 61’ Madison sub, 19 Sukow on for 7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam off
• 62’ Chattanooga sub, #99 Espinoza in for #13 Ortiz
• 63’ Chattanooga Yellow Card, #13 Ortiz
• 65’ Rad takes the ball off the toe of the goalscorer just as he’s about to pull the trigger
• 66’ Rad again with the crucial tackle, Raiko makes the save from a weak rebona shot
• 67’ This time it’s Mitch Osmund with a goal saving interception
• 67’ Corner Madison, cleared at the second attempt
• 73’ Chattanooga sub, #21 comes on for the injured #6
• 73’ Jones can’t finish at the back post from the eventual cross
• 75’ Madison sub, #6 Mele Temguia on for #17 Derek Gebhard
• 76’ Excellent punch out from Raiko
• 77’ Free kick Madison, centrefield
• 78’ Corner, Madison
• 78’ Scissor kick from Streng is fantastic but blasts into the Chatanooga defenders head at close range… the defender is down for a few minutes
• 84’ Good clean take from Raiko after the Chatanooga player looked certain to find the target
• 86’ Madison sub, #5 Christian Dean in for #18 Alann Torres
• 87’ Corner to Madison…
• 88’ Streng flicks it on and the defender puts it past his own post, another corner
• 88’ This one is so close to getting a shot in as it too flashes across the box
• 89’ Another Madison corner… cleared
• 89’ Streng controls well and comes inside but drags his shot wide. Goal kick.
• 90’ Minimum of seven minutes of stoppage time
• 90+1’ clash of two players by the Chatanooga box, Madison concede the foul
• 90+3 Madison corner…
• 90+4 a great move culminates in a fantastic save from the substitute keeper from a bullet header from Eric Leonard
• 90+5 GOALLLLLLLLLLL! Madison #16 Alvin Jones
• 90+6 Yellow Card Madison bench
• 90+8 Chatanooga have the ball in the back of the net but it’s offside!

FT: Forward Madison FC 1  vs. 1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

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Forward Madison FC: 

56 Raiko Arozarena

3 Eric Leonard

4 Mitch Osmond ©

47 Cyrus Rad

16 Alvin Jones

17 Derek Gebhard

18 Alann Torres

28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu

7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam

9 Jeremiah Streng

11 Rojay Smith

Substitutes: 0 Parker Smith, 2 Cesar Murillo Jr., 5 Christian Dean, 6 Mélé Temguia, 10 Cassini, 19 Justin Sukow, 21 Carl Schneider

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

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Chattanooga Red Wolves SC:

25 Tor Saunders

5 Daniel Navarro

15 Timmy Mehl

22 Aaron Lombardi

18 DJ Benton

8 Ualefi Dos Reis

10 Jose Carrera ©

6 Jimmie Villalobos

7 Rafael Mentzingen

13 Rey Ortiz

19 Juan Galindrez

Substitutes: 12 Carlos Avilez, 4 Nicolas Cardona, 21 Andres Hernandez, 98 Ryley Kraft, 11 Josue Espana, 99 Ernesto Espinoza, 29 Alex Tejera

Head Coach: Jimmy Weekley

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Goals

Forward Madison FC

• 90+5’ Alvin Jones

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

• 16’ Juan Galindrez

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Discipline

Forward Madison FC

• 54’ Yellow Card Eric Leonard

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

• 16’ Yellow Card DJ Benton

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Attendance: 4196

Venue: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI

Referees:

REF: Chris Ruska

AR1: Eric Wood

AR2: Eric del Rosario

4TH: Scott Irwin

Saturday, August 13th, 2022; 7:00 p.m. CT

ESPN+

Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI

Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates 

Forward Madison FC returns home for a match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday, August 13th at 7:00 pm CT. This USL League One match kicks off at Breese Stevens Field following our Garage Sale that will be taking place from 2-6 pm at Gate 1. 

In the Flamingos’ most recent match, Forward Madison lost a heart-breaking match 2-1 against North Carolina FC. Abdou Mbacke-Thiam provided the lone goal for the ‘Mingos and Eric Leonard put on a stellar defensive performance, but it wasn’t enough. Looking ahead, Forward Madison will battle Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday, August 20th at 8:00 pm CT. 

Chattanooga enters Saturday’s match following a 5-1 win over the Greenville Triumph on August 6th. Following the match against FMFC, the Red Wolves will face off with South Georgia Tormenta on August 20th. 

Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records

Forward Madison FC (6-5-8)

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

Chattanooga Red Wolves (8-8-4)

Head Coach: Jimmy Obleda

Key Players to Watch:

Forward Madison

Jeremiah Streng: Streng has made his presence felt on the offensive half of the field for most of the season. In the club’s last two matches, the Finnish striker has recorded a number of chances from just inside the box. Expect the 20-year-old to continue to lead the FMFC attack in shots. 

Eric Leonard: The Illinois native put on an impressive showing on the defensive end of the field against NCFC. Leonard shut down a breakaway, put his body on the line, and did everything in his power to slow down the opponents’ attack. Expect the fourth-year ‘Mingo to lead his squad’s backline into a crucial match against the Red Wolves. 

Raiko Arozarena: Arozarena has been one of the recent bright spots for the Pink and Blue. Since joining Forward Madison, the Cuban goalie has allowed three goals, even though his expected conceded goals sit at 4.92. Expect the 25-year-old to bounce back from the match against North Carolina FC with a strong performance versus Chattanooga. 

Key Match Up

Forward Madison Backline vs. Chattanooga Strikers

The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison backline of Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad versus the Red Wolves strikers of Rey Ortiz, Juan Galindrez, Alexander Tejera, and Rafael Mentzingen. This will be the second time these squads matched up this season, after the first match was very close. 

Chattanooga’s offense has been one of the best in the league this season, as they’ve scored the second most goals in the league (34). The Red Wolves also possess one of the highest goal conversion rates in the league (20%). The Chattanooga attack has primarily been led by Juan Galindrez, who’s tied for the fourth most goals in the league (8). Galindrez has received a lot of help from fellow striker Mentzingen, who is tied for the league lead with 41 shots on goal. The Red Wolves are also coming off one of their best offensive performances of the season, defeating the top-seeded Greenville Triumph 5-1. 

This will be a tough matchup for both sides as Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match with their defense having only allowed four goals in its last six matches. The Flamingos backline has been very consistent this season as Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad have held down the fort for most of the year. The trio has done an excellent job shutting down opponents recently, but they’ll be in for a difficult match against a hot Chattanooga attack!

Keys to the Match

1. Create Quality Shots/Chances – Forward Madison’s offense has had a difficult time logging quality chances recently. The squad has recorded 11 shots on target in the last four matches, which is well below the club’s average shots on target this season. Expect Jeremiah Streng and Abdou Mbacke Thiam to do anything in their power to help lead the FMFC attack and record quality shots and chances against Chattanooga.
2. Limit Number of Turnovers – The Flamingos struggled passing the ball against North Carolina FC, especially in the second half of the match. Forward Madison had its worst passing performance in the club’s last three matches, as the team’s passing accuracy took a dip from 87% against Charlotte to 81% against NCFC. Expect Forward Madison to be a lot more careful with the ball at home on Saturday. 

Previous and Next Match

Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match following a 2-1 loss to North Carolina FC. The ‘Mingos’ next match will be against Northern Colorado Hailstorm on August 20th. 

Chattanooga heads to Madison after defeating Greenville 5-1 on August 6th. Their next match will come against South Georgia Tormenta on August 20th.

Forward Madison FC concluded its two-game road trip on Wednesday, August 10th with a match against North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park. The ‘Mingos 19th USL League One match of the season was supposed to kick off at 6:00 pm CT but a weather delay forced the match to start at 6:45 pm. The match resulted in a last-second goal from NCFC, giving the home team a 2-1 win over Forward Madison. Abdou Mbacke-Thiam provided the singular goal for the Flamingos and Eric Leonard put on a stellar defensive performance, but it just wasn’t enough for the ‘Mingos. 

Both squads began the match slowly with neither team able to get much offense going in the first ten minutes. An early Eric Leonard yellow card and a FMFC foul gave North Carolina a couple of free kicks right outside Forward Madison’s box. Raiko Arozarena made the first save of the match in the 11th minute when North Carolina recorded a shot off the free kick. North Carolina nearly scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute when a good through ball gave Garrett McLaughlin a breakaway. Luckily for FMFC, Eric Leonard managed to speed back on defense and box out the NCFC striker, eventually forcing a clearance for the Pink and Blue.

In the 24th minute, a perfectly placed Forward Madison through ball led to a quick breakaway for Jeremiah Streng. Streng shot a low shot at the NCFC keeper which was saved and deflected right back to Abdou Mbacke-Thiam who fired a rocket of a shot into the back of the net. Thanks to the Senegalese striker, Forward Madison grabbed an early 1-0 lead. The goal pumped lots of momentum into the squad as the Flamingos controlled possession for a while after scoring. At the 42nd minute mark, North Carolina started to make its presence felt on the offensive end. Raiko Arozarena showed off his athleticism and silenced the NCFC faithful when he came up with a huge jumping, catch save off the home team’s corner kick in the 43rd minute. The first half concluded as Forward Madison entered the halftime break winning 1-0. 

Unfortunately for the Pink and Blue, the second half began poorly. A foul by Mitch Osmond in the 46th minute led to a penalty kick for NCFC. Garrett McLaughlin managed to score his penalty kick in the 47th minute to even up the score at 1-1. An injury to Mitch Osmond in the 58th minute forced head coach Matt Glaeser to sub in Mele Temguia. A few more injuries occured over the next ten minutes of the match, causing the game to slow down a bit. At the 76th minute mark, North Carolina started to regain momentum as they controlled possession in the ‘Mingos’ half of the field. Mele Temguia put his body on the line to deflect a shot out of the box and Raiko Arozarena made a crucial save to keep the score tied at 1-1. 

With roughly ten minutes left in the match, coach Glaeser decided to add some fresh legs onto the pitch, as he subbed off goal scorer Abdou Mbacke-Thiam for Justin Sukow. Sukow made an immediate impact as he moved the ball down the pitch and shot the ball just over North Carolina’s top goal post. In the 87th minute, Mikey Maldonado got called with his second yellow card of the match as he tried to make a tackle on an NCFC midfielder. Due to Maldonado’s red card, the ‘Mingos were forced to conclude the match with only ten players on the pitch. Moments after the booking, North Carolina stole the ball, leading to a breakaway. Raiko Arozarena made the right decision to pressure the striker, preventing NCFC from shooting the ball. At the 90+5th minute, Jeremiah Streng juked past a North Carolina defender and shot a ball at the net that barely got tipped away by NCFC’s goalkeeper Nicholas Holliday. In the final moments of the match, North Carolina managed to control possession and get a shot off at Raiko Arozarena. The Forward Madison goalie deflected the shot but unfortunately the ball landed at the feet of Christian Lue Young, who had a wide open net. Lue Young tapped the ball into the open net to give NCFC the game-winning goal. North Carolina managed to hold onto their 2-1 lead and win. 

Next up for the Flamingos, the squad will flock home for a match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday, August 13th. As for North Carolina, their next game will come against Central Valley Fuego on August 13th. 

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Major Moments:  

• 2’ MAD Offside
• 4’ MAD Yellow Card (Eric Leonard)
• 8’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 10’ NC Shot Saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 11’ MAD Offside
• 12’ MAD Shot Saved 
• 13’ MAD Corner Kick
• 20’ NC Corner Kick
• 23’ MAD Shot Missed Goal
• 24’ MAD Goal (Abdou Mbacke Thiam)
• 27’ NC Foul, No Card
• 28’ MAD Yellow Card Mikey Maldonado 
• 32’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 35’ MAD Offside
• 40’ NC Foul, No Card
• 42’ NC Shot Saved
• 43’ NC Corner Kick
• 43’ MAD Save Raiko Arozarena 
• 2 Minutes of Stoppage Time
• 45+2’ MAD Foul, No Card

HT: North Carolina FC 0 – 1 Forward Madison FC

• HT SUB NC:
  • Showkat Tahir subbed off for Oalex Anderson
• 46’ MAD Foul, No Card – Penalty Kick NCFC
• 47’ NC Penalty Kick Goal – Garrett McLaughlin
• 53’ NC Shot Saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 53’ NC Foul, No Card
• 58’ MAD SUB:
  • Mitch Osmond subbed off for Mele Temguia
• 59’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 66’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 67’ NC Foul, No Card
• 69’ NC Foul, No Card
• 72’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 74’ NC Foul, No Card
• 76’ NC Shots on Goal Saved and Deflected
• 77’ NC Corner Kick
• 79’ NC Corner Kick
• 79’ MAD SUB:
  • Abdou Mbacke-Thiam subbed off for Justin Sukow
• 80’ NC Shot Saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 81’ NC Shot Missed
• 85’ MAD Shot Missed
• 87’ MAD Red Card Mikey Maldonado
• 87’ MAD SUBS:
  • Rojay Smith and Derek Gebhard subbed off for Alann Torres and Cesar Murillo Jr. 
• 89’ NC Shot Saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 90’ MAD Yellow Card Matt Glaeser
• 7 Minutes of Stoppage Time
• 90+2’ NC Shot Missed
• 90+5’ MAD Shot Missed
• 90+7’ MAD Shot Saved
• 90+7’ NC Goal Christian Lue Young
• 90+9’ NC SUB:
  • Garrett McLaughlin subbed off for Nicolas Molina

FT: North Carolina FC 2 – 1 Forward Madison FC

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Forward Madison FC: 

56 Raiko Arozarena

3 Eric Leonard

4 Mitch Osmond ©

47 Cyrus Rad

15 Mikey Maldonado

16 Alvin Jones

17 Derek Gebhard

28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu

7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam

9 Jeremiah Streng

11 Rojay Smith

Substitutes: 0 Parker Smith, 2 Cesar Murillo Jr., 6 Mélé Temguia, 18 Alann Torres, 19 Justin Sukow, 21 Carl Schneider

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

————————————————–

North Carolina FC:

1 Nicholas Holliday

2 Christian Lue Young

25 Britton Fischer

6 Gustavo Fernandes

3 Nelson Flores Blanco

8 Pecka ©

44 Raheem Somersall

17 Showkat Tahir

10 Jaden Servania

7 Luis Arriaga

19 Garrett McLaughlin

Substitutes: 12 Shakeem Adams, 9 Oalex Anderson, 4 Max Flick, Martinez, 16 Nicolas Molina, 31 Nicholas Rincon, 24 Sam Terranova

Head Coach: John Bradford

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Goals

Forward Madison FC

• 24’ Abdou Mbacke Thiam

North Carolina FC

• 47’ Garrett McLaughlin (PK)
• 90+7’ Christian Lue Young 

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Discipline

Forward Madison FC

• 4’ Yellow Card Eric Leonard
• 28’ Yellow Card Mikey Maldonado
• 87’ Red Card Mikey Maldonado

North Carolina FC

——————————————————-
Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina

Wednesday, August 10th, 2022; 6:00 p.m. CT

ESPN+

Location: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC

Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates 

Forward Madison FC is battling North Carolina FC in Cary, NC on Wednesday at 6:00 pm CT. The match will take place at WakeMed Soccer Park. This will be the first matchup between the clubs this season.

In the ‘Mingos most recent USL League One contest, Forward Madison tied 0-0 against the Charlotte Independence. Raiko Arozarena had an impressive performance once again in the Pink and Blue, as he recorded his third clean sheet in four league matches. Next up on the schedule, the Flamingos will take on Chattanooga on Saturday, August 13th. 

North Carolina heads into the matchup against Madison following a loss against the Richmond Kickers on July 27th. After the match versus Forward Madison, North Carolina will duel against Central Valley Fuego on August 13th. 

Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records

Forward Madison FC (6-4-7)

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

North Carolina FC (5-9-3)

Head Coach: John Bradford

Key Players to Watch:

Forward Madison

Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu: Wheeler-Omiunu’s defense has been key for the Forward Madison defense. The 27-year-old put his body on the line and made some impressive defensive efforts to help his club shut out Charlotte in the last league match. Expect Wheeler-Omiunu to continue to shine on the defensive end of the field.

Derek Gebhard: The Maine product has shown bursts of athleticism throughout the year and has been one of the most skillful players with the ball. Gebhard managed to maneuver through Charlotte’s defense multiple times in the last league match. Expect the 26-year-old to continue to help boost the ‘Mingos attack as the season progresses. 

Abdou Mbacke-Thiam: Mbacke-Thiam provided a lot of energy and determination in helping create chances for the Flamingos’ attack in the most recent league match against Charlotte. Expect the 30-year-old Senegalese product to continue to help create quality chances for the ‘Mingos going forward. 

Key Match Up

FMFC Strikers vs. NCFC Backline

The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison strikers of Jeremiah Streng, Nazeem Bartman, Rojay Smith, and Abdou Mbacke Thiam versus the North Carolina FC backline of Jordan Skelton, Nelson Blanco, Gustavo Fernandes, and Christian Lue Young. This will be the first matchup between Forward Madison and North Carolina this season. 

North Carolina’s backline has been under duress for much of the 2022 season, meaning this a very winnable matchup for Forward Madison. The NCFC backline has had six matchups this year in which the team’s conceded three or more goals in a game. While their defense has recorded three clean sheets this season, they’ve allowed 218 shots on the year, which ranks fourth-worst in the league. If Forward Madison’s strikers can get the offense going through quick counterattacks and efficient passing, the ‘Mingos should be able to record at least a couple of goals. 

Forward Madison heads into Wednesday’s match with their offense hitting a slump. Before the match against Union Omaha on July 26th, the Flamingos had scored at least two goals in their prior seven matches. Including the Omaha game, the Pink and Blue have only scored only one goal in its last three games. Rojay Smith has been a main force of offense, scoring two goals in the last four games for Forward Madison. If Rojay Smith and the rest of the FMFC strikers are able to get shots on goal, the offense should have no problem getting back into its rhythm of scoring at least two goals a game. 

Keys to the Match

1. Score Early and Often – North Carolina FC has been one of the worst defensive teams this season, currently they’ve allowed the second-most goals conceded in the league. If Forward Madison can score early and grab a lead, the ‘Mingos should have no problem shutting down a North Carolina offense that’s recorded the second-lowest number of shots in the league. 
2. Prevent Quality Chances – While North Carolina’s offense has struggled recording shots throughout the season, the squad has managed to possess one of the highest conversion rates in the league (17%). If the Flamingos can limit the number of quality chances NCFC takes then they should have no problem slowing down the North Carolina attack. Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his team ready to prevent the number of quality chances North Carolina takes.

Previous and Next Match

Forward Madison heads into Wednesday’s match after a 0-0 draw against the Independence on Friday. The Flamingos’ next match will be against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on August 13th. 

North Carolina FC will battle Madison, following a 3-2 loss to the Richmond Kickers on July 27th. After taking on the ‘Mingos, North Carolina will challenge Central Valley Fuego on August 13th.

Forward Madison FC hits the road for a two-game road trip, with the first leg of the trip in Charlotte. The Flamingos took on the Charlotte Independence at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Friday, August 5th at 6:00 pm CT. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Raiko Arozarena showed out and recorded his third clean sheet in four league matches since joining the Pink and Blue.

Forward Madison opened the first half as aggressive as possible. Rojay Smith stole the ball from Charlotte and quickly countered in the 2nd minute. The counter led to a cross that eventually was stolen by an Independence defender. In the 4th minute, a foul by Charlotte led to a free kick for Abdou Mbacke-Thiam. The Senegalese striker crossed the ball into the box and Jeremiah Streng attempted a bicycle shot at the Charlotte keeper, but his shot sailed over the top post. The ‘Mingos nearly scored again in the 10th minute after Rojay Smith crossed the ball across the field to an open Alvin Jones. Jones drove into the Charlotte box and shot at the Independence keeper Adrian Zendejas, but the keeper managed to catch the shot. After Madison’s hot start to the match, Charlotte began to control possession in the Flamingos’ half of the field. Raiko Arozarena came up with important saves in the 14th and 15th minute marks when Charlotte’s attack recorded a few quality chances.

The Independence began to gain momentum in the match as their squad primarily controlled possession until around the 30th minute. The ‘Mingos were inches away from breaking the tie in the 35th minute when Rojay Smith fired a shot at the goal. Unfortunately for the Pink and Blue, Smith’s shot deflected off the goalie and Abdou Mbacke-Thiam couldn’t connect his foot with the ball. Charlotte then managed to clear away the threatening situation. After the near goal, Forward Madison started to steal away some of Charlotte’s momentum. In the 45th minute, an Alvin Jones cross almost reached Jeremiah Streng in the box, but the Finnish product couldn’t slot it home thanks to Charlotte’s defensive presence. The clubs entered the halftime break all tied up 0-0. 

The second half kicked off with Forward Madison pressing Charlotte. In the 47th minute, a quick Mikey Maldonado steal allowed the midfielder to take the ball into the box and shoot at the opposing goalkeeper. While the shot got saved, the ‘Mingos started the second half strongly as the team continued to threaten Charlotte, logging a corner in the 51st minute. At the 60th minute mark, Rojay Smith broke free with the ball, drove into the Charlotte box, and slotted a high shot at Adrian Zendejas, which got saved. The Independence logged one of its best chances in the match at the 64th minute mark, when a Charlotte shot barely got deflected out of bounds thanks to the back of a jumping Eric Leonard. Both squads decided to sub some fresh legs onto the pitch in the 74th minute. Forward Madison subbed in Derek Gebhard for Jeremiah Streng and Charlotte subbed in Illia Shetsov for Khori Bennett. 

At the 84th minute mark, Forward Madison began to apply more offensive pressure on Charlotte. Abdou Mbacke-Thiam took a couple of corner kicks which nearly led to a chance for Eric Leonard to score in the box. The ‘Mingos managed to control possession in Charlotte’s half for the majority of the final minutes of the match, but the squad was unable to get anything past the Independence goalkeeper. Raiko Arozarena made one last clutch diving save at the 90+8th minute mark to hold Charlotte scoreless. Six minutes of stoppage time proved not to be enough as the match resulted in a 0-0 draw. 

Looking ahead on the schedule, the ‘Mingos will conclude their two-game road trip against North Carolina FC in Cary, NC on Wednesday, August 10th. Next up for Charlotte, they’ll take on South Georgia Tormenta on Saturday, August 13th. 

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Major Moments:  

• 2’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 3’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 4’ MAD Jeremiah Streng Shot Missed
• 4’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 5’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 6’ CLT Shot Missed
• 9’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 9’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 10’ MAD Alvin Jones Shot on Goal Saved
• 12’ MAD Yellow Card Jeremiah Streng
• 14’ CLT Shot saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 14’ CLT Shot saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 15’ CLT Shot saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 20’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 24’ MAD Corner Kick
• 26’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 27’ CLT Free Kick Saved By Raiko Arozarena
• 28’ CLT Corner Kick
• 30’ Hydration Break
• 35’ MAD Shot Blocked on Goal Line
• 39’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 39’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 43’ MAD Offsides
• 44’ MAD Foul, No Card
• 45’ MAD Shot Saved
• 3 Minutes of Stoppage Time
• 45+1’ CLT Shot saved by Raiko Arozarena

HT: Charlotte Independence 0 – 0 Forward Madison FC

• 45’ MAD SUB: 
  • Alann Torres subbed on for Drew Conner
• 47’ MAD Mikey Maldonado Shot on Goal Saved
• 51’ MAD Corner Kick
• 52’ CLT Yellow Card Tresor Mbuyu
• 55’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 56’ MAD Save off CLT Shot
• 57’ CLT Yellow Card Shalom Dutey
• 60’ MAD Shot on Goal Saved
• 61’ MAD Corner Kick
• 62’ CLT Corner Kick
• 64’ CLT Shot Deflected by Eric Leonard
• 64’ CLT Corner Kick
• 65’ MAD Yellow Card Alann Torres
• 66’ CLT Free Kick Saved by Raiko Arozarena
• 69’ Hydration Break
• 74’ SUBS:
  • MAD – Derek Gebhard subbed on for Jeremiah Streng
  • CLT – Illia Shetsov subbed on for Khori Bennett
• 78’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 79’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 81’ CLT SUB:
  • Grayon Barber subbed on for Chris Hegardt
• 82’ CLT Handball
• 84’ MAD Corner Kick
• 84’ MAD Corner Kick
• 85’ CLT Foul, No Card
• 85’ MAD SUB:
  • Justin Sukow subbed on for Abdou Mbacke-Thiam
• 85’ MAD Free Kick
• 88’ MAD Shot by Rojay Smith saved
• 90’ CLT SUB:
  • Aryton Paez and Tomas Maya subbed on for Tresor Mbuyu and Gabriel Obertan
• 6 Minutes of Stoppage Time
• 90+3’ CLT Corner Kick
• 90+6’ MAD SUB:
  • Mele Temguia subbed on for Rojay Smith
• 90+7’ CLT Yellow Card Grayson Barber
• 90+8’ MAD Diving Save by Raiko Arozarena

FT: Charlotte Independence 0 – 0 Forward Madison FC

——————————————————-

Forward Madison FC: 

56 Raiko Arozarena

3 Eric Leonard

4 Mitch Osmond ©

47 Cyrus Rad

8 Drew Conner

15 Mikey Maldonado

16 Alvin Jones

28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu

7 Abdou Mbacke-Thiam

9 Jeremiah Streng

11 Rojay Smith

Substitutes: 0 Parker Smith, 2 Cesar Murillo Jr., 6 Mélé Temguia, 17 Derek Gebhard, 18 Alann Torres, 19 Justin Sukow

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

————————————————–

Charlotte Independence:

2 Koa Santos

3 Hector Acosta

5 Shalom Dutey

17 Clay Dimick

6 Omar Ciss

7 Miguel Ibarra

13 Chris Hegardt

11 Tresor Mbuyu

56 Gabriel Obertan

90 Khori Bennett

30 Adrian Zendejas

Substitutes: 99 Austin Pack, 16 Tomas Maya, 24 Grayson Barber, 4 Diego Rocha, 18 Illia Shetsov, 10 Ayrton Paez, 55 Ibrahim Conteh

Head Coach: Mike Jeffries

——————————————————-

Forward Madison

• 12’ Yellow Card Jeremiah Streng
• 65’ Yellow Card Alann Torres

Charlotte Independence

• 52’ Yellow Card Tresor Mbuyu
• 57’ Yellow Card Shalom Dutey
• 90+7’ Yellow Card Grayson Barber

——————————————————-

Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Join Forward Madison for a wine and whiskey tasting event in the Forward Club prior to Saturday, August 13th’s big USL League One matchup against Chattanooga at Breese Stevens Field. This Mixer is a great way to meet and get to know fellow Forward Madison fans in the brand-new Forward Club at Breese.

This $29 ticket package to the Mixer gets you:

(1) Match Ticket

(4) Whiskey or Wine samples of your choosing (see complete list of offerings below)

(1) Wollersheim Chateau Mingeau can of wine

Available Offerings:

Five Trail Whiskey

Wollersheim Whiskey

Templeton Whiskey

Tullamore Dew Whiskey

Bulleit Burbon Whiskey

Wollersheim Prairie Fume

Wollersheim Blushing Rose

Wollersheim Chardonnay

Wollersheim Pinot Noir

Wollersheim White Riesling

This event will run from 4:30pm-5:45pm. Fans who purchase this ticket package will receive early admittance into Breese Stevens Field before gates open to the public at 6pm. Purchase your Mixer ticket pack by using code “MIXER” here.

Friday, August 5th, 2022; 6:00 p.m. CT

ESPN+

Location: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates 

Forward Madison FC is set to take on the Charlotte Independence this Friday at 6:00 pm CT. The USL League One match will kick off at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Independence have beaten the Flamingos twice already this season. Forward Madison’s most recent match against Charlotte ended in a 6-2 victory for the Independence. 

The ‘Mingos enter Friday’s contest following a 1-1 draw against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. Mitch Osmond and Raiko Arozarena earned USL League One Team of the Week honors for their stellar performances against the Hailstorm. Looking ahead, Forward Madison concludes its two-game road trip with a match against North Carolina FC on August 10th. 

Charlotte is ready to take on Forward Madison after a dominant 4-0 win over Central Valley Fuego FC. Following the match against the ‘Mingos, the Independence will face off with South Georgia Tormenta FC on August 13th. 

Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records

Forward Madison FC (6-4-7)

Head Coach: Matt Glaeser

Charlotte Independence (7-7-4)

Head Coach: Michael Jeffries

Key Players to Watch:

Forward Madison

Cyrus Rad: The 23-year-old North Carolina product has seen his role grow as the season has gone on. The left back has been an essential part of the Forward Madison attack recently, as he’s tied for the lead in assists and has created the sixth most chances on the team. Expect Rad to continue to provide near-perfect crosses into the box, allowing FMFC’s offense to continue to thrive. 

Rojay Smith: While the ‘Mingos have struggled to produce chances over the last couple matches, Smith has scored two of Forward Madison’s last three goals. The goals he’s scored have come at crucial times, with one being an equalizing goal and one being a game-sealing goal. Expect the Jamaican native to see his workload increase if he continues to be as dominant as he’s been around the goal. 

Drew Conner: Conner has seen crucial minutes of late, as he’s come on late in matches and has helped the club earn some key points. The midfielder has created seven quality chances for the team in limited minutes and he’s even recorded an assist. Expect Conner to make sure his presence is felt all over the field against Charlotte on Friday. 

Key Match Up

FMFC Goalkeeper vs. Independence Strikers

The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison goalie Raiko Arozarena versus the Charlotte Independence strikers of Khori Bennett, Tresor Mbuyu, and Gabriel Obertan. The last matchup between the FMFC goalie and the Independence strikers was won by Charlotte as they scored six goals in a victory over the ‘Mingos. In the last match, Charlotte got out to a hot start and quickly piled in three goals in the first 30 minutes of action. The Independence strikers dominated the match, scoring four total goals en route to a 6-2 win. All season, Charlotte’s offense has been strong, scoring the second most goals in the league (29), while boasting the second-highest conversion rate (20%). This match against the Flamingos should be more difficult than the prior matches as Forward Madison has a dominant new goalie in net, Raiko Arozarena. 

Forward Madison enters this third match against Charlotte with lots of hope thanks to the squad’s new goalie. Raiko Arozarena has flourished since taking over the starting goalie spot for the ‘Mingos. The Cuban goalie has already recorded two clean sheets and eight saves while only allowing one goal in three league matches. Expect Arozarena to make it a lot tougher for Charlotte to score. This matchup should be a good one!

Keys to the Match

1. Strong Start – In the last match against Charlotte, Forward Madison struggled from the opening kickoff as the Independence got out to an early 3-0 lead by the 28th minute of the match. This upcoming match, the ‘Mingos will need to start the game aggressively in order to prevent the Independence from getting out to another early lead. 
2. Limit Shots on Target – Forward Madison had a difficult time limiting shots on target in its last match against Charlotte. The Independence outshot the ‘Mingos 9 to 5 with shots on target, even though Forward Madison took more shots throughout the match (14 to 10). Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his team ready to limit the amount of shots on target Charlotte takes. 

Previous and Next Match

Forward Madison enters Friday’s match against Charlotte after tying 1-1 against the Hailstorm on Saturday. The Flamingos’ next match comes against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, August 10th. 

The Independence will take on the ‘Mingos, following a 4-0 win over Central Valley Fuego FC. After playing FMFC, Charlotte will battle South Georgia Tormenta FC on August 13th.