Forward Madison Draws Against NCFC in 100th Match in Club History
August 25, 2022 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Forward Madison FC News Release
Forward Madison FC faced off against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, August 24th at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wisconsin. The Flamingos' 100th match in club history kicked off at 7:00 pm CT. Forward Madison ended up drawing the USL League One match 0-0. Eric Leonard led the defense with a couple of big saves to see the Flamingos gain a point in the chase to the USL League One playoffs.
The first half started off with Raiko Arozarena stepping up for the Pink and Blue. North Carolina began the match in a threatening position, but the Forward Madison keeper, Arozarena, made a jumping save to protect the net in the 1st minute of the match. The Flamingos recorded a couple of corners early in the match and nearly scored off one in the 6th minute, when Abdou Mbacke-Thiam's cross connected with the head of Mitch Osmond. North Carolina's keeper, Will Pulisic, made the save to keep the 'Gos off the scoreboard. At the 21st minute mark, NCFC got a breakaway thanks to a great through ball pass from the center of the pitch. Luckily for the 'Mingos, Eric Leonard hustled back on defense and made the tackle to get Forward Madison the ball. After the impressive play by Leonard, the Flamingos started to take control of the match, especially on the offensive end. By the 30th minute mark, Forward Madison recorded its eighth corner kick of the contest. The eighth corner resulted in an interception and clearance for NCFC. The remainder of the first half winded down as neither team was able to record any quality chances in the final moments. Forward Madison ended up controlling the first half in both possession 58% to 42% and in shots (9 to 4). The squads entered the halftime break knotted up at 0-0.
After a slow start to the second half of Wednesday's match, Mikey Maldonado drove through the North Carolina defense and fired a rocket of a shot at the NCFC keeper that was saved in the 52nd minute. Forward Madison continued to apply pressure on North Carolina, so much so that the 'Mingos stole the ball and nearly scored off the counter in the 56th minute. Head coach Matt Glaeser decided to make his first substitution in the 60th minute, in which Nazeem Bartman entered onto the pitch for Mbacke-Thiam. At the 73nd minute of the match, tensions started to rise on the field and the referee ended up having to give out dual yellow cards, one to each squad.
Just a few minutes after the dual yellow cards, coach Glaeser made a couple more subs in hopes of pumping some offense into the lineup. Justin Sukow and Rojay Smith entered the match for Alann Torres and Derek Gebhard in the 76th minute. Forward Madison recorded a quality chance in the 85th minute when Streng dished a pass to Sukow in the box, who's shot just went wide of the net. Both teams had chances at the end in the attacking thirds, but the match ended all square.
Looking ahead following the draw, the 'Mingos will travel to Papillion, Nebraska to take on the USL League One's third-seeded squad, Union Omaha. The match will take place on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:00 pm CT. North Carolina will return home for a match against FC Tucson on Saturday, August 27th.
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