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USL1 Forward Madison FC

Forward Madison FC and Union Omaha Draw as the 'Mingos Move into 4th Place

July 26, 2022 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Forward Madison FC News Release


Forward Madison FC took on Union Omaha at Breese Stevens Field on Tuesday, July 26th at 7:00 pm CT. The match resulted in a 0-0 draw, as Raiko Arozarena recorded his second consecutive clean sheet in USL League One play.

The first half of the match kicked off with plenty of early fouls. Omaha began the game high pressing Forward Madison and forcing a couple of early turnovers. Union Omaha recorded the first chance of the match in the 5th minute when a winger crossed the ball inside the box and Alex Touche headed the ball just over the top crossbar. Forward Madison recorded its first set piece opportunity of the match at the 11th minute mark, unfortunately for the 'Mingos, the free kick was intercepted by Omaha. In the 18th minute, Mikey Maldonado managed to maneuver his way down the field and help the Flamingos control possession in Omaha's half for a brief stint, resulting in successive corner kicks for Forward Madison. The teams went back and forth for the next 10 minutes with neither team able to record any shots.

Union Omaha picked up its first card of the match in the 35th minute, when Isaac Bawa slid into an FMFC striker. A minute later, Alann Torres picked up a yellow card, giving Omaha a set piece opportunity near midfield. Forward Madison nearly got one on the scoreboard in the 45th minute when Cyrus Rad crossed the ball into the box to Matheus Cassini, who headed the ball just over Omaha's top post. With six minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the first half, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu decided to be more aggressive. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Wheeler-Omiunu drove to the edge of the box and fired a shot over the head of Omaha's goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu. Raiko Arozarena came up with his first big save of the match in the 5th minute of stoppage time to keep the score tied at 0-0 heading into the half.

The second half of the defensive battle opened with a substitution by coach Matt Glaeser. Christian Dean subbed into the match, replacing FMFC defender Cyrus Rad. The beginning of the second half went back and forth until Omaha nearly scored at the 61st minute mark. Mitch Osmond made a sliding block to get the ball out of the box and prevent Union Omaha from scoring. In the 65th minute, coach Glaeser switched up his lineup, subbing Drew Conner and Rojay Smith into the match for Nazeem Bartman and Alann Torres. Glaeser then subbed in Jeremiah Streng for Abdou Mbacke-Thiam in the 73rd minute. Both clubs struggled to create opportunities as the time ticked away in the second half.

At the 79th minute mark, Jeremiah Streng drove right through the middle of the Omaha backline but his shot sailed right over the top of the goal. Six minutes later, FMFC logged another quality chance when Rojay Smith got into the Omaha box and juked a defender before taking a curling shot that barely went over the top right corner of the post. With the score still tied at 0, the referee's indicated seven minutes of stoppage time to decide the match. Raiko Arozarena came up with a couple of massive saves in the 5th and 6th minutes of stoppage time to keep Omaha stuck at zero. In the 7th minute of stoppage time, Mikey Maldonado placed a free kick in the box but Rojay Smith was unable to get a header past Nuhu. Both goalies put on a master class as neither team was able to score in stoppage time. The match resulted in a 0-0 draw as FMFC moved up and into 4th Place in the USL League One table.

Looking ahead, Forward Madison will battle Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC at Breese on Saturday in a crucial USL League One match. After taking on the Hailstorm, the 'Mingos will battle the Charlotte Independence on August 5th. As for Union Omaha's upcoming schedule, they'll take on Chattanooga on July 30th.

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