Forward Madison FC never quite got it going Wednesday night, falling 3-1 to USL League One leaders North Texas SC at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex. The Flamingos have not had more than four days of rest between games since April, and showed signs of tiredness in a dissatisfactory display.
With a major international exhibition coming up Friday against Hertha Berlin and a hugely important U.S. Open Cup game to be played next Wednesday in St. Louis, Head Coach Daryl shore had to rotate his lineup to find the right fits. Forward fans were able to see midfielder Brandon Eaton make his first League One start for FMFC, and he went on to play the full 90 minutes of the game.
"It's been a hard stretch for us," Shore said. "We're a team that doesn't make excuses, but when you play Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, it's tough and it takes its toll. Our roster right now is not deep. We usually have a few guys on loan to us from Minnesota and we didn't have those guys available to us."
The Flamingos fell behind by two goals early on and didn’t manage to draw level during the rest of the match. North Texas forward Ronaldo Damus latched onto a long ball hoofed over the top of the defense in the 3rd minute, beating FMFC goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre in a one-on-one battle. In the 7th minute, North Texas midfielder David Rodriguez found space in the center of Forward’s penalty area, then rifled a shot that bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
It was Flamingo forward Don Smart, however, who nearly turned the tide of the game when he put FMFC within one with a goal in the 15th minute. Forward Jiro Barriga Toyama had gone past his defender, and his low cross cut out the entire defensive line to set Smart up for an open finish. Smart now has two goals on the season, tying him for the team lead.
Forward Madison FC never quite got it going Wednesday night, falling 3-1 to USL League One leaders North Texas SC at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex. The Flamingos have not had more than four days of rest between games since April, and showed signs of tiredness in a dissatisfactory display.
With a major international exhibition coming up Friday against Hertha Berlin and a hugely important U.S. Open Cup game to be played next Wednesday in St. Louis, Head Coach Daryl shore had to rotate his lineup to find the right fits. Forward fans were able to see midfielder Brandon Eaton make his first League One start for FMFC, and he went on to play the full 90 minutes of the game.
“It’s been a hard stretch for us,” Shore said. “We’re a team that doesn’t make excuses, but when you play Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, it’s tough and it takes its toll. Our roster right now is not deep. We usually have a few guys on loan to us from Minnesota and we didn’t have those guys available to us.”
The Flamingos fell behind by two goals early on and didn’t manage to draw level during the rest of the match. North Texas forward Ronaldo Damus latched onto a long ball hoofed over the top of the defense in the 3rd minute, beating FMFC goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre in a one-on-one battle. In the 7th minute, North Texas midfielder David Rodriguez found space in the center of Forward’s penalty area, then rifled a shot that bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
It was Flamingo forward Don Smart, however, who nearly turned the tide of the game when he put FMFC within one with a goal in the 15th minute. Forward Jiro Barriga Toyama had gone past his defender, and his low cross cut out the entire defensive line to set Smart up for an open finish. Smart now has two goals on the season, tying him for the team lead.
In the end, though, it wasn’t to be for the Flamingos. Despite recording the same number of shots on target (four) as the home side, FMFC saw its defeat all but confirmed when North Texas defender Jorge Almaguer beat Sylvestre at his near post in the 70th minute to make the game 3-1.
"We just weren't ready to play tonight," Shore said. "At the end of the day, it's on me as a coach and our staff to do a better job of making sure we've got guys that are ready to play and from there I'll take it as a coach. But at the end of the day, as a group, we just know that tonight wasn't our night."
Forward Madison, currently sitting seventh in the USL League One table, will have some time off before its next league game – at home on June 1 against Lansing Ignite FC. Meanwhile, the Flamingos will return to Breese Stevens Field to host Hertha Berlin in a major international exhibition Friday night before heading off to Missouri for a third-round U.S. Open Cup clash with Saint Louis FC. If FMFC wins the latter game, it will advance to play a Major League Soccer team in round four.
Forward Madison FC
Brian Sylvestre (yellow ‘10); Christian “Pato” Díaz, Shaun Russell, Connor Tobin [Eric Leonard 46’], Carl Schneider [Brian Bement 65’ (yellow 68’)]; J.C. Banks, Brandon Eaton, Josiel Núñez; Jiro Barriga Toyama, Don Smart (goal 15’) [Zaire Bartley 72’], Paulo Júnior (yellow 42’)
Unused Substitutes
Ryan Coulter, Vital Nizigiyimana, Jeff Michaud, Ally Hamis Ng’Anzi
North Texas SC
Carlos Avilez; Jorge Almaguer (goal 70’), Cesar Murillo, Alfusainey Jatta, Kevin Bonilla; Tanner Tessmann, Bicou Bissainthe (yellow 27’) [Julian Hinojosa 59’ (yellow 84’)], David Rodriguez (goal 7’) [Gibran Rayo 73’ (yellow 87’)]; Arturo Rodriguez [Johan Gomez 81], Ronaldo Damus (goal 3’), Ricardo Pepi
Unused substitutes
Michael Collodi, Héctor Montalvo, Oscar Romero, Dante Sealy
Referees
Adam Kilpatrick
Seth Barton
Andrea Jedele
Jorge Luna Hernandez
Venue
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Attendance
1,103
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on May 24 vs German Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at: https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/tickets.
In the end, though, it wasn’t to be for the Flamingos. Despite recording the same number of shots on target (four) as the home side, FMFC saw its defeat all but confirmed when North Texas defender Jorge Almaguer beat Sylvestre at his near post in the 70th minute to make the game 3-1.
“We just weren’t ready to play tonight,” Shore said. “At the end of the day, it’s on me as a coach and our staff to do a better job of making sure we’ve got guys that are ready to play and from there I’ll take it as a coach. But at the end of the day, as a group, we just know that tonight wasn’t our night.”
Forward Madison, currently sitting seventh in the USL League One table, will have some time off before its next league game – at home on June 1 against Lansing Ignite FC. Meanwhile, the Flamingos will return to Breese Stevens Field to host Hertha Berlin in a major international exhibition Friday night before heading off to Missouri for a third-round U.S. Open Cup clash with Saint Louis FC. If FMFC wins the latter game, it will advance to play a Major League Soccer team in round four.
Forward Madison FC
Brian Sylvestre (yellow ‘10); Christian “Pato” Díaz, Shaun Russell, Connor Tobin [Eric Leonard 46’], Carl Schneider [Brian Bement 65’ (yellow 68’)]; J.C. Banks, Brandon Eaton, Josiel Núñez; Jiro Barriga Toyama, Don Smart (goal 15’) [Zaire Bartley 72’], Paulo Júnior (yellow 42’)
Unused Substitutes
Ryan Coulter, Vital Nizigiyimana, Jeff Michaud, Ally Hamis Ng’Anzi
North Texas SC
Carlos Avilez; Jorge Almaguer (goal 70’), Cesar Murillo, Alfusainey Jatta, Kevin Bonilla; Tanner Tessmann, Bicou Bissainthe (yellow 27’) [Julian Hinojosa 59’ (yellow 84’)], David Rodriguez (goal 7’) [Gibran Rayo 73’ (yellow 87’)]; Arturo Rodriguez [Johan Gomez 81], Ronaldo Damus (goal 3’), Ricardo Pepi
Unused substitutes
Michael Collodi, Héctor Montalvo, Oscar Romero, Dante Sealy
Referees
Adam Kilpatrick
Seth Barton
Andrea Jedele
Jorge Luna Hernandez
Venue
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Attendance
1,103
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on May 24 vs German Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at: https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/tickets.
