Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs Forward Madison FC
Saturday, April 2, 2022; 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: CHI Memorial Stadium
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter and Instagram for live updates
Forward Madison FC will play their first match of the season against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC this Saturday, April 2nd. Kick-off at 6:30 pm at CHI Memorial Stadium. Forward Madison fans can watch the match via ESPN+ or stay up to date on match updates through the club’s Twitter.
The Flamingos are excited to see their new players on the pitch. New signings like Drew Conner, Andrew Wheeler-Ominu, Mikey Maldonado and Cesar Murillo look to provide a new spark to the club. Forward Madison also welcomes back returning players such as Phil Breno, Eric Leonard and Derek Gebhard for another season with the pink and blue. The club will be managed by newly-hired Head Coach and Technical Director Matt Glaeser.
The Red Wolves are no strangers to playing FMFC, playing the club in two matches last season. The last match was on October 30th, 2021, with the Flamingos topping the Red Wolves 2-1. Previously, the teams drew level 1-1 on July 30th, 2021. Last season, Chattanooga finished the regular season in 3rd place in the league, while Madison finished just 8 points behind in 9th.
2021 season statistics showed both teams having a passing accuracy of over 80%. While Chattanooga Red Wolves SC has the upper hand when it comes to shooting accuracy (45.5%) Forward Madison FC has a higher success rate when it comes to tackles and duels (64.3% and 51.3%).
Coaches and Records
Forward Madison FC (0-0-0)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (0-0-0)
Head Coach: Jimmy Obleda
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison:
Mikey Maldonado: Mikey Maldonado had a fantastic preseason for the Flamingos and looks to continue his run of form in the USL League One regular season. The defensive back from Texas in his first year with the club tallied two goals in the club’s last preseason match of the season against Chicago Fire 2.
Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu: Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu comes to Forward Madison after successful stints with Atlanta United and Sacramento Republic FC. The experienced midfielder will look to control the distribution from the FMFC backline to the attack. His calm demeanor and innate vision on the pitch will be key to creating chances for the Flamingos attacking front.
Phil Breno: The fan-favorite from a year ago, Phil Breno returns to Forward Madison hoping to cement himself as the top keeper in USL League One. With 5 clean sheets on the record last season, Breno’s leadership from the back as well as his shot-saving ability from close range will be imperative for the Flamingos success this 2022 season.
Key Match Up
Midfield vs Midfield: Madison and Chattanooga had two of the best midfields in USL League One, and this season should be no different. The Flamingos finished 2021 with the most passes in League One with 12,941. Chattanooga was closely behind FMFC with 12,437 of their own. Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu and Drew Conner are key additions to the Forward Madison midfield who look to build on their 82% passing accuracy from a season ago. On the other side of the ball, returning players Jimmie Villalobos and Ualefi control the distribution for the Red Wolves. With 28 assists last season, the Red Wolves will be looking to improve upon their 23% crossing accuracy to provide more potency in the attack.
Keys to the Match
- Control the tempo: With this being the first match of the season, squads tend to play excited and with speed. Forward Madison will look to slow down the pace of play of the match, controlling possession and the speed at which the match is played. This will allow FMFC to have more possession, which should translate into more attempts on target.
- Communication: Forward Madison welcomed a large group of new players to the roster for this 2022 campaign, which means communication on the pitch will be key. Look for returning players like Eric Leonard and Phil Breno to lead the charge in directing their teammates to ideal spots on the pitch.
- Constant Movement: What makes a squad stand out in USL League One is if the 11 players on the pitch are in constant movement, always looking to threaten the backline of the opposing team. Abdou Mbacke Thiam, Rojay Smith, and Mikey Maldonado are all players capable of causing trouble for Chattanooga with their perpetual motion off the ball.
USL League One Table
Previous and Next Match
FMFC played their last preseason match against Chicago Fire 2, which they were able to win 4-1. Next up for the Flamingos is their U.S. Open Cup home match against Cleveland SC on April 6th at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Chattanooga Red Wolves FC wrapped up their preseason with a match against Columbus Crew that ended in a 1-2 defeat. The Red Wolves will have to face Louisville City in the U.S. Open Cup on April 6th at 6:30 p.m. CT.
