
Forward Madison FC opened their season traveling to Chattanooga, Tennessee to take on the Red Wolves, who finished the USL League One regular season in third place last season. Forward Madison’s season opener kicked off at 6:30 pm CT and took place at CHI Memorial Stadium. The Red Wolves and Flamingos stayed fairly level for most of the first half with Phil Breno making some crucial stops at the 20th and 28th minutes to keep the game knotted up at 0-0. Chattanooga’s Jimmie Villalobos opened up the scoring with a goal in the 40th minute to help the Red Wolves take a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
To start the second half, Coach Matt Glaeser subbed in Matheus Cassini and Nazeem Bartman for Rojay Smith and Audi Jepson to boost some energy into the squad. At the 54th minute mark, Phil Breno made a massive save on a one-on-one breakaway to keep the score at 1-0. Forward Madison managed to keep possession of the ball mostly on the opponent’s side of the field around the 60th minute mark, with Nazeem Bartman nearly scoring on a shot attempt at the 63rd minute. The game went back and forth as Chattanooga slowed down the game with a few stoppages happening after the 80th minute mark. With five minutes of stoppage time added on, Forward Madison managed to string together an attack which led to an equalizing goal by Nazeem Bartman. The Flamingos made the comeback and concluded their season opener with a 1-1 draw.
“I thought the second half was quite a bit better,” Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “We were moving the ball a little bit more quickly and were able to get into their half to create a couple chances…This is a big point for us at the end of the day.”
“These are the games that you’re going to look back on and be like dang, even if we didn’t play well we found a way to do it,” FMFC goalkeeper Phil Breno said.
Goalscorer Nazeem Bartman explained his emotions after scoring the equalizing goal. “My dad passed away two years ago on March 30th…So equalizing for the team to get a point just celebrating my dad’s two year anniversary since he passed.”
As for the road ahead, the Flamingos will go on to battle Cleveland SC in the US Open Cup at Breese Stevens Stadium on Wednesday, April 6th. Forward Madison will then take on Union Omaha in their home opener on Saturday, April 9th.
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Major Moments:
- 19’ CHA FOUL – Devin Benton – Yellow Card
- 40’ CHA GOAL – Jimmie Villalobos
- Halftime SUBS – Matheus Cassini and Nazeem Bartman for Rojay Smith and Audi Jepson
- 47’ MAD FOUL – Cesar Murrilo – Yellow Card
- 65’ CHA SUB – Angel España subbed off for Moe Espinoza
- 68’ MAD FOUL – Derek Gebhard – Yellow Card
- 70’ MAD SUB – Derek Gebhard subbed off for Justin Sukow
- 74’ CHA FOUL – Brian Bement – Yellow Card
- 75’ MAD FOUL – Matheus Cassini – Yellow Card
- 78’ MAD SUB – Christian Enriquez subbed off for Jeremiah Streng
- 83’ CHA SUB – Rey Ortiz subbed off for Pedro Hernandez
- 90’ CHA SUB – Aaron Lombardi subbed off for Josue Cartagena
- 92’ CHA FOUL – Pedro Hernandez – Yellow Card
- 95’ MAD GOAL – Nazeem Bartman Goal
Forward Madison FC
1 Phil Breno
2 Cesar Murillo Jr.
3 Eric Leonard
4 Mitch Osmond C
7 Abdou Mbacke Thiam
11 Rojay Smith
13 Christian Enriquez
15 Mikey Maldonado
17 Derek Gebhard
28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
29 Audi Jepson
Subs: Parker Smith, Jeremiah Streng, Matheus Cassini, Alann Torres, Justin Sukow, Nazeem Bartman, Cyrus Rad
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Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
25 Tor Saunders
22 Aaron Lombardi
2 Jorge Luna
23 Sebastian Capozucchi
18 Devin Benton
11 Angel España
10 José Carrera-Garcia C
6 Jimmie Villalobos
13 Rey Ortiz
41 Brian Bement
7 Rafael Mentzingen
Subs: Carlos Avilez, Pedro Hernandez, David Texeira, Josue Cartagena, Jonny Guadarrama, Nicolas Cardona, Espinoza
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Goals
Forward Madison
90+5’ Nazeem Bartman
Chattanooga
40’ Villalobos
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Discipline
Forward Madison
47’ Cesar Murrilo Yellow Card
68’ Derek Gebhard Yellow Card
Chattanooga
19’ Devin Benton Yellow Card
74’ Brian Bement Yellow Card
92’ Pedro Hernandez Yellow Card
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Referee Name: Benjamin Mayer
Assistants: Kevin Huet, Logan Reeves
Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium, Chattanooga TN
Attendance: 2,618