Forward Madison Scores 70' Equalizer to Draw Against Union Omaha

Forward Madison FC’s second match of the USL League One season ended in a 2-2 draw to Union Omaha at Breese Stevens Field. The Flamingos home opener against the reigning champs began at 7:06 pm CT. The first half went back and forth from the start. Nazeem Bartman and the Flamingos got a quality chance early in the match thanks to an exceptional cross from Mikey Maldonado. At the 15th minute mark, Omaha got on the scoreboard after a rebound attempt that deflected in the Owls’ favor. The half continued slowly until the 36th minute mark, where Derek Gebhard managed to get past a couple Omaha defenders to draw a free kick in the box for the ‘Mingos. Audi Jepson buried the penalty kick to knot up the match at 1-1. At the very end of the half, Union Omaha secured a corner, which allowed them to punch in a goal to take a 2-1 lead into the break.

The second half started slowly, with neither team able to grab any momentum. After Omaha received a yellow card, the Flamingos capitalized on the penalty chance in the 70th minute, as Jeremiah Streng kicked in a deflection rebound for the 2-2 equalizing goal. Coach Matt Glaeser looked to build off the momentum as he subbed in Rojay Smith for Derek Gebhard after the goal. With the score knotted up late in the match, Union Omaha had an opportunity late to take the lead. Phil Breno and the Flamingos came up with a big defensive stop in the 90+5’ minute to hold Omaha scoreless in the second half and notch the draw.

“[I’m] pleased that the guys stuck with it,” Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “We created a lot of chances, I’m really pleased with the resilience. I think it’s a game that we’ll look back and be disappointed that we didn’t win the match.”

Goalscorer Jeremiah Streng explained his feelings after his equalizing goal in the second half. “Amazing feeling to be honest, I haven’t played much in the last couple months and it felt really good to score a goal and at least get one point against really good opposition.”

“Tremendous character from the squad…we came out with aggression in the second half and we were pushing for the goal.”

As for the next match, the Flamingos will head to Arizona to take on FC Tucson at Kino North Stadium on Saturday, April 16th at 9:00 pm CT. Forward Madison will then host a 3rd Round U.S. Open match against MLS club Minnesota United FC on Wednesday, April 20th.

Major Moments:

8’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
9’ OMA – Corner Kick
10’ OMA FOUL – Free Kick Madison
13’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
15’ OMA GOAL – Hugo Kametani
16’ OMA FOUL – Free Kick Madison
17’ MAD – Corner Kick
19’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
26’ MAD CARD – Nazeem Bartman Yellow Card
28’ OMA FOUL – Free Kick Madison
29’ MAD Shot – Abdou Mbacke Thiam
30’ MAD CARD – Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
35’ OMA FOUL – Free Penalty Kick for Audi Jepson
36’ MAD GOAL – Audi Jepson (Free Kick)
38’ MAD CARD – Eric Leonard Yellow Card
42’ MAD – Shot on Goal Derek Gebhard
45+3’ OMA – Corner Kick
45+3’ OMA GOAL – John Scearce
1st Half Stoppage Time: 3 minutes
HALFTIME:
- MAD SUB – Nazeem Bartman and Cesar Murillo subbed off for Jeremiah Streng and Cyrus Rad
48’ OMA CARD – Conor Doyle Yellow Card
51’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
53’ MAD Shot on Goal Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
56’ OMA FOUL – Free Kick Madison
57’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
57’ MAD CARD – Mikey Maldonado Yellow Card
59’ OMA Shot On Goal
61’ MAD FOUL – Free Kick Omaha
66’ MAD SUB – Audi Jepson subbed off for Matheus Cassini
67’ OMA CARD – Joe Brito Yellow Card
68’ MAD Shot on Goal Jeremiah Streng
70’ MAD GOAL – Jeremiah Streng
71’ MAD SUB – Derek Gebhard subbed off for Rojay Smith
74’ OMA Shot on Goal
75’ MAD Shot on Goal
76’ OMA Corner Kick
77’ OMA FOUL – Free Kick Madison
79’ MAD Corner Kick
81‘ OMA SUB – Joe Brito and Dion Acoff subbed off for Ricardo Rivera and Giovanni Montesdeoca
85‘ MAD SUB – Abdou Mbacke Thiam subbed off for Justin Sukow
88‘ OMA SUB – Hugo Kametani subbed off for Gabriel Claudio
88’ OMA Corner Kick, OMA Shot on Goal
2nd Half Stoppage Time: 3 minutes
90+1’ OMA Shot on Goal
90+4’ OMA SUB John Scearce subbed off for Alex Bruce
90+5’ OMA Shot on Goal
90+5’ OMA Corner Kick
END OF GAME