Saturday, June 11th, 2022; 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison will host a match against Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday, June 11th. The match will kick off at 7:00 pm CT at Breese Stevens Field and the theme of the match is Pride Night, so be sure to wear your 2022 FMFC Pride Merch!
In the last match between Greenville and Madison, earlier this season, Triumph took a controlling lead in the first half and never looked back, winning 2-0. Mingo of the Match honors were awarded to Eric Leonard for his stellar defensive performance, stopping a pair of shots by the Triumph on the goal line.
Forward Madison will enter Saturday’s match following an important 2-1 win over FC Tucson on June 4th. Nazeem Bartman and Abdou Mbacke Thiam played key roles in the victory, as they each contributed a goal that put FMFC ahead. Bartman and Mikey Maldonado earned USL League One Team of the Week Honors for their strong performances against Tucson. Next up, Forward Madison will welcome SC Paderborn 07 to Breese Stevens Field on Wednesday, June 15th, 2022 for an international friendly. As for the USL League One schedule, the ‘Mingos will head south to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC on June 19th.
Greenville heads to Breese after their match with the Charlotte Independence on June 4th, which resulted in a dominant 2-0 win. Looking ahead, Greenville Triumph SC will travel to Nebraska to duel with Union Omaha on June 11th.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records
Forward Madison FC (2-3-4)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Greenville Triumph SC (4-3-2)
Head Coach: John Harkes
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Mikey Maldonado: The Texas product has been a key piece for the Pink and Blue all season. In the last few matches, the defender has provided a jolt of energy into the FMFC attack as he’s been aggressive pushing the ball on counterattacks. Maldonado currently leads the FMFC backline in shots taken (4). Expect the 23-year-old to play a key role helping to flip the field from defense to offense against Greenville.
Mitch Osmond: The most consistent Forward Madison player all season has been the Captain, Mitch Osmond. The Australian native ranks in the top two for all key defensive statistics for the Flamingos. Osmond has 23 clearances, 15 interceptions, 15 tackles, and seven blocks on the year. Expect the 28-year-old to continue to lead and dominate the FMFC backline going forward.
Jeremiah Streng: Ever since the start of the season, a bulk of Forward Madison’s offense has come from Streng. The Finnish striker is tied for the team lead in shots (12), shots on target (6), and is second on the team in goals (2). The 20-year-old will figure to continue to be a key piece for the FMFC attack especially in this upcoming match against the Triumph.
Key Match Up
FMFC Backline vs Greenville Strikers:
The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison backline against the Greenville Triumph strikers. In the first match between these clubs, Greenville came out strong offensively and managed to pull out to a 2-0 lead before half. The Triumph outshot Madison 19-4 in that match, with six shots on goal compared to the Flamingos’ one shot on goal. It’s clear that Forward Madison will need to tighten up the defense to prevent Greenville from getting their offense going. Expect Mitch Osmond and Eric Leonard to play a key role in shutting down Greenville’s attack.
Greenville Triumph’s offense hasn’t been as dominant recently, scoring eight goals in their last seven matches. The Triumph will likely lean on Aaron Walker and Jake Keegan for offense against FMFC. In the last match against Madison, Greenville was productive offensively on the wing, so expect their coach John Harkes to continue to run the Triumph offense through its wings.
Keys to the Match
- Limit Set Pieces: The main threat from Greenville in the first matchup was their ability to capitalize on set piece opportunities. If Forward Madison can defend to limit the number of set pieces they give away, they set themselves up for a great opportunity to win the match.
- Start The Match Strongly: In the last match against Greenville, FMFC fell behind early and faced a major deficit in the second half. Forward Madison will need to get their offense going early to ensure they’ll be able to keep up with the streaky Greenville attack. Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his team ready to record quality chances early in the match.
Previous and Next Match
Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match following a key 2-1 win against FC Tucson on June 4th. Looking ahead, the Flamingos will host an international friendly against Paderborn SC 07 on June 15th, 2022.
Greenville Triumph heads into Saturday’s match following a 2-0 victory over the Charlotte Independence. After taking on FMFC, Triumph will hit the road on June 18th to take on Union Omaha.
