Thursday, June 23rd, 2022; 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison is back at home for a midweek clash against USL League One league-leaders Richmond Kickers on Thursday, June 23rd at 7pm. This is the second matchup of the year for the two clubs, with FMFC taking home 3 points on the road in Richmond on May 7th.
Forward Madison comes into Thursday’s match on a four match unbeaten run in USL League One play. Most recently, FMFC drew 2-2 on June 19th at South Georgia Tormenta FC. Prior to that match, Forward hosted its first international friendly of the season against SC Paderborn 07 on June 16th. The Flamingos recent good run of form has also seen its players recognized for their stellar performances. Mikey Maldonado was awarded both Team of the Week and Player of the Week honors for USL League One this past Monday.
Looking ahead, FMFC will begin a two match roadtrip against Charlotte Independence on Sunday, June 26th at 5pm.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records
Forward Madison FC (3-5-3)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Richmond Kickers (5-3-3)
Head Coach: Darren Sawatzky
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Mikey Maldonado: The Texas-native has been on a tear as of late, being awarded Team of the Week and Player of the Week honors for his goal and overall fantastic performance against South Georgia Tormenta. Most notably, Maldonado’s presence has been felt in the attacking third, cutting in from the wing to make darting, dangerous runs into the box. Look for Maldonado to play a key role in picking apart the Richmond defense this Thursday.
Derek Gebhard: Derek Gebard returned to the FMFC starting XI this past Sunday and made an impressive impact on the match, specifically in his defensive duties. This is a stark difference from 2021, when Gebhard played in more of an attacking role for the Flamingos. Gebhard will continue to use his defensive skill set to solidify a backline that has been solid thus far in USL League One play.
Key Match Up
FMFC Attack vs Richmond Attack:
This contest has the chance to be a high-powered offensive showdown. It’s no secret that Richmond has all the keys offensively to outscore their opponents by multiple goals every match. That said, Richmond has not shown this consistently yet, giving the Flamingos a big opportunity to gain three points at home this Thursday. Be on the lookout for a fast start from FMFC, looking to build an early lead and expand on it as the game progresses. The FMFC backline will have their hands full with the likes of Emiliano Terzaghi and Nil Vinyals looking to provide shots for Richmond.
Keys to the Match
- Corner Defense: A continued area for growth for the Flamingos is defending set pieces and corners specifically. Mitch Osmond and Eric Leonard will need to continue to be vocal on the pitch, organizing the squad to defend these dangerous opportunities.
- Start Hot: Richmond has been a streaky side all season thus far that gains a lot of confidence from going up early in the match. If the Flamingos can grab an early goal against the Kickers, momentum should be on the side of the home team the rest of the match and help propel FMFC to a crucial three points.
Previous and Next Match
Forward Madison heads on a two match away trip to Charlotte and Northern Colorado following the conclusion of Thursday’s match.
Richmond continues their away trip on Wednesday, June 29th against FC Tucson.
