Saturday, July 16th, 2022; 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison will host South Georgia Tormenta on Saturday, July 16th at Breese Stevens Field at 7:00 pm CT. The theme of the match is Bake Night, so be sure to bring an empty stomach as there will be a few local bakeries in attendance (Sweeternative Baking, Bloom Bakery, and Macaroons by Sim)! The match will be the second contest of the season between the clubs, after the clubs managed to draw 2-2 in their first match.
The Flamingos enter Saturday’s match after earning a key three points on the road against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in a 2-1 victory. Parker Smith earned ‘Mingo of the Match Honors in his first start after he shut down the Hailstorm attack, allowing only one goal on 16 shots faced. Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu and Alann Torres both tallied goals to give FMFC a much-needed three point boost up the USL League One table. Looking ahead, Forward Madison will host an international friendly against Pumas Tabasco on Wednesday, July 20th, 2022. As for the USL League One schedule, the ‘Mingos will face off with Union Omaha at home on Tuesday, July 26th, 2022.
South Georgia Tormenta FC heads into Breese following matches against Chattanooga and Greenville. After the game against FMFC, the Tormenta will welcome North Carolina FC for a match on July 23rd, 2022.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records
Forward Madison FC (5-4-5)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-4-5)
Head Coach: Ian Cameron
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu: The 27-year-old midfielder has been on a tear since returning from an injury in late May. Wheeler-Omiunu holds one of the highest passing accuracies on the club (82.5%) and sits second on the team in assists (2), while he’s still managed to dominate on the attack (6 shots and 1 goal). Expect the Forward Madison captain to continue to play a key role defensively yet still help lead counterattacks.
Parker Smith: Smith is coming off the game of his career so far, as the 21-year-old held Northern Colorado to only one goal after facing 16 shots on the night. The California native came up with some crucial saves late in the match to keep the Hailstorm stuck at one goal on the game. Expect coach Matt Glaeser to give the goalkeeper another chance in the box after his strong effort against the Hailstorm.
Alann Torres: The 18-year-old has proven his importance in the midfield recently. In FMFC’s last match against Northern Colorado, Torres scored his first professional goal of his career when he blasted a shot from outside the box that flew by the Hailstorm keeper. The 5’10’’ midfielder has also been one of the most efficient passers on the team, currently possessing a passing accuracy of 85.9%. Expect Torres to continue to be efficient in the midfield for the Pink and Blue.
Key Match Up
FMFC Strikers vs Tormenta Goalkeeper:
The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison strikers of Nazeem Bartman, Abdou Mbacke Thiam, Jeremiah Streng and Derek Gebhard versus the South Georgia Tormenta goalkeeper, Pablo Jara. This matchup should be a good one as Pablo Jara has the second most clean sheets in the league (4), while Forward Madison has the third most goals in the league (20). Jara has been dominating the USL League One this season, helping his team by only allowing 16 goals, which ranks fourth best in the league. Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his squad’s attack ready for an important matchup.
The Forward Madison strikers have been key to the Flamingos’ attack recently, scoring three goals in three critical matches. Jeremiah Streng has taken charge of the attack, leading the team with four goals on the season. In Forward Madison’s last match against Tormenta, Rojay Smith scored a key goal to give FMFC a 2-1 lead. Expect Smith, Streng and the rest of the Forward Madison attack to continue to dominate the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
Keys to the Match
- Use the Crowd to Your Advantage – Forward Madison returns home for a key three-game span after a strong stretch on the road. It’ll be critical for Forward Madison to gain some early momentum against Tormenta to get the crowd into the game. Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his team amped from the beginning and the starting nine should come into the game with a lot of momentum.
- Quick Counterattacks – In FMFC’s most recent match, against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, Forward Madison managed to produce most of their offense through quick counterattacks. Both Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu and Alann Torres’ goals came thanks to quick counter attacks. Expect the ‘Mingos to continue to try to start the break quickly after forcing turnovers against South Georgia Tormenta.
Previous and Next Match
Forward Madison welcomes Tormenta to Breese Stevens Field following a crucial 2-1 win over Northern Colorado. Next up, the ‘Mingos will host an international friendly against Mexican club, Pumas Tabasco.
South Georgia heads into Saturday’s game following a match against the Greenville Triumph on July 13th. The Tormenta will then head home to take on North Carolina FC on July 23rd.
