Forward Madison Top Tormenta To Move Up USL League One Table

Forward Madison FC battled against South Georgia Tormenta FC at Breese Stevens Field on Saturday, July 16th at 7:00 pm CT. The Flamingos won 2-0 thanks to some clutch late-game heroics by Matheus Cassini and a clean sheet from newcomer Raiko Arozarena. Cassini notched an assist to Rojay Smith in the 76th minute, then scored in the 86th minute to put the game away and move the ‘Mingos up to 3rd place in the USL League One Table!

The first half began with back and forth action, as neither team was really able to control the ball consistently. Forward Madison logged its first quality chance of the match in the 9th minute when Mitch Osmond nearly headed the ball into the goal off a corner kick. At the 10th minute mark, Raiko Arozarena, in his first start in the Pink and Blue, made an impressive save after Tormenta brought the ball into the box with numbers and shot a rocket of a shot at the net. A slow start for the ‘Mingos allowed South Georgia to control possession in FMFC’s half for a majority of the opening 20 minutes.

In the 32nd minute, Arozarena came up with another huge save after Tormenta’s Kazaiah Sterling got past the last FMFC defender. Nazeem Bartman almost gave the ‘Mingos life in the 39th minute when he fired a shot just over the Tormenta goal. As the remainder of the first half ticked away, neither team was able to record any quality chances and the squads entered the halftime break tied 0-0.

Another slow start to the half for both teams allowed Arozarena’s brilliant performance to carry over into the second half, as he made a key save on a Tormenta shot right away in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, in the 52nd minute, FMFC gained back some momentum when Alann Torres provided a beautiful deep pass to Abdou Mbacke- Thiam, who shot the ball right into the top of the post. The shot bounced off the top post, hit the ground and then bounced away from the goal. At the 70th minute mark, Rojay Smith and Drew Conner got subbed onto the pitch for Alann Torres and Nazeem Bartman. The Forward Madison subs made an immediate impact as the squad kept the ball in Tormenta’s half for almost two minutes after the substitution. In the 76th minute, Matheus Cassini passed the ball into the box to Rojay Smith who got past a defender and shot the ball into the far corner of the Tormenta goal giving Forward Madison a 1-0 lead!

Ten minutes later, in the 86th minute, Drew Conner stole the ball in the Tormenta half and passed the perfect through ball to Matheus Cassini. Cassini pushed forward and shot a bullet right past Pablo Jara, giving Forward Madison a 2-0 lead. After the second goal, Forward Madison completely controlled the momentum and nearly scored again after a breakaway in the 88th minute. Five minutes of stoppage time proved not to be enough time for Tormenta as the Flamingos hung on to win 2-0.

Next up for the ‘Mingos, the squad will take on Pumas Tabasco in an international friendly at Breese Stevens Field on Wednesday, July 20th. Looking ahead on the USL League One schedule, Forward Madison will face off with Union Omaha at Breese on July 26th! Tormenta will head home after taking on FMFC and they’ll play against North Carolina FC on July 23rd.

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Major Moments:

3’ Tormenta corner, cleared by the Flamingos
8’ Madison corner after shot deflected off the Tormenta defender
9’ Mitch is close with the header from the corner from Mikey
10’ Huge save from the new Forward keeper Arozarena
11’ low cross smothered by the Tormenta keeper
12’ Mikey wins a free kick in his own half
14’ Arozarena stops the ball on our own line after a through ball evades the striker
15’ Tormenta free kick in their own half as Leonard stops the break
16’ Rad is judged to have pushed the striker going for a header, free kick played backwards
17’ Tormenta #7 drags a shot low and wide to the keeper’s right
20’ Tormenta free kick headed out for a corner
21’ corner cleared and free kick conceded by Cassini as Forward attempt to counter
21’ Free kick caught with confidence by Arozarena
27’ Tormenta come forward with numbers but Madison catch them offside
28’ Free kick to Tormenta and their number 9 flicks his header just wide
32’ another huge save from the big Cuban in goal, corner to Tormenta
36’ Tormenta shot from outside the box wide but took a nick of a defender, Tormenta corner
36’ great punch out by the Forward keeper
39’ Bartman into the box, cuts back but pulls his shot over the bar
40’ Cassini fouled, mid way into the Tormenta half
43’ Great approach play from Forward the low cross goes begging
45’ Madison corner after a mistake in defense
45+1’ Danger in the box but Forward clear, and clear again
45+1’ Silky skills from Cassini to win the throw

HT: Forward Madison FC 0 – 0 South Georgia Tormenta FC

48’ Wasted opportunity as Cassini’s through ball runs out for a goal kick
49’ good chance for Forward but the cut back is just behind Bartman
50’ Good save again from Arozarena from a fierce shot from distance. He turns it over the bar for a corner
51’ corner cleared
51’ great chance for Cassini with an Abdul cut back but he gets right underneath it and clears the stands
52’ Abdul clatters the bar with a great run through, beating the keeper but not the goalline
54’ shot from outside the box after a clear Tormenta hand-ball
58’ FMFC Yellow Card Andrew Wheeler Omiunu
60’ just over from Tormenta with the header after a great cross in
63’ shot hooked high over from Tormenta
63’ Tormenta #55 off with #21 entering
64’ Tormenta corner cleared by a towering Leonard header
66’ free kick after Mitch accidentally handles mid way in his own half
67’ excellent defending from Mitch with a cool header back to his keeper under pressure
68’ Forward keeper is alive to a good through ball
70’ Tormenta subs, #20 on #10 off, and #23 on #3 off
70’ Forward subs, #8 on #18 off, and #11 on #24 off
70’ Yellow for Tormenta #25
73’ Flurry of good possession for Madison but no shots
76’ Goal #11 Rojay Smith! Forward Madison! Assist from Cassini
79’ Rojay shoots from just inside the box and forces a good low save from the Tormenta keeper
80’ Corner taken cleared for another corner on the other side
82’ Forward sub, 9 on for 7
83’ Tormenta subs, 13 for 11, 18 for 7
85’ Rad caught just inside the Tormenta half, free kick
86’ Cassini goal! Drew plays him in after winning the ball off the toes of the Tormenta midfielder and plays in Cassini who finishes with aplomb low, hard across the goalkeeper
88’ Forward corner played short
89’ another big claim from keeper Raiko
90’ 5 added minutes
92’ Streng tries for the third but the defender gets a head on it to divert it just wide for a corner
94’ Maldonado concedes a free kick and after a couple of passes a Tormenta shot flies just over
95’ Full Time: Forward Madison FC 2 – 0 South Georgia Tormenta