Friday, August 5th, 2022; 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison FC is set to take on the Charlotte Independence this Friday at 6:00 pm CT. The USL League One match will kick off at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Independence have beaten the Flamingos twice already this season. Forward Madison’s most recent match against Charlotte ended in a 6-2 victory for the Independence.
The ‘Mingos enter Friday’s contest following a 1-1 draw against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. Mitch Osmond and Raiko Arozarena earned USL League One Team of the Week honors for their stellar performances against the Hailstorm. Looking ahead, Forward Madison concludes its two-game road trip with a match against North Carolina FC on August 10th.
Charlotte is ready to take on Forward Madison after a dominant 4-0 win over Central Valley Fuego FC. Following the match against the ‘Mingos, the Independence will face off with South Georgia Tormenta FC on August 13th.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records
Forward Madison FC (6-4-7)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Charlotte Independence (7-7-4)
Head Coach: Michael Jeffries
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Cyrus Rad: The 23-year-old North Carolina product has seen his role grow as the season has gone on. The left back has been an essential part of the Forward Madison attack recently, as he’s tied for the lead in assists and has created the sixth most chances on the team. Expect Rad to continue to provide near-perfect crosses into the box, allowing FMFC’s offense to continue to thrive.
Rojay Smith: While the ‘Mingos have struggled to produce chances over the last couple matches, Smith has scored two of Forward Madison’s last three goals. The goals he’s scored have come at crucial times, with one being an equalizing goal and one being a game-sealing goal. Expect the Jamaican native to see his workload increase if he continues to be as dominant as he’s been around the goal.
Drew Conner: Conner has seen crucial minutes of late, as he’s come on late in matches and has helped the club earn some key points. The midfielder has created seven quality chances for the team in limited minutes and he’s even recorded an assist. Expect Conner to make sure his presence is felt all over the field against Charlotte on Friday.
Key Match Up
FMFC Goalkeeper vs. Independence Strikers
The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison goalie Raiko Arozarena versus the Charlotte Independence strikers of Khori Bennett, Tresor Mbuyu, and Gabriel Obertan. The last matchup between the FMFC goalie and the Independence strikers was won by Charlotte as they scored six goals in a victory over the ‘Mingos. In the last match, Charlotte got out to a hot start and quickly piled in three goals in the first 30 minutes of action. The Independence strikers dominated the match, scoring four total goals en route to a 6-2 win. All season, Charlotte’s offense has been strong, scoring the second most goals in the league (29), while boasting the second-highest conversion rate (20%). This match against the Flamingos should be more difficult than the prior matches as Forward Madison has a dominant new goalie in net, Raiko Arozarena.
Forward Madison enters this third match against Charlotte with lots of hope thanks to the squad’s new goalie. Raiko Arozarena has flourished since taking over the starting goalie spot for the ‘Mingos. The Cuban goalie has already recorded two clean sheets and eight saves while only allowing one goal in three league matches. Expect Arozarena to make it a lot tougher for Charlotte to score. This matchup should be a good one!
Keys to the Match
- Strong Start – In the last match against Charlotte, Forward Madison struggled from the opening kickoff as the Independence got out to an early 3-0 lead by the 28th minute of the match. This upcoming match, the ‘Mingos will need to start the game aggressively in order to prevent the Independence from getting out to another early lead.
- Limit Shots on Target – Forward Madison had a difficult time limiting shots on target in its last match against Charlotte. The Independence outshot the ‘Mingos 9 to 5 with shots on target, even though Forward Madison took more shots throughout the match (14 to 10). Expect coach Matt Glaeser to have his team ready to limit the amount of shots on target Charlotte takes.
Previous and Next Match
Forward Madison enters Friday’s match against Charlotte after tying 1-1 against the Hailstorm on Saturday. The Flamingos’ next match comes against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, August 10th.
The Independence will take on the ‘Mingos, following a 4-0 win over Central Valley Fuego FC. After playing FMFC, Charlotte will battle South Georgia Tormenta FC on August 13th.
