Saturday, August 13th, 2022; 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
Forward Madison FC returns home for a match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday, August 13th at 7:00 pm CT. This USL League One match kicks off at Breese Stevens Field following our Garage Sale that will be taking place from 2-6 pm at Gate 1.
In the Flamingos’ most recent match, Forward Madison lost a heart-breaking match 2-1 against North Carolina FC. Abdou Mbacke-Thiam provided the lone goal for the ‘Mingos and Eric Leonard put on a stellar defensive performance, but it wasn’t enough. Looking ahead, Forward Madison will battle Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday, August 20th at 8:00 pm CT.
Chattanooga enters Saturday’s match following a 5-1 win over the Greenville Triumph on August 6th. Following the match against FMFC, the Red Wolves will face off with South Georgia Tormenta on August 20th.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records
Forward Madison FC (6-5-8)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Chattanooga Red Wolves (8-8-4)
Head Coach: Jimmy Obleda
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Jeremiah Streng: Streng has made his presence felt on the offensive half of the field for most of the season. In the club’s last two matches, the Finnish striker has recorded a number of chances from just inside the box. Expect the 20-year-old to continue to lead the FMFC attack in shots.
Eric Leonard: The Illinois native put on an impressive showing on the defensive end of the field against NCFC. Leonard shut down a breakaway, put his body on the line, and did everything in his power to slow down the opponents’ attack. Expect the fourth-year ‘Mingo to lead his squad’s backline into a crucial match against the Red Wolves.
Raiko Arozarena: Arozarena has been one of the recent bright spots for the Pink and Blue. Since joining Forward Madison, the Cuban goalie has allowed three goals, even though his expected conceded goals sit at 4.92. Expect the 25-year-old to bounce back from the match against North Carolina FC with a strong performance versus Chattanooga.
Key Match Up
Forward Madison Backline vs. Chattanooga Strikers
The key match up for this contest is the Forward Madison backline of Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad versus the Red Wolves strikers of Rey Ortiz, Juan Galindrez, Alexander Tejera, and Rafael Mentzingen. This will be the second time these squads matched up this season, after the first match was very close.
Chattanooga’s offense has been one of the best in the league this season, as they’ve scored the second most goals in the league (34). The Red Wolves also possess one of the highest goal conversion rates in the league (20%). The Chattanooga attack has primarily been led by Juan Galindrez, who’s tied for the fourth most goals in the league (8). Galindrez has received a lot of help from fellow striker Mentzingen, who is tied for the league lead with 41 shots on goal. The Red Wolves are also coming off one of their best offensive performances of the season, defeating the top-seeded Greenville Triumph 5-1.
This will be a tough matchup for both sides as Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match with their defense having only allowed four goals in its last six matches. The Flamingos backline has been very consistent this season as Mitch Osmond, Eric Leonard, and Cyrus Rad have held down the fort for most of the year. The trio has done an excellent job shutting down opponents recently, but they’ll be in for a difficult match against a hot Chattanooga attack!
Keys to the Match
- Create Quality Shots/Chances – Forward Madison’s offense has had a difficult time logging quality chances recently. The squad has recorded 11 shots on target in the last four matches, which is well below the club’s average shots on target this season. Expect Jeremiah Streng and Abdou Mbacke Thiam to do anything in their power to help lead the FMFC attack and record quality shots and chances against Chattanooga.
- Limit Number of Turnovers – The Flamingos struggled passing the ball against North Carolina FC, especially in the second half of the match. Forward Madison had its worst passing performance in the club’s last three matches, as the team’s passing accuracy took a dip from 87% against Charlotte to 81% against NCFC. Expect Forward Madison to be a lot more careful with the ball at home on Saturday.
Previous and Next Match
Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match following a 2-1 loss to North Carolina FC. The ‘Mingos’ next match will be against Northern Colorado Hailstorm on August 20th.
Chattanooga heads to Madison after defeating Greenville 5-1 on August 6th. Their next match will come against South Georgia Tormenta on August 20th.
