Forward Madison Falls in Omaha - Forward Madison FC

A defensive battle sees the Owls top the Flamingos

Forward Madison FC traveled to Nebraska to take on Union Omaha at Werner Park on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:00 pm CT. The USL League One match resulted in a one goal loss for FMFC due to a corner kick that was let in by the Flamingos.

The opening half of Wednesday’s match began slowly as both teams possessed the ball cautiously after the kickoff. In the 10th minute of the match, Omaha looked as if they were going to make a threatening run down the pitch. Derek Gebhard stepped up for the ‘Mingos by hustling back and making the tackle to force a corner kick for the Owls. As the half went on, the teams continued to go back and forth down the pitch, with neither team able to record any shots or quality chances in the first 25 minutes of the contest. Forward Madison logged its first corner of the game in the 37th minute. The corner resulted in a Abdou Mbacke-Thiam cross to Cyrus Rad who shot the ball just left of the crossbar.

The Flamingo’s best chance of the first half happened in the 44th minute when Mbacke-Thiam broke free and fired a rocket of a shot at Rashid Nuhu, the Omaha keeper. Forward Madison tried to connect with the shot’s rebound but Nazeem Bartman struggled to possess the ball and Omaha stole the ball back. Minutes later, a Rad cross to Matheus Cassini almost led to a goal, but the Brazilian couldn’t reach the ball thanks to the Owls’ tight defense. The remainder of the first half winded away as the squads entered the half tied up 0-0.

Omaha started the second half aggressively until Emir Alihodzic pushed Mikey Maldonado to the ground, resulting in a red card in the 50th minute. After the red card, the Owls were forced to finish the match with only 10 men on the pitch. At the 66th minute mark, Rad managed to get the ball inside the box to Bartman who shot the ball, but unfortunately it was deflected away by an Omaha defender. Union Omaha made the first substitution of the match in the 68th minute, as Noe Meza exited off the pitch for Eddie Gordon. Forward Madison’s coach Matt Glaeser made his first sub moments later. In the 73rd minute, Rojay Smith, Jeremiah Streng, and Alann Torres came onto the pitch for Bartman, Mbacke-Thiam, and Mélé Temguia.

At the 77th minute mark, Union Omaha broke the tie on a corner kick that bounced around the Madison box. Neither team could connect with the ball until Corey Hertzog got his foot on the ball and kicked it into the open net. In the 83rd minute, the ‘Mingos started to play more aggressively. Alann Torres, fresh off the bench, drove through the Omaha defense and fired a shot from outside the box that just got saved by Nuhu. Within the minute, Streng stole the ball and passed it into the box to Smith who slotted a shot at Nuhu, but the Omaha goalie was in position to make the save. With five minutes of stoppage time added to the end of the match, Forward Madison continued to threaten the Owls, possessing the ball almost exclusively in Omaha’s half. Union Omaha managed to control the ball cautiously, allowing the time to wind down. Omaha ended up holding off the ‘Mingos to win 1-0.

Next up on the USL League One schedule, the Flamingos have a quick turn around as they continue their road trip on Saturday, September 3rd for a match against Greenville Triumph SC at 6:00 pm CT. As for Union Omaha, they’ll stay at home to take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday, September 3rd.

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