Sunday, March 26th, 2023; 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Caniglia Field, Omaha, NE
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
The 2023 USL League One is upon us! Forward Madison FC travels to rivals Union Omaha to open up regular season play on Sunday, March 26th at 2pm CT. The match will take place at Caniglia Field, home of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
The Flamingos look to start the season off with three points on the road after going 0-2-1 against Omaha in 2022. Forward Madison finished the 2022 USL League One season in 9th place, while Omaha finished in playoff position in 5th.
The match on the 26th is both club’s first match of the season. Forward Madison’s next match is at home in the 2nd round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, April 4th at 6pm against the winner of Bavarian United and Chicago House AC.
Coaches and USL League One 2022 Records:
Union Omaha (0-0-0)
Head Coach: Dominic Casciato
Forward Madison FC (0-0-0)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Christian Chaney: Forward Madison made a big splash this offseason in improving their attack by signing Chaney. Chaney joins the Flamingos after a breakout 2022 season with Central Valley Fuego FC, where he scored 10 goals in 27 appearances. The 28-year-old striker is the new face of the FMFC attack and will look to get off to a hot start against Omaha. Be on the lookout for his aerial ability and hold up play in the attack.
Bernd Schipmann: The goalkeeper position for FMFC in 2022 featured the likes of Phil Breno and Raiko Arozarena in between the posts. With Breno and Arozarena now in Tampa, a new face joins the FMFC ranks. Schipmann, originally from Germany, brings experience from VfL Osnabruck and Eintracht Frankfurt to Madison. The 6’4” Philippians National Team goalkeeper will be an integral part of FMFC’s success in 2023. Schipmann will be tested by the Omaha attack, but pay attention to his ability to distribute quickly to spur Forward Madison attacks.
Mitch Osmond: The 2022 FMFC captain returns for his second year with the Flamingos, coming off a strong showing last season. Osmond contributed a team-high 1,744 passes with a passing accuracy of 87.9% in 2022. Osmond will look to lead the Flamingos to victory against the Owls through his precise build-out play and tackling ability.
Key Match Up:
Forward Madison FC vs Union Omaha Midfields
While the attack and defense of both clubs were the focal points this offseason, it may be the midfield that dictates who walks away with three points on Sunday. Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu returns for the Flamingos, while newcomers Aiden Mesias, Isidro Martinez, Eric Conerty, and Julio Benitez look to make a name for themselves quickly in the FMFC rotation.
Omaha’s midfield is powered by returners Dion Acoff, Conor Doyle, and Joseph Brito while adding the likes of Eddie Gordon, Joe Gallardo, Pedro Dolabella, and Chavany Willis.
Since both teams are strong defensively, much of the match will be played in the midfield. If the Flamingos want to start the season with a win, the midfield’s service to the attack will be crucial.
Keys to the Match:
- Early Lead – There’s nothing like jumping out to a fast lead on the road in an opening match of a season. The Flamingos will look to score often and score early against the Owls, taking the home crowd out of the equation early on.
- Set Piece Defense – A main talking point of 2022, FMFC put in work this offseason on set piece offense and defense. Look for captain Mitch Osmond to take charge of organizing the defense on Omaha set pieces.
Previous and Next Match:
Forward Madison FC will open up their 2023 home match slate on Tuesday, April 4th in the U.S. Open Cup against the winner of Bavarian United vs Chicago House AC. The Flamingos open up their USL League One home schedule on Saturday, April 15th when they take on Greenville Triumph at 6pm CT.
Following their matchup against FMFC, Union Omaha will travel to USL League One newcomers One Knox SC on Saturday, April 1st at 6pm.
