Saturday, June 3rd, 2023; 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
After a one-week turnaround, Forward Madison will return home again to face Central Valley Fuego FC. After defeating Union Omaha 2-1 on the road last weekend, Forward Madison is coming into the game on a high. The match will kick off on Saturday night at 7pm CT on ESPN+.
Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match in 7th place, with Central Valley Fuego sitting in 12th. With their win against Union Omaha last Saturday, May 27th, Forward Madison is looking to continue this winning streak on Saturday night.
Coaches and USL League One 2023 Records:
Forward Madison FC (3-1-4)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Central Valley Fuego FC (2-6-1)
Head Coach: Martin Vasquez
Key Players to Watch:
Aiden Mesias: After coming off a great game against Union Omaha, there is no doubt that Mesias will be dangerous this Saturday against Central Valley Fuego FC. With his quick movements on and off the ball, plus his technique on the ball, CV’s defense will have a hard time stopping Meisas. With a beautiful goal against Union Omaha, Mesias is just heating up.
Stephen Payne: Earning a Team of the Week recognition for his performance against Union Omaha, Payne is a staple on defense for Forward Madison FC. Not only has he helped prevent goal-scoring opportunities with his strong defense, but he also has a great eye for building out of the back and making runs in the attack. After earning two assists this past weekend against Union Omaha leading to a Forward Madison victory, Payne will definitely cause problems for Central Valley Fuego FC’s offense and defense on Saturday.
Christian Chaney: Chaney has created the most goal-scoring chances for Forward Madison FC so far this season. After putting away the game-winner against Union Omaha, Chaney is hungry for more goals. On Saturday, we can expect to see Chaney constantly keeping his eyes on the goal. Since his first thought is to attack the goal, we should be able to see some of these opportunities end up in the back of the net this weekend.
Forward Madison
Key Match Up:
Bernd Schipmann vs. Mitchell North
Central Valley Fuego FC’s goalie is ranked as the 2nd highest keeper in saves across the league. With Schipmann being in 4th for the same category, this should be a good matchup with Schipmann and North going head-to-head. While North may be ranked higher according to saves, he has only had one clean sheet compared to Schippann’s four. North has also given up 16 goals on the season while Schippmann has only given up five. We can expect to see a fun and competitive matchup this Saturday.
Keys to the Match:
- Creating chances: Last Saturday against Union Omaha, Forward Madison had a total of 3 shots all game. While they scored twice, it is crucial that Forward Madison creates more scoring opportunities in the final third. Central Valley Fuego FC’s defense is not as strong, so FMFC should put pressure on the goalkeeper early.
- Staying composed: Central Valley Fuego FC will be doing everything possible on the road to get out of the basement of USL League One. If Forward Madison is able to remain composed during the duration of the game, they will inevitably keep possession which will lead to more goal-scoring opportunities.
Previous and Next Match:
The Flamingos come into this match after defeating Union Omaha 2-1 on the road on May 27th. Next up, Forward Madison will hit the road again for a midweek game against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Wednesday, June 7th, at 6:30pm CT.
