Wednesday, June 10th, 2023; 7pm CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
After a busy week with a Saturday and Wednesday game, Forward Madison has another very quick turnaround, returning home on Saturday, June 10th to face North Carolina FC for the second time this season. After a tough 0-2 defeat to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Wednesday, Forward Madison is in search of a win at home to break their two match losing streak. The match will kick off on Saturday night at 7:00 pm CT on ESPN+.
Forward enters Saturday’s match remaining in 7th place, with North Carolina FC sitting at the top of the standings.
Coaches and USL League One 2023 Records:
Forward Madison FC (3-3-4)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
North Carolina FC (7-3-1)
Head Coach: John Bradford
Key Players to Watch:
Forward Madison
Isidro Martinez: Martinez plays a major role in FMFC’s midfield. With NCFC having a very strong midfield, we can expect to see Martinez step up, just as he did in the previous 2-0 win against NCFC. With his quick technique and eye for the game, Martinez will be seen bringing impactful skill and energy into Saturday’s match.
Derek Gebhard: After coming into Wednesday’s match as a sub, Gebhard brought a spark of needed energy into the match. With his strong 1v1 attacking skills, taking players on to the end line, we can expect to see these moments leading to some of FMFC’s best chances. On the other side of the ball, Gebhard also has a smart defensive mind that contributes to his role as a winger. He will have no trouble keeping NCFC defenders on their toes on Saturday.
Jake Crull: While Crull is a very strong player on the defensive side of the ball, he has no issues playing a major role in our attack as well. Creating some of Forward Madison’s best chances on Wednesday with slotted balls straight into the box, we can expect to see Crull making a major contribution to the game from both sides of the ball. With 900 minutes as a defender so far this season, he is yet to earn any cards of discipline which is a representation of his smart defending.
Key Match Up:
NCFC offense vs FMFC Defense
With North Carolina having one of the top goal scorers in the league, they will go head-to-head with Forward Madison’s defense. FMFC’s defense has only conceded 9 goals on the season, one of the lowest in the league. With that being said, If FMFC is able to stay compact on defense and force NCFC wide, they should have no problem causing issues for NCFC’s offense.
Keys to the Match:
- Finishing: With both teams having a strong midfield creating lots of opportunities, capitalizing will be very important in the game. After playing NCFC previously, FMFC and the fans know it’ll be an exciting and close matchup. Because of this, the small moments and opportunities the teams have need to be taken advantage of. Forward Madison’s Christian Chaney, along with other individuals, has been heating up and finding the back of the net more often lately.
- Compact defense: As we discussed above, the defenses will be key in this game. With strong attackers on both teams, the defenders will need to communicate and work together to find success. Forward Madison has a lot of talent in the back which we can expect to show during Saturday’s match.
Previous and Next Match:
The Flamingos come into this match after a 0-2 defeat to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Next up, Forward Madison will hit the road for an away match against Richmond Kickers on Saturday, June 17th at 6pm CT.
