Saturday, July 8th, 2023; 7pm CT
Location: Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live match updates
After Forward Madison’s first defeat in the past five games at the hand of Greenville Triumph SC this past weekend, the Flamingos will return home to face Central Valley Fuego FC (CVF) on Saturday, July, 8th at 7pm CT. Looking to begin their next winning streak, Forward Madison enters Saturday’s match in 3rd place in USL League One, with Central Valley Fuego sitting in 12th.
Coaches and USL League One 2023 Records:
Forward Madison FC (7-4-4)
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
Central Valley Fuego FC (3-10-1)
Head Coach: Adam Smith
Key Players to Watch:
Christian Chaney: With this being Forward Madison’s second match against Chaney’s old club, the FMFC striker will be looking to get on the scoresheet once again after capitalizing on Fuego in the last meeting. We can expect to see his strong back-to-goal play creating opportunities as well as lots of shots and chances created.
Jayden Onen: Onen has been a key player in the Flamingos’ midfield. With his quick technical abilities and a good eye for the game, he creates many opportunities and brings pace to the middle of the pitch. With his strong ability to beat defenders 1v1, we can expect to see Onen causing problems for CVF’s defense on Saturday.
Stephen Payne: With lots of pace, Payne is always seen flying up and down the right side of the pitch causing some great opportunities for the Flamingos. With his stellar attacking abilities, taking opposing players on 1v1 down the line for crosses, and getting himself into good spots in the box, we can expect to see Payne involved in some of Forward’s best chances.
Key Match Up:
Forward Madison Defense vs Central Valley Fuego FC Offense
With CVF just recently getting a new Head Coach, Forward Madison will have to adjust to a new style of play, not knowing exactly what to expect this time around. Bringing new tactics into the game that may not have been there before, we can expect to see the Flamingos sitting back at the start of the game, setting their defense and figuring out the new flow against CVF. With a new style, CVF will be looking to get on the scoresheet early but as we’ve seen from past games, the Flamingos are strong when it comes to quick adjustments in the back.
Keys to the Match:
- Adjusting to Styles: Not only will FMFC have to adjust to CVF’s new style with a new coach, but Central Valley Fuego is also adjusting to needing to be more offensive in matches, due to their position in the USL League One table. Because of this, we could see more breakdowns happening on both sides. With CVF still figuring out their own new tactics, Forward Madison should be able to capitalize on the breakdowns that occur.
- Finishing: With CFV having 22 goals against, as opposed to Forward Madison’s 12 goals against, finishing will be very important. The team that is most creative and gritty in the final third will likely capitalize on their opportunities. With CVF giving up 22 goals, we can expect to see some prominent defensive errors leading to more Forward Madison chances.
Previous and Next Match:
The Flamingos come into this match after a 1-0 road defeat to Greenville Triumph SC. Next up, Forward Madison will hit the road to face North Carolina FC on Saturday, July 15th, at 6pm CT.
