Two goals in the first half earn FMFC a point against North Carolina FC
Second-place Forward Madison FC traveled south to play third-place North Carolina FC on Saturday, July 15th. FMFC looked to continue its hot streak and stay at the top of the standings ahead of the USL League One playoffs. Fans packed the Forward Club for the watch party, as the match kicked off just after 6pm CT.
With a few regular North Carolina FC starters out ahead of the match, Forward Madison’s offense started the contest with the intention of making an early impact. In the 10th minute, FMFC midfielder Isidro Martinez played a long ball from his own box to forward Christian Chaney who chased the ball to the other end of the field, but wasn’t able to control it for a clean shot. Shortly after, in the 16th minute, FMFC built momentum from out of the back, midfielder Stephen Payne slotted the ball across the box, and Derek Gebhard buried his shot into the back of the net to put the ‘Mingos up 1-0. FMFC continued to own the half, hungry for another tally. In the 37th minute, FMFC had a quick defensive stop and counterattack, spreading the ball around in the final third. Nazeem Bartman made a run in the box, found the end of the cross, and finished it to add to Forward’s lead. FMFC went into halftime up 2-0 against North Carolina.
Sam Brotherton was brought on for Timmy Mehl to begin the second half for the Flamingos. Nine minutes into the final 45’, Brotherton was called for a red card and FMFC was forced to play with ten men the rest of the match. North Carolina FC started to put pressure on the ‘Mingos backline after the red card, getting a goal back via the foot of Oalex Anderson in the 67th minute. NCFC continued to pour on the pressure, but the FMFC stood tall with big save after big save from Bernd Schipmann. Reinforcements in Eric Conerty and Mauro Cichero came into the FMFC squad to defend the lead, as NCFC launched attacks into the Forward Madison box. In the 93rd minute, North Carolina capitalized off a corner kick to tie the game up 2-2 off of an Anderson tap-in. The final whistle sounded, with the Flamingos gaining a point on the road with a 2-2 draw.
“We overall just have to be better in managing the game once we’re up,” FMFC attacker Derek Gebhard said. “We shot ourselves in the foot tonight but other than that the fight from the boys, we’re proud to to still get a point on the road after being a man down. It’s a positive we wanted, but we go again next game.”
“Bernd was phenomenal,” Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “The effort was incredible against all odds. We scored two very nice goals in the first half and overall I’m proud of the group.”
Next up, Forward Madison will return home to Breese Stevens Field for an international friendly against Atlante FC on Thursday, July 20th at 7pm. Milwaukee Bucks star, Bobby Portis, will be in attendance meeting fans on a first-come-first-serve basis before the match. Tickets can be purchased here.
About Forward Madison FC: Forward Madison FC is a charter member of USL League One, launched in the spring of 2019. The Flamingos were a USL League One playoff team in 2019 and have made a name for themselves with a fun-loving, flamboyant brand. More information and registration for the team’s weekly newsletter is available at www.forwardmadisonfc.com. Follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
——————————————————-
Forward Madison FC Lineup:
#55 Schipmann
#16 Crull
#4 Osmond
#5 Mehl
#17 Gebhard
#22 Payne
#28 Wheeler-Omiunu
#7 Martinez
#10 Onen
#24 Bartman
#9 Chaney
Substitutes: #56 Sanchez, #2 Screen, #8 Conerty, #14 Cichero, #18 Jno-Baptiste, #12 Brotherton, #29 Kigeya
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
——————————————————-
North Carolina FC Lineup:
#25 Mulqueen
#2 Lue Young
#6 Fernandes
#5 Navarro
#18 Benton
#7 Arriaga
#10 Servania
#13 Perez
#17 Adams
#9 Anderson
#19 McLaughlin
Substitutes: Puckerin, Garcia, Flick, Flores Blanco, Somersall, Mariche, Popp
Head Coach: John Bradford
——————————————————–
Major Match Moments:
1st Half
1’ FMFC foul
3’ NCFC foul
7’ NCFC major scoring opportunity
10’ FMFC major scoring opportunity
11’ FMFC foul
11’ FMFC yellow card #17 Derek Gebhard
16’ FMFC goal #17 Derek Gebhard
18’ FMFC foul
19’ FMFC major scoring opportunity
20’ FMFC foul
27’ FMFC foul
27’ FMFC yellow card #9 Chaney
29’ NFCF corner
32’ FMFC foul
33’ NCFC foul
37’ FMFC goal #24 Bartman
41’ NCFC corner
43’ NCFC corner
45’ NCFC foul
45+2 NCFC foul
Half-Time Score: FMFC 2- 0 NCFC
2nd Half
45’ FMFC substitution #12 Brotherton in for #5 Mehl
45’ NCFC substitution #24 Garcia and #44 Sommersall in for #6 Fernandez and #17 Adams
51’ FMFC foul
54’ NCFC foul
54’ FMFC red card #12 Brotherton
59’ NCFC foul
60’ FMFC bench yellow card 64’ FMFC major save #55 Bernd Schipmann
61’ NCFC substitution #3 Flores in for #18 Benton
67’ NCFC goal #9 Anderson
73’ FMFC substitution #8 Conerty and #14 Cichero in for #17 Gebhard and #24 Bartman
73’ NCFC substitution #22 Flick in for #2 Young
75’ NCFC foul
76’ major save #55 Bernd Schipmann
76’ NCFC corner
77’ NCFC corner
79’ FMFC foul
81’ NCFC foul
81’ NCFC yellow card #22 Flick
83’ NCFC foul
85’ FMFC foul
85’ FMFC yellow card #8 Conerty
86’ NCFC corner
88’ NCFC substitution #88 Popp for #5 Navarro
90+2 NCFC corner
90+3 NCFC goal #9 Anderson
90+6 FMFC substitution #2 Screen in for #10 Onen
90+7 NCFC foul
90+10 NCFC foul
90+10 NCFC yellow card #10 Servania
Full-Time Score: FMFC 2 – 2 NCFC
Discipline:
Forward Madison FC
11’ FMFC yellow card #17 Derek Gebhard
54’ FMFC red card #12 Brotherton
60’ FMFC bench yellow card
85’ FMFC yellow card #8 Conerty
North Carolina FC
81’ NCFC yellow card #22 Flick
90+10 NCFC yellow card #10 Servania
