Forward Madison FC Secures Playoff Spot At Last 2023 Home Match

The Flamingos are playoff-bound for the second time in club history

MADISON, WI: Forward Madison FC played their last 2023 regular season match at historic Breese Stevens Field on Saturday, October 14th. They faced rivals, Union Omaha, as the squad looked to secure the last USL League One playoff spot, only two points ahead of 7th-place South Georgia Tormenta FC. It was Fan Appreciation Night ahead of the most important moment in club history. The match kicked off just after 6pm CT.

Forward fans flocked to Breese Stevens Field to watch their squad one last time at home this season. The match started with intensity from FMFC, who looked to take the lead early. In the 13th minute, Forward Madison defender, Mitch Osmond, found himself wide-open in the box during a corner kick and fired a shot at the goal. Omaha’s goalkeeper made a diving save to keep the game level at zero. The rest of the half was back and forth, with both squads playing compact defense. The half ended 0-0, with Forward Madison looking for a way to break the tie.

The second half began with a massive opportunity for Forward Madison in the 48th minute. Midfielder Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu ripped a shot just high of the net from inside the box, keeping the game scoreless. The home squad continued to press, but Omaha defended well and created counter opportunities that caught Forward off guard. In the 64th minute, Omaha midfielder Lagos Kunga played a ball to the back post, where Steevan Dos Santos buried it past FMFC keeper Bernd Schipmann to put the visiting team up one. Forward made a few subs to switch momentum, and despite having a few chances on goal, the squad failed to put one in the back of the net. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Union Omaha.

At the conclusion of the match, fans celebrated after finding out that Forward Madison FC had secured a spot in the 2023 USL League One playoffs for the second time in club history. The ‘Mingos will travel to Colorado to play Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC for the first knockout round.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to be a playoff team,” said Head Coach Matt Glaeser. “We’ve accomplished that goal and put ourselves into a new season with an opportunity to win a trophy. I know we have the quality to go and do something special.”

“It doesn’t matter what seed you are, it just matters that you’re in,” said defender Stephen Payne. “Every game is final and anything is possible. We’re going to need the same support the fans have given us all season, whether you can make it to Colorado or you’re watching it at home.”

“In terms of players and fans, we need to be on the same page. We need to believe,” said captain Mitch Osmond. “The season’s over, we start again and it goes from here onwards. Three games to win a championship.”

Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ or in the Forward Club for the FMFC Watch Party. More details can be found at www.forwardmadisonfc.com.

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Forward Madison FC Lineup (FMFC):

#4 Osmond

#7 Martinez

#9 Chaney

#12 Brotherton

#16 Crull

#17 Gebhard

#22 Payne

#23 Mesias

#24 Bartman