Forward Madison FC dominated from start to finish on Friday, winning 4-0 over South Georgia Tormenta FC to claim its first victory of 2020. Debutant Michael Vang – who became the first Hmong-American to play professional soccer in the U.S. – opened the scoring for the Flamingos, while Don Smart added another before assisting on two more.
Head Coach Daryl Shore, whose squad had earned just one point in its first three games, said his team’s performance Friday was cathartic.
“We came out with a sense of urgency, and we came out with a sense of wanting to get after the game in the right way,” Shore said. “Everybody realized that this was a must-win game.”
Forward Madison logged its first lead of the season thanks to Vang, who slotted home at the far post after connecting on a cross from Paulo Junior in the eighth minute. The 20-year-old put on a show in his first game for the Flamingos, earning ‘Mingo of the Match’ honors from a fan poll.
For Vang, whose family came to Hart Park to cheer him on, it was a moment long in the making.
“It’s a dream come true,” Vang said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. Words can’t really describe the feeling, especially hearing the crowd going crazy.”
Later on, Smart headed home to complete a quick attack that started with Christian Diaz’s long ball from the right side of defense. J.C. Banks then set up the Jamaican to double the lead in the 23rd minute. Smart, who said it was the first header he has scored in his career, pointed to the spot where the ball had touched and danced in celebration.
Forward Madison consolidated its advantage in the second half, with both Wojciech Wojcik and Paulo Junior finding the back of the net off assists from Smart. The tall Pole finished off a clean strike to the far post with composure after Smart provided a tidy cross from the right side in the 58th minute. Paulo then bagged the fourth goal with ease after Smart played the Brazilian in behind the defense, who dribbled by goalkeeper Pablo Jara for a simple tap-in in the 69th minute.
“We needed this one,” Smart said. “[In the] first couple of games we had some ups and downs, and we knew it was going to come one game or another. This week we had a good week of practice leading up to this, so I think most of the guys were focused.”
Forward Madison has jumped to fifth place in USL League One, just three points behind a playoff spot currently held by second-place Union Omaha. In fact, the Flamingos will face Omaha in their next match: FMFC hits the road to play the Owls on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
Forward Madison will return to Hart Park on Sunday, Aug. 23, to play host to Orlando City B.
Forward Madison FC dominated from start to finish on Friday, winning 4-0 over South Georgia Tormenta FC to claim its first victory of 2020. Debutant Michael Vang – who became the first Hmong-American to play professional soccer in the U.S. – opened the scoring for the Flamingos, while Don Smart added another before assisting on two more.
Head Coach Daryl Shore, whose squad had earned just one point in its first three games, said his team’s performance Friday was cathartic.
“We came out with a sense of urgency, and we came out with a sense of wanting to get after the game in the right way,” Shore said. “Everybody realized that this was a must-win game.”
Forward Madison logged its first lead of the season thanks to Vang, who slotted home at the far post after connecting on a cross from Paulo Junior in the eighth minute. The 20-year-old put on a show in his first game for the Flamingos, earning ‘Mingo of the Match’ honors from a fan poll.
For Vang, whose family came to Hart Park to cheer him on, it was a moment long in the making.
“It’s a dream come true,” Vang said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. Words can’t really describe the feeling, especially hearing the crowd going crazy.”
Later on, Smart headed home to complete a quick attack that started with Christian Diaz’s long ball from the right side of defense. J.C. Banks then set up the Jamaican to double the lead in the 23rd minute. Smart, who said it was the first header he has scored in his career, pointed to the spot where the ball had touched and danced in celebration.
Forward Madison consolidated its advantage in the second half, with both Wojciech Wojcik and Paulo Junior finding the back of the net off assists from Smart. The tall Pole finished off a clean strike to the far post with composure after Smart provided a tidy cross from the right side in the 58th minute. Paulo then bagged the fourth goal with ease after Smart played the Brazilian in behind the defense, who dribbled by goalkeeper Pablo Jara for a simple tap-in in the 69th minute.
“We needed this one,” Smart said. “[In the] first couple of games we had some ups and downs, and we knew it was going to come one game or another. This week we had a good week of practice leading up to this, so I think most of the guys were focused.”
Forward Madison has jumped to fifth place in USL League One, just three points behind a playoff spot currently held by second-place Union Omaha. In fact, the Flamingos will face Omaha in their next match: FMFC hits the road to play the Owls on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
Forward Madison will return to Hart Park on Sunday, Aug. 23, to play host to Orlando City B.
Forward Madison FC
Head Coach: Daryl Shore
Goalkeeper: Philipp Marceta #1
Defender: Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
Defender: Connor Tobin #13 (C)
Defender: Josiah Trimmingham #44 (76’ Brandon Eaton #6)
Defender: Christian Diaz #27 (71’ Eli Lockaby #17)
Midfielder: Eric Leonard #3
Midfielder: J.C. Banks #10
Midfielder: Don Smart #7 (81’ Alex Monis #38)
Forward: Paulo Junior #11 (81’ Jamael Cox #14)
Forward: Mike Vang #8 (71’ Gustavo Fernandes #4)
Forward: Wojcik Wojciech #9
Substitutes: Chris Brady #34; Eli Lockaby #17, Gustavo Fernandes #4; Allan Rodriguez #39, Brandon Eaton #6; Jamael Cox #14, Alex Monis #38
South Georgia Tormenta FC
Head Coach: Lars Eckenrode
Goalkeeper: Pablo Jara #1 (C)
Defender: Rhys Williams #2
Defender: Josh Phelps #5, switched to #31 during match
Defender: Jordan Skelton #15
Defender: Stefan Mueller #3
Midfielder: Ricardo Gomez #6 (64’ Mikie Rowe #9)
Midfielder: Abuchi Obinwa #12
Midfielder: Marco Micaletto #10
Forward: Daniel Jackson #11 (64’ Pato Botello-Faz #19)
Forward: Devyn Jambga #16 (77’ Jad Arslan #21)
Forward: Luca Mayr #7
Substitutes: Parker Sigfried #0; Mike O’Sullivan #18; Nil Vinyals #8, Jad Arslan #21, Mike Rowe #9; Pato Botello-Faz #19
Goals
Forward Madison
8’- Michael Vang (Paulo Junior)
23’- Don Smart (J.C. Banks)
58’- Wojciech Wojcik (Don Smart)
69’- Paulo Junior (Don Smart)
Discipline
Forward Madison
61’- Michael Vang, Yellow Card
South Georgia Tormenta
86’- Abuchi Obinwa, Yellow Card
Referees
Calin Radosav
Art Arustamyan
Rachel Smith
Scott Irwin
Venue
Hart Park – Wauwatosa, WI
Forward Madison FC
Head Coach: Daryl Shore
Goalkeeper: Philipp Marceta #1
Defender: Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
Defender: Connor Tobin #13 (C)
Defender: Josiah Trimmingham #44 (76’ Brandon Eaton #6)
Defender: Christian Diaz #27 (71’ Eli Lockaby #17)
Midfielder: Eric Leonard #3
Midfielder: J.C. Banks #10
Midfielder: Don Smart #7 (81’ Alex Monis #38)
Forward: Paulo Junior #11 (81’ Jamael Cox #14)
Forward: Mike Vang #8 (71’ Gustavo Fernandes #4)
Forward: Wojcik Wojciech #9
Substitutes: Chris Brady #34; Eli Lockaby #17, Gustavo Fernandes #4; Allan Rodriguez #39, Brandon Eaton #6; Jamael Cox #14, Alex Monis #38
South Georgia Tormenta FC
Head Coach: Lars Eckenrode
Goalkeeper: Pablo Jara #1 (C)
Defender: Rhys Williams #2
Defender: Josh Phelps #5, switched to #31 during match
Defender: Jordan Skelton #15
Defender: Stefan Mueller #3
Midfielder: Ricardo Gomez #6 (64’ Mikie Rowe #9)
Midfielder: Abuchi Obinwa #12
Midfielder: Marco Micaletto #10
Forward: Daniel Jackson #11 (64’ Pato Botello-Faz #19)
Forward: Devyn Jambga #16 (77’ Jad Arslan #21)
Forward: Luca Mayr #7
Substitutes: Parker Sigfried #0; Mike O’Sullivan #18; Nil Vinyals #8, Jad Arslan #21, Mike Rowe #9; Pato Botello-Faz #19
Goals
Forward Madison
8’- Michael Vang (Paulo Junior)
23’- Don Smart (J.C. Banks)
58’- Wojciech Wojcik (Don Smart)
69’- Paulo Junior (Don Smart)
Discipline
Forward Madison
61’- Michael Vang, Yellow Card
South Georgia Tormenta
86’- Abuchi Obinwa, Yellow Card
Referees
Calin Radosav
Art Arustamyan
Rachel Smith
Scott Irwin
Venue
Hart Park – Wauwatosa, WI
