USL League One – Game 28
Forward Madison FC at Lansing Ignite FC
Saturday, October 5, 2019; 2:00 p.m. CT
Cooley Law School Stadium – Lansing, MI
Where to Watch
ESPN+
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live updates
Keep track of official stats on the USL League One match center
Forward Madison FC will lay it all on the line Saturday as the team goes for a USL League One playoff spot in its regular season finale against Lansing Ignite FC (2 p.m. CT; ESPN+). The Flamingos need a win to clinch their postseason berth; anything less, and they’ll have to hope the Chattanooga Red Wolves can’t defeat Toronto FC II later that day.
With everything coming down to the final match, Head Coach Daryl Shore said he’s hoping to give FMFC’s fans a reward for their unending loyalty throughout his team’s inaugural season.
“Our fans all year have been behind us through thick and thin,” Shore said. “It’s been awesome to play in front of them, it’s been awesome to coach this team.
“Hopefully we can keep this thing going a little bit longer.”
After an inaugural year that has swung wildly between highs to lows on the pitch, it’s only fitting that FMFC’s postseason chances will be determined on the final go. The Flamingos went on a run in the U.S. Open Cup in May, going further than any other League One team, but saw their form dip in the league itself, dropping to last place after 10 games.
Since then, however, the ‘Mingos have emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Shore was named League One Coach of the Month in July after taking 10 points from five games. In August and September, Forward’s defense has come to the fore, conceding just four times in nine matches.
Heading into the final stretch of the season, FMFC has inched closer and closer to a playoff spot. The team had a chance to clinch last week if it won during a visit to Tucson, but drew 1-1, with several efforts just missing the goal in the second half.
“We feel like we’ve been playing well,” Shore said. We put ourselves in a tough situation, but we control our fate, so if we go in there and we win, we know we’re in the playoffs.”
After going unbeaten in September, the Flamingos occupy League One’s fourth and final playoff spot, but lead Chattanooga Red Wolves by only one point (and have the tiebreaker). FMFC could theoretically surpass Greenville Triumph to reach third, but would have to overturn a six-goal differential, which is unlikely.
Forward’s task is complicated, too, by the nature of its opponent. Lansing hasn’t lost a game in three months, and League One’s second-place team can guarantee a home playoff game with at least a draw.
“We’re going to a very hostile environment against the only team in the league we haven’t got a point off of yet,” Shore said. “They’re going to come out blazing like they always are at home and it’s a tough game for us.”
Still, the Flamingos won’t exactly be devoid of support. In advance of the game, The Flock organized two buses to bring over 100 fans to the match, and they’re expected to be joined by many more Forward supporters in Lansing. FMFC’s away section will almost certainly be the largest USL League One has ever seen, and could rival some of the biggest in American soccer this year.
“It’s really, really a special group of fans we have,” Shore said. “Hopefully we reward them the right way for everything that they’ve done – not just coming on this trip, but for what they’ve done this entire season.”
Forward Madison has been unable to beat Lansing in two tries so far this year. The Ignite won 1-0 in Madison on June 1, then scored a last-second goal in Lansing to win 3-2 on July 9. Lansing has won seven of its last eight League One games, but hasn’t played a competitive match in two weeks, instead hosting exhibitions with Chicago Fire Reserves and Livonia City FC during an end-of-season layoff.
If FMFC doesn’t win on Saturday, it will turn its attention to Chattanooga’s match against Toronto FC II, which kicks off at 6 p.m. If the Red Wolves win and Forward does not, the Flamingos will drop into fifth place and miss the playoffs.
If Forward Madison does clinch, however, it will move on to the USL League One semi-finals. Assuming the Flamingos finish fourth, they will travel to Frisco, Tex. to play regular season champions North Texas SC on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Season tickets for Forward Madison FC’s 2020 season are now available! Get yours by calling 608-204-0855 or by visiting https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/season-tickets.
USL League One – Game 28
Forward Madison FC at Lansing Ignite FC
Saturday, October 5, 2019; 2:00 p.m. CT
Cooley Law School Stadium – Lansing, MI
Where to Watch
ESPN+
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live updates
Keep track of official stats on the USL League One match center
Forward Madison FC will lay it all on the line Saturday as the team goes for a USL League One playoff spot in its regular season finale against Lansing Ignite FC (2 p.m. CT; ESPN+). The Flamingos need a win to clinch their postseason berth; anything less, and they’ll have to hope the Chattanooga Red Wolves can’t defeat Toronto FC II later that day.
With everything coming down to the final match, Head Coach Daryl Shore said he’s hoping to give FMFC’s fans a reward for their unending loyalty throughout his team’s inaugural season.
“Our fans all year have been behind us through thick and thin,” Shore said. “It’s been awesome to play in front of them, it’s been awesome to coach this team.
“Hopefully we can keep this thing going a little bit longer.”
After an inaugural year that has swung wildly between highs to lows on the pitch, it’s only fitting that FMFC’s postseason chances will be determined on the final go. The Flamingos went on a run in the U.S. Open Cup in May, going further than any other League One team, but saw their form dip in the league itself, dropping to last place after 10 games.
Since then, however, the ‘Mingos have emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Shore was named League One Coach of the Month in July after taking 10 points from five games. In August and September, Forward’s defense has come to the fore, conceding just four times in nine matches.
Heading into the final stretch of the season, FMFC has inched closer and closer to a playoff spot. The team had a chance to clinch last week if it won during a visit to Tucson, but drew 1-1, with several efforts just missing the goal in the second half.
“We feel like we’ve been playing well,” Shore said. We put ourselves in a tough situation, but we control our fate, so if we go in there and we win, we know we’re in the playoffs.”
After going unbeaten in September, the Flamingos occupy League One’s fourth and final playoff spot, but lead Chattanooga Red Wolves by only one point (and have the tiebreaker). FMFC could theoretically surpass Greenville Triumph to reach third, but would have to overturn a six-goal differential, which is unlikely.
Forward’s task is complicated, too, by the nature of its opponent. Lansing hasn’t lost a game in three months, and League One’s second-place team can guarantee a home playoff game with at least a draw.
“We’re going to a very hostile environment against the only team in the league we haven’t got a point off of yet,” Shore said. “They’re going to come out blazing like they always are at home and it’s a tough game for us.”
Still, the Flamingos won’t exactly be devoid of support. In advance of the game, The Flock organized two buses to bring over 100 fans to the match, and they’re expected to be joined by many more Forward supporters in Lansing. FMFC’s away section will almost certainly be the largest USL League One has ever seen, and could rival some of the biggest in American soccer this year.
“It’s really, really a special group of fans we have,” Shore said. “Hopefully we reward them the right way for everything that they’ve done – not just coming on this trip, but for what they’ve done this entire season.”
Forward Madison has been unable to beat Lansing in two tries so far this year. The Ignite won 1-0 in Madison on June 1, then scored a last-second goal in Lansing to win 3-2 on July 9. Lansing has won seven of its last eight League One games, but hasn’t played a competitive match in two weeks, instead hosting exhibitions with Chicago Fire Reserves and Livonia City FC during an end-of-season layoff.
If FMFC doesn’t win on Saturday, it will turn its attention to Chattanooga’s match against Toronto FC II, which kicks off at 6 p.m. If the Red Wolves win and Forward does not, the Flamingos will drop into fifth place and miss the playoffs.
If Forward Madison does clinch, however, it will move on to the USL League One semi-finals. Assuming the Flamingos finish fourth, they will travel to Frisco, Tex. to play regular season champions North Texas SC on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Season tickets for Forward Madison FC’s 2020 season are now available! Get yours by calling 608-204-0855 or by visiting https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/season-tickets.
