USL League One – Game 17
Forward Madison FC vs Orlando City B
Saturday, July 27, 2019; 7:00 p.m. CT
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, WI
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 returns to Breese Stevens Field from a week off in need of a win against last-place Orlando City B this Saturday at 7 p.m. The Flamingos are still five points off the playoff places, and with time running out on their inaugural USL League One season, moving up the standings is becoming a now-or-never proposition.
According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, the pressure is on and his team needs to respond accordingly.
“There’s 12 games left, the challenge to our group was we have to get points in all 12 games, and most of those games have to be wins,” Shore said. “The playoffs start on Saturday for us.”
Although Forward Madison looked as if it had hit a good run of form after beating League One’s top two teams in late June and early July, the ‘Mingos have stagnated since, giving up a last-minute goal to lose to Lansing and conceding late again in a 1-1 draw with Chattanooga on July 13. FMFC has split the season series with Orlando so far, emerging victorious from its first game in the Sunshine State (the club’s first-ever win) and falling by a goal in the rematch.
This time around, the Flamingos will have the added benefit of extra rest; their previous game came last Tuesday in a 2-1 exhibition win over Leones Negros UdeG, while Orlando played this Wednesday and lost 4-1 to South Georgia Tormenta FC.
Forward Madison’s team is nearly at full strength, although midfielder Brandon Eaton remains out with a left knee sprain.
Orlando City B, meanwhile, has made wholesale changes. The Young Lions fired manager Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita on Thursday, replacing him with interim coach Roberto Sibaja, who was previously with Orlando City U-19s. Orlando will also be missing midfielder Serginho, who leads the team in both assists (4) and shots (28), due to a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Even with new faces and key absences, though, Shore warned it would be perilous to underestimate Orlando City B.
“If they get ahead, they’re a hard team to break down,” he said. “They’re young, so they get after it. This is a game where we feel we’ve got to come out from the get-go and we’ve got to put ourselves in a position where we’re on the front foot.”
Forward Madison is offering several promotions for Saturday’s game, including a Mystery Fanny Pack, a German Beer Boot pack and a Wiener Dog Race pack. Following its game against Orlando City B, FMFC will go on the road to face Toronto FC II next Wednesday before returning home for a game against FC Tucson on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on July 27 vs Orlando City B. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
USL League One – Game 17
Forward Madison FC vs Orlando City B
Saturday, July 27, 2019; 7:00 p.m. CT
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, WI
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 returns to Breese Stevens Field from a week off in need of a win against last-place Orlando City B this Saturday at 7 p.m. The Flamingos are still five points off the playoff places, and with time running out on their inaugural USL League One season, moving up the standings is becoming a now-or-never proposition.
According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, the pressure is on and his team needs to respond accordingly.
“There’s 12 games left, the challenge to our group was we have to get points in all 12 games, and most of those games have to be wins,” Shore said. “The playoffs start on Saturday for us.”
Although Forward Madison looked as if it had hit a good run of form after beating League One’s top two teams in late June and early July, the ‘Mingos have stagnated since, giving up a last-minute goal to lose to Lansing and conceding late again in a 1-1 draw with Chattanooga on July 13. FMFC has split the season series with Orlando so far, emerging victorious from its first game in the Sunshine State (the club’s first-ever win) and falling by a goal in the rematch.
This time around, the Flamingos will have the added benefit of extra rest; their previous game came last Tuesday in a 2-1 exhibition win over Leones Negros UdeG, while Orlando played this Wednesday and lost 4-1 to South Georgia Tormenta FC.
Forward Madison’s team is nearly at full strength, although midfielder Brandon Eaton remains out with a left knee sprain.
Orlando City B, meanwhile, has made wholesale changes. The Young Lions fired manager Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita on Thursday, replacing him with interim coach Roberto Sibaja, who was previously with Orlando City U-19s. Orlando will also be missing midfielder Serginho, who leads the team in both assists (4) and shots (28), due to a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Even with new faces and key absences, though, Shore warned it would be perilous to underestimate Orlando City B.
“If they get ahead, they’re a hard team to break down,” he said. “They’re young, so they get after it. This is a game where we feel we’ve got to come out from the get-go and we’ve got to put ourselves in a position where we’re on the front foot.”
Forward Madison is offering several promotions for Saturday’s game, including a Mystery Fanny Pack, a German Beer Boot pack and a Wiener Dog Race pack. Following its game against Orlando City B, FMFC will go on the road to face Toronto FC II next Wednesday before returning home for a game against FC Tucson on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on July 27 vs Orlando City B. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
