Forward Madison made its return to Breese Stevens Field in spectacular fashion Saturday night, scoring a last-minute winner courtesy of Derek Gebhard to secure a 1-0 victory against North Carolina FC. The Flamingos battled all game, but saved their best for last through Gebhard’s emotional stoppage-time goal.
“It was awesome, and to think this isn’t even full capacity and how excited everybody got, it was really an amazing feeling,” Gebhard said. “I can’t wait to come back here again and experience that with even more people.”
The first half was one-way traffic for the Flamingos as the fans roared them on in their regular season return to Breese Stevens Field, the first game the team had played in Madison in 601 days. Carl Craig’s men only managed two shots on target, though, through defenders Connor Tobin and Ronaldo Lomeli.
The captain Tobin expressed the emotion of the return to Breese Stevens Field after the team spent last year playing home games in Wauwatosa.
“Coming back here, you couldn’t ask for a match that was more indicative of what we were going through during the pandemic,” Tobin said. “The whole game, it doesn’t feel like it’s coming together, you can’t overcome it, you can’t overcome it. You know what, when we’re together, players and supporters that stay together, you find a way to persevere.”
The second half was a quiet affair until Gebhard stole the show with a goal in the 92nd minute by tapping in Jake Keegan’s deflected shot. Gebhard played an active game all night and was rewarded for his efforts with a simple finish.
Gebhard’s goal unleashed pure euphoria inside the stadium, securing a much-anticipated win that many Forward Madison supporters had waited well over a year for.
“I’ve been saying all through preseason that Derek’s a fellow to watch,” head coach Carl Craig said. “That kid’s got to be over the moon. What a lovely fellow, unassuming, just quietly goes about his business, and for him to get the winner like that is outstanding.”
Forward Madison will remain at home for the next 11 days before hosting Union Omaha in the Owls’ first visit to Breese Stevens Field on May 26. After that, a two-game road trip will see the ‘Mingos face South Georgia Tormenta FC and Fort Lauderdale CF on May 29 and June 1.
Forward Madison made its return to Breese Stevens Field in spectacular fashion Saturday night, scoring a last-minute winner courtesy of Derek Gebhard to secure a 1-0 victory against North Carolina FC. The Flamingos battled all game, but saved their best for last through Gebhard’s emotional stoppage-time goal.
“It was awesome, and to think this isn’t even full capacity and how excited everybody got, it was really an amazing feeling,” Gebhard said. “I can’t wait to come back here again and experience that with even more people.”
The first half was one-way traffic for the Flamingos as the fans roared them on in their regular season return to Breese Stevens Field, the first game the team had played in Madison in 601 days. Carl Craig’s men only managed two shots on target, though, through defenders Connor Tobin and Ronaldo Lomeli.
The captain Tobin expressed the emotion of the return to Breese Stevens Field after the team spent last year playing home games in Wauwatosa.
“Coming back here, you couldn’t ask for a match that was more indicative of what we were going through during the pandemic,” Tobin said. “The whole game, it doesn’t feel like it’s coming together, you can’t overcome it, you can’t overcome it. You know what, when we’re together, players and supporters that stay together, you find a way to persevere.”
The second half was a quiet affair until Gebhard stole the show with a goal in the 92nd minute by tapping in Jake Keegan’s deflected shot. Gebhard played an active game all night and was rewarded for his efforts with a simple finish.
Gebhard’s goal unleashed pure euphoria inside the stadium, securing a much-anticipated win that many Forward Madison supporters had waited well over a year for.
“I’ve been saying all through preseason that Derek’s a fellow to watch,” head coach Carl Craig said. “That kid’s got to be over the moon. What a lovely fellow, unassuming, just quietly goes about his business, and for him to get the winner like that is outstanding.”
Forward Madison will remain at home for the next 11 days before hosting Union Omaha in the Owls’ first visit to Breese Stevens Field on May 26. After that, a two-game road trip will see the ‘Mingos face South Georgia Tormenta FC and Fort Lauderdale CF on May 29 and June 1.
Forward Madison FC
Goalkeeper: Phil Breno #1
Defender: Ronaldo Lomeli #2 (63’ Christian Diaz)
Defender: Connor Tobin #13 (C)
Defender: Gustavo Fernandes #4
Defender: Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
Midfielder: Aaron Molloy #6
Midfielder: Audi Jepson #20
Midfielder: Michael Vang #8 (63’ Justin Sukow)
Forward: Tyler Allen #23 (70’ Noah Fuson)
Forward: Jake Keegan #7
Forward: Derek Gebhard #17
Unused Substitutes: Aidan Hogan #24; Heath Martin #11; Eric Leonard #3;
Head Coach: Carl Craig
North Carolina FC
Goalkeeper: Jake McGuire #18
Defender: Nelson Martinez #14
Defender: Malick M’Baye #5
Defender: Max Flick #4
Defender: Peter Pearson #12
Midfielder: Pecka #7
Midfielder: Josh Coan #17 (78’- Cole Frame)
Midfielder: Selmir Miscic #9 (80’- Colin McCamy)
Forward: Luis Arriaga #8
Forward: Robby Kristo #11
Forward: Nelson Flores #6
Unused Substitutes: Nicholas Holliday #24; Malyk Hamilton #2, Britton Fishcer #25; Curtis de Leon #23; Jay Tee Kamara #19
Head Coach: John Bradford
Goals
Forward Madison
90+2’- Derek Gebhard
Discipline
Forward Madison
35’- Derek Gebhard (yellow)
45+1’- Gustavo Fernandes (yellow)
North Carolina FC
80’ – Peter Pearson (yellow)
Referees:
Calin Radosav
Matthew Seem
Rachel Smith
Alex Hofstetter
Venue: Breese Stevens Field, Madison WI
Attendance: 1,529
Forward Madison FC
Goalkeeper: Phil Breno #1
Defender: Ronaldo Lomeli #2 (63’ Christian Diaz)
Defender: Connor Tobin #13 (C)
Defender: Gustavo Fernandes #4
Defender: Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
Midfielder: Aaron Molloy #6
Midfielder: Audi Jepson #20
Midfielder: Michael Vang #8 (63’ Justin Sukow)
Forward: Tyler Allen #23 (70’ Noah Fuson)
Forward: Jake Keegan #7
Forward: Derek Gebhard #17
Unused Substitutes: Aidan Hogan #24; Heath Martin #11; Eric Leonard #3;
Head Coach: Carl Craig
North Carolina FC
Goalkeeper: Jake McGuire #18
Defender: Nelson Martinez #14
Defender: Malick M’Baye #5
Defender: Max Flick #4
Defender: Peter Pearson #12
Midfielder: Pecka #7
Midfielder: Josh Coan #17 (78’- Cole Frame)
Midfielder: Selmir Miscic #9 (80’- Colin McCamy)
Forward: Luis Arriaga #8
Forward: Robby Kristo #11
Forward: Nelson Flores #6
Unused Substitutes: Nicholas Holliday #24; Malyk Hamilton #2, Britton Fishcer #25; Curtis de Leon #23; Jay Tee Kamara #19
Head Coach: John Bradford
Goals
Forward Madison
90+2’- Derek Gebhard
Discipline
Forward Madison
35’- Derek Gebhard (yellow)
45+1’- Gustavo Fernandes (yellow)
North Carolina FC
80’ – Peter Pearson (yellow)
Referees:
Calin Radosav
Matthew Seem
Rachel Smith
Alex Hofstetter
Venue: Breese Stevens Field, Madison WI
Attendance: 1,529
