June 11, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Forward Madison FC News Release
Forward Madison FC welcomed Greenville Triumph SC to Breese Stevens Field for a key USL League One match. FMFC’s 3-2 historic first-ever victory over Greenville kicked off at 7:00 pm CT on Saturday, June 11th, 2022. The match featured the top team in the USL League One in Greenville, who FMFC lost to 2-0 earlier in the season. This match, however, was a very different story as the Flamingos opened the first half as strong as possible. In the 2′, Mikey Maldonado quickly pushed a counterattack and then passed it to Matheus Cassini who fired a goal past the Greenville goalkeeper, Paul Christensen, who’s tied for the league lead in clean sheets. Not only did Cassini log his first goal of the season, but he tallied the second-fastest goal in FMFC history.
The ‘Mingos continued to be aggressive in the opening half holding a 1-0 lead, as Cassini nearly scored again in the 25′ with a shot that hit off the top of the goal post. Cassini’s presence and non-stop defensive pressure in the first half played a key role in helping the Flamingos build momentum. The Brazilian midfielder recorded his third shot on goal in the 29′ after a header in the box was barely saved by Greenville. The Triumph regained some momentum at the end of the half, pressing well which caused a turnover, leading to a Greenville goal in the 40’. The first half ended with the score all tied up at 1-1.
The second half began with another strong start for the Flamingos. At the 49′ mark, Nazeem Bartman controlled a deep pass and hit Matheus Cassini who crossed it into the box, resulting in a deflection into the net for an own goal. The goal that gave FMFC the 2-1 lead was credited as an own goal to Greenville’s Nate Schultz. In the 58′, Greenville took a quality shot on goal which was saved by a sliding Eric Leonard. After a quick steal in the 62′ by Derek Gebhard, the Flamingos got a breakaway with Matheus Cassini, who shot a goal around the Greenville goalkeeper to punch in his second goal of the game, giving FMFC a 3-1 lead. Phil Breno came up with a couple of huge saves around the 68′ to help Forward Madison hang onto its two-goal lead. Greenville took back some momentum in the 72′ when good passing led to another Jacob Labovitz goal. With seven minutes of stoppage time added, Forward Madison held a 3-2 lead over the top team in the USL League One. Greenville recorded one last quality shot on goal, but Breno…