August 13, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Forward Madison FC News Release
Forward Madison FC returned home to Breese Stevens Field for a USL League One match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. The match kicked off at 7:00 pm CT on Saturday, August 13th. A back and forth close match resulted in a 1-1 draw. The Flamingos’ strong defensive effort along with a late Alvin Jones goal proved to be crucial in helping the Flamingos earn a point at home.
The opening half of Saturday’s match kicked off just as the rain in Madison came to an end. Chattanooga recorded the first corner kick of the game in the 1st minute, but Eric Leonard managed to clear the ball out of the box. In the 11th minute mark, Leonard made a perfectly timed tackle in the box, leading to a Red Wolves corner. Forward Madison logged its first chance of the match in the 14th minute when Alann Torres crossed the ball to Jeremiah Streng, who just missed the net. Chattanooga opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Juan Galindrez applied pressure on Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu causing Wheeler-Omiunu to push the ball wide. Galindrez beat Wheeler-Omiunu to the ball and shot the ball into the open net, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead. In the 22nd minute, the Red Wolves starting goalkeeper, Tor Saunders, suffered a non-contact injury and was forced to exit the game. Saunders managed to walk off on his own power, but Chattanooga’s backup keeper, Carlos Avilez, had to sub onto the pitch.
By the 30th minute, Forward Madison began to gain back some confidence on offense. The ‘Mingos recorded a free kick in the 32nd minute which resulted in a cross to Streng, but the striker couldn’t connect with the ball. The Flamingos continued to threaten Chattanooga as the half progressed. In the 37th minute, Rojay Smith drove through the defense and towards the Red Wolves’ box with numbers. Smith shot a slow ball at the lower right corner of the net but Chattanooga’s keeper was able to make the save. With six minutes of stoppage time until the half, Forward Madison ramped up the pressure. At the 45+5th minute mark, Wheeler-Omiunu flashed a cross across the goal, but Streng couldn’t get enough of it. The squads entered the halftime break with Chattanooga ahead 1-0.
Chattanooga began the second half with a double substitution, as Ryley Kraft and Nicolas Cardona subbed in for Ualefi Dos Reis and DJ Benton. In the 51st minute, Raiko Arozarena came up with a punch save as Chattanooga started to threaten on the…