Fuego FC Falls Short in 2-1 Battle Against Forward Madison

July 24, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Central Valley Fuego FC News Release

Madison, WI – In a thrilling rescheduled match between Central Valley Fuego FC and Forward Madison FC, both teams put on a display of grit and determination in front of a lively crowd at Breese Stevens Field.

The match began with both teams showing strong defensive setups, but it didn’t take long for the tensions to rise. In the 29th minute, Central Valley Fuego’s José Carrera-García received a yellow card for a reckless foul, setting the tone for a fiercely contested game.

Forward Madison capitalized on their momentum in the 38th minute when Christian Chaney found the back of the net with an assist from J. Crull, giving Madison a 1-0 lead.

Central Valley Fuego made two strategic substitutions at halftime in an attempt to turn the tide. R. Mendiola replaced J. Carrera-García, and A. Midence came on for S. John-Brown. The adjustments paid off early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Javier Mariona scored for Fuego, assisted by A. Midence, leveling the score at 1-1.

However, the physical nature of the match continued to escalate. Madison’s Stephen Payne was shown a yellow card in the 54th minute for a reckless offense, and just three minutes later, Fuego’s Razak Cromwell received a yellow card for a tactical foul.

Madison’s coach made a triple substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on W. Prentice, G. McLaughlin, and F. Sousa to inject fresh energy into the squad. This tactical change proved effective as Devin Boyce scored Madison’s second goal in the 66th minute, with an assist from W. Prentice.

Fuego continued to battle hard, but their discipline began to falter. Clayton Torr received a yellow card in the 75th minute for a reckless offense, and just three minutes later, Razak Cromwell was sent off with a red card for another reckless foul, reducing Fuego to 10 men.

Despite being a man down, Fuego pushed for an equalizer but faced more disciplinary issues. In the 88th minute, Madison’s Ferrety Sousa was shown a yellow card for a tactical foul, followed by a flurry of cards in added time. Issa Yaya and Christian Chaney were both booked for arguing in the 91st and 92nd minutes, respectively, and Clayton Torr received a second yellow and subsequent red card in the 93rd minute, further reducing Fuego to nine men.

In the dying moments of the match, Fuego’s Alfredo Midence was shown a yellow card for a reckless offense in the 97th minute, capping off a tumultuous game filled…