The Break Curve: Playoff-minded Madison get three points from OCB

Hungry for a win, Forward Madison were able to top Orlando City B.

Forward Madison went into the match against Orlando City B knowing that if they intended to make the playoffs, they needed to earn points from each of their twelve remaining matches of their inaugural season. In a match dominated by missed opportunities, Forward Madison fed their hunger for match points with a 1-0 victory over Orlando City B Lions. Mingos’ midfielder Jimmy Banks scored the only goal for his club, despite the many chances taken by his teammates Saturday evening at Breese Stevens Field.

Mingo Maraud (Forward Madison 6-7-4)

Much of the hype surrounding Saturday’s match between visiting Orlando City B and Wisconsin-mainstay, Forward Madison FC, was the big reveal of the Pink Flamingo alternate goalkeeper’s kit.
However, the all-pink, black polka-dotted flamingo-patterned kit top did not get much screen time as forwards Don Smart, Oliver White, and Paulo Júnior were ahead of the numbers Mingos sent into the Lions’ defensive half. Madison’s first-half possession was on the lesser-end sitting at just 46-percent. If you consider the fact that the Lions only took one shot with the greater amount of possession, the Mingos were far-more productive tallying nine shots with three going on frame. Still, of the many chances created, the score remained deadlocked at zero.

Forward’s second-half possession improved. They were the more active side on the evening nearly-doubling their opponents’ efforts in the shots and shots on frame columns of the team sheet. But, possession never tells the full story. The Mingos played their possessions both in the air and on the surface of the pitch. Mingos forwards and midfielders took pressure off the defensive third by winning balls in the upper to middle third much of the time. The Mingos were able to transition out of defense to the attack quickly due to pitch position. This allowed Forward to send more numbers into the box ultimately. OCB, in contrast, spent too much of their possession time trying to build out of the defensive third, which is how Mingos’ Smart managed his five tackles on the day. Also, midfielder J.C. Banks took advantage of that to register his two interceptions. In addition, Madison won many duels off the dribble from Lions’ players.

The Mingos found space in the attacking third to move the ball around because Lions were hanging loose off of them. Forward had 13 chances created from efforts from Júnior, Smart, Banks, and Josiel Nunez. One of the chances created by Nunez went in for Forward Madison. Some things did go the Lions’ way for the evening. OCB goalkeeper Christian Herrera did his best to intimidate Mingos’ Smart and Banks through the evening. Herrera was very vocal and even confrontational, which worked to his advantage clearly. Smart was lined up to take a penalty kick and kicked it out wide missing the post completely. The Mingos had a goal waived off due to a call of goalkeeper interference. But, it wasn’t just shots being completely off target that led to frustration for the Mingos. It was also poor decision-making that played a factor on the evening. OCB were able to capitalize on some shifty passes in the middle and defensive third and put together some runs towards Mingos’ goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. These instances would be the few times that we’d get to see the Pink Flamingo kit on Mingos’ goalkeeper St. Clair in action. Forward Madison struggled to finish on so many drives. The scoreline could have easily read 3-0 by the final whistle.

FlareMingos

J.C. Banks: Forward’s lone goalscorer took two shots on the evening amidst being an active ingredient in the Madison middle third. Both of his shots were on frame, one of which was the winning goal of the match. Banks also managed to create a chance as well.
Josiel Nunez: The midfielder was credited with four chances created including the assist on Banks’ goal. Nunez was causing fits in the box and it was to the Mingos own dismay that more of Nunez’s chances didn’t manifest into assists towards additional goals.
Don Smart: He had a rough night in the attacking third. Smart registered three shots, all of which were off target. He missed the penalty kick early into the match as well. Still, Smart’s five tackles led to some of the chances created by others and he contributed 4 chances of his own on top of that.

Mingo Lingo: J.C. Banks & Head Coach Daryl Shore

On being more decisive with 12 games to go in the season

Banks: We definitely should’ve put the game away by a couple goals. We had some really good
opportunities that we didn’t finish, so we made it hard on ourselves, but we go three points, so it’s all
good.

On the passion and physicality of the game

Shore: Playoff soccer. What we told our guys is the playoffs started tonight. We need to now, in our next
11 games, we can’t drop points, so we have to play like every game is a playoff game. If we dropped
some points it’s probably still gonna be ok, but if you have a playoff mentality and tonight was a playoff
mentality of ‘it’s not going to be pretty, but if you win 1-0, you’ll take it.

On what the team will work on this week

Shore: Rest. We got to rest because we play Wednesday in Toronto, which is a hard place to play, and
then we come back we play Tucson at home. Again, two teams that are in front of us so they become six
point games. If we can go to Toronto and get three points, even one point, it keeps us in the right pace,
and then we come back and Tucson becomes a must win game. Every game at home right now is a must
win game.

This week’s foe: Toronto FC II (6-6-5)

This is the third installment in this season series with Toronto FC II. Earlier this season, Mingos routed Toronto at Breese Stevens Field, but Toronto come away with points far too often at home. Toronto is 4-1-3 at BMO Training Ground. Jordan Perruzza is the clubs’ leading goal scorer with 7 goals on the season. Perruzza is tied for second in the golden boot race. Griffin Dorsey is the leading the club with 4 assists. Dorsey and Luca Petrasso lead the club each with 23 chances created. Kevin Silva has 30 saves on the season. This past Friday, Toronto FC II lost 1-2 to Richmond Kickers.

Next Flight

Wednesday, 7/31, at 3 pm Central Time.
Forward Madison at Toronto FC