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Forward Madison scores fastest goal in League One history, snaps losing streak at home

By Forward Madison FC, 06/16/19, 12:30AM CDT

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Flamingos took momentum with record start to top FC Tucson 2-1 in front of 4,020

For 270 minutes across three different games, Forward Madison couldn’t score a goal at Breese Stevens Field. On Saturday night, that changed in less than 270 seconds. FMFC forward Paulo Júnior scored a goal inside the first minute of play as the Flamingos triumphed 2-1 over FC Tucson.

The win was Forward Madison’s first in over a month of USL League One play, and a much-needed result for the ‘Mingos in terms of their playoff chase. FMFC is still four games out of playoff position, but has at least one game in hand on most of the teams above.

The Flamingos benefitted from having a whole week of rest for the first time since April coming into the game. According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, the time off allowed his team to refocus and get into the right mentality..

“We had a really good week of training and the guys came out fired up to play this game,” Shore said. “[I’m] really pleased with the overall effort, [it was] a really good reaction to what we’ve been going through.”

As soon as the match began, the Flamingos showed their newfound poise. FMFC gained possession and worked the ball wide to J.C. Banks, who played in Brian Bement, who in turn set up Paulo Júnior for an open tap in. At 45 seconds (unofficially), it is the fastest goal in USL League One history.

Wisconsin native Banks didn’t stop his efforts there, as he scored the second goal in the 34th minute off a nice run from Paulo, who darted to the right side of goal and dished a quick ball to the cutting Banks, who remained cool with his finish.

The game started out physical, but settled down over the course of the match. Referee Karen Abt only gave out one yellow card, to Brandon Eaton in the 23rd minute for a high leg on a failed clearance.

In the second half, Madison had some chances, but conceded much of the possession to FC Tucson, which tried unsuccessfully to mount a comeback. Tucson captain Kyle Venter scored a goal off a corner kick in the 95th minute, but by that time it was far too late for the Arizonans.

For FMFC, the second-half addition of Mason Toye saw Don Smart deputize at right back with Carter Manley off the pitch, and Jiro Barriga Toyama got some time on the wing with Paulo coming off. The returns of Minnesota United loan players Toye and Manley gave the Flamingos the extra feet they had desperately needed during their previous run of poor form.

According to Shore, the Flamingos relied on a home crowd of over 4,000 to push them on to victory.

“Our fans have really been behind us and have really been giving us their all, and we owed it to them to come out and put a solid performance in,” he said. “They’re awesome. There are no other words to describe it. They’re awesome.

With their losing skid snapped, the Flamingos can look Forward to another full week of rest before a challenging home game next Saturday against league-leading North Texas SC. After that, FMFC will host Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United in a special exhibition.

“You’re not always going to get an early goal, but the start of it was very good and I think that gave our guys a lot of relief,” Shore said. “We came out and played really well.”

Forward Madison FC 
Head Coach: Daryl Shore
Goalkeeper - Brian Sylvestre #92
Defender- Carter Manley #2 (62’- Mason Toye #9)
Defender - Connor Tobin (captain) #13
Defender- Shaun Russell #15
Defender - Christian “Pato” Diaz #27
Midfielder - Eric Leonard #3
Midfielder - J.C. Banks #29⚽
Midfielder - Brandon Eaton #6 YC
Forward - Brian Bement #14 (88’- #17 Zaire Bartley)
Forward- Don Smart #7
Forward - Paulo Jr. #11  ⚽(76’- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77)

Substitutes
GK- Brian Sylvestre #92
D- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
D- Carl Schneider #23
M- Ally Hamis Ng’Anzi
F- Danny Tenorio 10
F- Zaire Bartley #17
F- Mason Toye #9

FC Tucson
Head Coach: Darren Sawatzky
Goalkeeper - Carlos Merancio #18
Defender- Jose Carlos Terron #3 (75’- Raheem Somersall #6)
Defender - Lamar Batista #22
Defender- Kyle Venter #12 ⚽assisted by Erik Virgen
Defender- Luke Hauswirth #13
Midfielder- Colin Stripling #14
Midfielder - Erik Virgen #50
Midfielder - Jamael Cox #11
Midfielder- Eti Tavares #8 (63’- Zach Wright #19)
Forward- Guillermo Delgado #9 (64’- Roy Abergil #7)
Forward - Jordan Jones #99

Substitutes
GK- Rafa Guerrero #30
D- Kody Wakasa #33
M- Devin Vega #15
M- Devyn Jambga #16
F- Roy Abergil #7
M- Zach Wright #19
M- Raheem Somersall #6

Goals

Forward Madison FC
1’- Paulo Jr. (Brian Bement)
34’- J.C. Banks (Paulo Jr.)

FC Tucson
90+5’ Kyle Venter (Erik Virgen)

Yellow Cards

Forward Madison FC
23’- Brandon Eaton

Referees
Karen Abt
John Krill
Matthew Seem
Abby Van Note

Venue
Breese Stevens Field - Madison, WI

Attendance
4,020

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