Lansing Ignite FC defeated Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 2-0, Wednesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. 

Key Events: 

Robinson Moshobane opened the scoring for Lansing Ignite in the 32nd minute with a brilliant finish. Rafael Mentzingen chased down a loose ball on the right flank then rolled a pass into Moshobane who was waiting at the top of the penalty area. Moshobane let the ball run across his body before striking a stinging shot from 20 yards out that found the top corner of Alex Mangels goal to put the hosts in front. The goal was Moshobane’s third of the season. 

Pato Botello Faz sealed the three points for Lansing with a goal in the 84th minute. Elma N’For broke free on a counter attack, leaving him and Faz in a two-versus-one situation with a Chattanooga defender. After drawing the defender in, N’For played a square pass to Faz, who finished past Mangels to double the Ignite’s advantage. 

The win improves Lansing’s home record to 5-1-3 this season and moves them into a tie for second place in the League One standings with South Georgia Tormenta FC. The Ignite will look to close out Week 19 with another strong performance when they host Orlando City B on Saturday night. 

The loss snaps a nine-game unbeaten streak for Chattanooga. The Red Wolves have now failed to win in five straight matches, which has them on the outside looking in on the playoffs. Head Coach Tim Hankinson’s side will have a chance to climb back into the top four this Saturday when they host the league leaders North Texas SC.  

Forward Madison FC defeated Toronto FC II, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon at BMO Training Ground.   

Key Events: 

Paulo Jr. opened the scoring for Forward Madison just before halftime after Don Smart found him with a cutting through ball from near midfield. Paulo Jr. ran onto Smart’s pass and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Yann Alexandre Fillion to put the visitors up 1-0.

Madison doubled its lead in the 61st minute as Paulo Jr. completed his brace. Paulo Jr. received a pass from Oliver White just inside Toronto’s half and dribbled his way past multiple defenders before firing a shot past Alexandre Fillion from close range to give the Flamingos a 2-0 lead. Paulo Jr.’s goals against TFC II were his third and fourth of the season. 

Paulo Jr. turned from goal-scorer to playmaker in the 65th minute as he sprung Carter Manely free inside the penalty area after a neat exchange of passes. TFC II center back Rocco Romeo got a foot on Manley's shot, but couldn’t keep it out. Romeo was credited with an own goal as Madison made it 3-0.

After coming on as a substitute, Jordan Perruzza scored his eighth goal of the season to cut the deficit to two goals. Liam Fraser played Perruzza through from just inside Madison’s half and the 18-year old striker made no mistake, slipping a shot past Dayne St. Clair to bring him within one goal of North Texas SC’s Ronaldo Damus in the Race for the Golden Boot. 

TFC II’s Griffin Dorsey was issued a second yellow card for breaking up a Forward Madison counter attack in the 81st minute, forcing his side to play down a man for the remainder of the match. 

Brian Bement extended the Flamingo’s lead back to three goals as he knocked in fellow substitute Louie Bennett’s cross from close range to make it 4-1 in the 86th minute. The goal was Bement’s second of the season. 

The win temporarily moves Forward Madison into the fourth and final playoff position, tied on points with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC who play in Lansing later tonight. The Flamingos became just the second team to defeat TFC II in Canada Wednesday afternoon, grabbing their third road win in the process which has them tied for the most wins away from home by a League One club this season. Madison will look to keep the positive momentum going when they return home to host FC Tucson on Saturday night. 

After starting the season 4-0-3 on home turf, Toronto has now lost their last two matches at BMO Training Ground. To make matters worse, both losses came against clubs below them in the table, which allowed Madison to leapfrog them following Wednesday’s result. With just one win in their previous five matches, TFC II has fallen to eighth place in the League One standings, but are still just two points out of the playoff positions. They’ll look to right the ship when they close out their five-game homestand next Friday against Greenville Triumph SC