A staunch Forward Madison defensive effort limited Central Valley Fuego FC to a single shot on goal, but that’s all the visitors would need, taking an unlikely 1-0 win in front of 2,605 fans on a rainy night in Madison. It was Forward Madison’s first loss in USL League One play this season.
After a 27-minute weather delay, the first half was largely a box-to-box affair, with Madison’s midfielders employing a press that frustrated Fuego’s midfield and prevented the visitors from building any cohesive attack. Despite holding more than 60% of the first-half possession, Fuego had no shots in the first 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the Mingos created a number of chances, including two from Rojay Smith, one of which went just wide and the other just over the top.
The visitors broke through due to a goalkeeping error in the 54th minute. With Madison’s defenders up the pitch for a corner kick, Fuego was able to play a long clearance out of the back. Twenty yards out of his box, Madison goalkeeper Phil Breno gathered the long ball but took a heavy touch under pressure from Villyan Bijev. Fuego midfielder Jesus Partido, unmarked as the Madison backline scrambled back, gave the loose ball a solid strike from 40 yards away and it rolled in.
Madison had the better of it the rest of the way, ending with 56% of the possession and 12 shots, and created a number of chances well into stoppage time, but ultimately came up short.
“There’s positives there for sure,” head coach Matt Glaeser said after the match. “We just try to stay positive. It’s still very early in the season, a lot of games left. We’ll have to earn our way back in and pick up some points.”
The Mingos next head to league leaders Richmond Kickers for a 5 pm start on May 7.
