‘Mingo Monday: TV deal for Forward, but Madison can’t bring home a win to open the season

The news week for Forward Madison began a little slowly but then things really blew up on Friday. First Madison was loaned three players from Chicago Fire for the 2020 season, all of whom are Homegrown under MLS roster rules.

The a big bang came later in the day with the ‘Mingos securing and announcing a TV deal with local station TVW to air all of the clubs home and away matches during the 2020 USL League One season. While the league’s history is young, there can only be one first, and Forward Madison is the first team in USL1 to get a local tv deal.

“When we realized we would not be able to play matches in our home market, a local broadcast deal to provide Forward Madison soccer to our loyal fans free of charge was a top priority,” Chief Operating Officer/Owner Conor Caloia. “We are excited to have a great partner in TVW that shares our focus and commitment to the greater Madison community.”

That first broadcast would be the teams 2020 opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX against North Texas SC. And this is how the Pink and White would line up for the night.

By far the biggest thing took place prior to kickoff when all 11 starters from both teams took a knee during the National Anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

It would not be Forward Madison scoring first but rather the defending USL League One Champion, North Texas SC. Beni Redzic would dribble the ball in from the box from the side beating a sliding tackle in the process. Redzic would then cut outside towards the top of the box before firing a curving shot into the back of the net to put North Texas up 1-0 in the 11th minute.

Forward Madison would strike back in the 30th minute. Jiro Barriga Toyama would cut through the defense before sending a pass to Paulo Jr about 9 yards deep on the side of the box. Paulo Jr then sent a pass to the top of the six yard box where Wojciech Wojcik just tapped it in the open half of the net to finish the play and even up the match at 1-1.

North Texas would have the last say though when Justin Che sent a low cross into the box where Ronaldo Damus gathered the pass and after about two yards of dribbling slipped a low shot in right underneath Madison keeper Philipp Marceta in the 56th minute.

You can watch the full highlights of the match below.

Forward Madison FC will be back in action this Friday night against Greenville Triumph SC at Hart Park in Wauwatosa, WI. You can catch the match live there, or on TVW in the Madison, WI area and on ESPN+. Stay with E Pluribus Loonum all season long for ‘Mingo Mondays each and every week.