In the heat of a race for a postseason berth, with energizing high points and momentum-shifting defeats, Forward Madison FC players have talked in recent weeks about being in a playoff mindset.
That focus will get put to an extreme test on the final day of the USL League One campaign, with a chance to extend the season in the balance.
The Flamingos can claim the final spot in the four-team postseason with a victory Saturday at second-place Lansing Ignite FC. Anything less from the 2 p.m. game means that fifth-place Chattanooga Red Wolves SC can pass Forward Madison with a victory in a 6 p.m. home game against sixth-place Toronto FC II.
Forward Madison had its first chance to clinch last Friday with a victory at FC Tucson, but the teams tied 1-1.
“There’s no other way to have it than to control your own destiny,” Forward Madison coach Daryl Shore said. “We control our fate, and it’s on us. We obviously haven’t made it easy for ourselves. We’re going into a hard place to play against a very good team.
“But at the same time, if we’re going to get into the playoffs you’re going to have to face the best teams in the league. So you might as well try to match up with them before then.”
Forward Madison (11-9-7) has lost its first two games against Lansing (12-5-10) in its inaugural season, 1-0 at home on June 1 and 3-2 on the road on July 9. In the latter, the Flamingos tied the game in the fourth minute of stoppage time through a J.C. Banks goal, only to concede the winner a minute later.
Those are the kinds of results that, in retrospect, look big when a team is counting points in a playoff chase. Forward Madison was in last place after a fourth straight loss left it 2-6-2 through 10 games but pulled its season back by going 6-1-2 in its next nine contests.
Forward Madison FC didn’t get the victory that would have clinched a USL League One playoff spot, but a 1-1 draw Friday at FC Tucson put the heat on the only team that can catch the Flamingos.
It has strung together victories only once since then but enters the final week with a four-game unbeaten run.
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