Forward Madison vs FC Naples | Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI | 6 pm | Golazo

Following a standout inaugural season in which they finished fourth, then hosted and won a playoff game, FC Naples have been mired in a sophomore slump. They fired manager Matt Poland after a 1-0 loss to Cosmos on July 8, then lost 2-0 to Tampa Bay Rowdies in a USL Cup match, their eight consecutive loss across all competitions. This will be their first league match under interim manager Zak Gordon, and the Mingos will hope to stifle any “new manager bounce” Naples might be hoping for.

Former Mingo Christopher Garcia is setting the pace for scoring, netting four goals in 13 appearances. The rest of the team has not been a scoring much at all — just 14 total goals in 17 games of league play for guys not named Chris Garcia. Meanwhile, Naples has conceded 27.

Their lineup looks a bit like Madison 2025: lots of USL1 veterans (including another former Mingo, Aiden Mesias, as well as familiar names like Luca Mastrontonio, Omar Ciss, Marc Torrellas and Lalo Delgado) who are a bit older, a bit complacent, and just haven’t been able to put it together.

Meanwhile, your Mingos are the hottest team in the league, topping the power rankings and featuring the current Player of the Week in rookie center back Kerfalla Toure. They scored four goals in consecutive games in their last two, a 4-3 Cup win over Union Omaha and a 4-0 drubbing of Richmond Kickers. They’re unbeaten in six (seven if you count a friendly), have yet to lose a game at Breese Stevens Field, and haven’t conceded a goal in 196 minutes of USL League One game action.

So on paper, this should be a manageable match for Madison. I’d expect an aggressive high press early to disrupt Naples’ possession, more lethal long balls from the likes of Kevin Carmichael and Roman Torres, and plenty of chances for Ryan Carmichael and Stephen Annor Gyamfi — who slammed the door with Madison’s fourth goal against Richmond, his first since May 29. Here’s hoping that gets the confidence up and more goals coming from his crafty right foot.

I also wouldn’t be surprised to see some rotation, as this is the first of three games in eight days. Jackson Castro and Roman Torres clearly make up manager Matt Glaeser’s favored midfield pairing, but Mark Segbers, Joshua Bolma and Kage Romanshyn can all fill in ably (and center back Collin McCamy can step into that role if necessary). The addition of Jahlane Forbes provides some depth on the wings as well, so Geni Kanyane and Eddie Munjoma don’t have to hold it down all three matches.

No matter who the first 11 to the pitch are, they’ve earned a bit of swagger. And if they can keep that from tipping into overconfidence, I’m optimistic that we’ll come out of it with three points.

On a hot, hot night, Forward Madison’s offense exploded for four goals inside the stadium, then a transformer exploded outside the stadium. And when the TV broadcast came back online, Madison had run its unbeaten streak to seven with a Henny Derby drubbing of Richmond Kickers. On this week’s podcast, Ethan and I talk through that game, then talk to the man responsible for half of those goals, center back Kerfalla Toure.

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