Wednesday night, Forward Madison lost to FC Tulsa, 3-1, in the second round of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup. Coming off a 2-1 victory over Richmond Kickers in USL League One play, Forward Madison looked to use this momentum in their U.S. Open Cup run. The team has not advanced to the third round since their 2022 campaign, and they fell short again this year.
In the 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, 96 clubs set out to battle for America’s prized domestic cup trophy. Including clubs from Major League Soccer (16), USL Championship (24), USL League One (14), MLS NEXT Pro (10), along with 32 amateur teams, the competition began with just 64 of the clubs drawn into the first round. The remaining 32 teams will be filtered into the competition in later rounds.
Forward Madison, the lone club from Wisconsin in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, is from the USL League One, the third tier of soccer in the U.S. They won their first round match with a decisive 5-1 victory over amateur side Duluth FC on March 20.
Madison’s second round opponent, FC Tulsa, hails from the USL Championship, which is one tier above the USL League One. FC Tulsa, who currently sit in fourth place in the USL Championship Western Conference, advanced into the second round of the cup via a 1-0 win over amateur side Tulsa Athletic.
Playing with a 3-4-3 formation, FC Tulsa controlled the tempo of the match despite holding only 43% of the overall possession. Forward Madison had seven shots on target, compared to FC Tulsa’s three. The Oklahoma side was able to convert when it mattered, and they took advantage of the Flamingos’ willingness to exert energy in possession.
In the third minute, Forward Madison goalkeeper Owen Finnerty saw instant action in his club debut, punching an incoming free kick away from danger. Wing-back Ferrety Sousa found Garrett McLaughlin and Juan Galindrez with servicing passes early on, but neither found the net.
In the 21st minute, FC Tulsa forward Taylor Calheira broke behind Madison’s back line and centered the ball from the left wing, connecting with Owen Damm, who scored to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead.
Forward Madison’s left back Eddie Munjoma, and left winger Nico Brown, connected frequently to cause trouble for FC Tulsa’s defense, but the team simply did not place the ball on frame or in dangerous positions enough.
FC Tulsa responded with a booming goal kick to move the ball out of their half, which was headed back into the center of the pitch. Midfielder Stefan Lukic slotted a pass into the stride of Kalil ElMedkhar, who calmly placed a shot to take a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute.
Near the end of the first half stoppage time, Lukic slid into McLaughlin from behind, causing injury requiring substitution. Lukic received a yellow card for this offense, as the fans booed the Serb during the halftime recess.
Shortly into the second half, Calheira dribbled around Finnerty before Finnerty tackled his legs, conceding a penalty kick. Calheira, a 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI recipient, placed his penalty shot into the bottom right corner to take a 3-0 lead in the 51st minute.
As time ticked away, ‘Mingo midfielder Aiden Mesias cut inside from the right to unleash a shot in the 65th minute, which was met by a diving save. Two minutes later, Galindrez earned a free kick on the top left edge of the penalty area.
Center back Jake Crull curled a cross to find his defensive partner, Timmy Mehl, at the far post. Mehl headed the ball back across the face of the goal, where forward Nazeem Bartman was ready to drive it home. The 68th-minute goal brought the score to 3-1, FC Tulsa, and marked Bartman’s 11th goal for the club.
After colliding in an aerial duel with Derek Gebhard in the 88th minute, Tulsa’s Boubacar Diallo was shown a second yellow card and sent off. FC Tulsa held on to the lead and claimed a 3-1 victory, advancing to the third round.
The draw for the third round will take place at noon today, and these matches will be played April 15-16.
Forward Madison FC will continue its season with an exhibition match against the University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team on Saturday, April 5. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field. On Friday, April 11, they travel to play at Charlotte Independence in USL League One, kicking off at 6 p.m.