Preview: Kickers in Winless Skid Face Rival Madison

Opponent:  Forward Madison (8-5-6)
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug. 5th, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 2 – Lexington 2

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Three Things to Kick About

1. Winless – The Kickers are winless in their past 4 games. Two of those games were draws but that doesn’t hide the fact that as a result of this lackluster performance the Kickers now sit below the playoff line. Lots of games yet to play but this is worst stretch of games for the Kickers since sometime back in 2021. The team has all the tools to turn it around let’s just hope the execute and get it done.
2. Defense? – In the past 4 games the Kickers have given up 11 goals including one own goal that gave Lexington the draw. Past seasons the defense was always solid and dependable. This season the defense is in a word erratic. Missed marks, not challenging, dangerous fouls and perhaps the most unforgivable sin, lazy defending on set pieces. We’ve seen how good this defense can be, they need to find that confidence again.
3. Two Halves – The Kickers have yet this season (okay maybe twice) put together two complete halves of soccer. One half will be fine, good even and then the 2nd half will be a disaster. In order to keep fans guessing the good half will vary sometime the 1st half to give you up of a solid win, sometimes in the 2nd half to give you just a glimmer of hope for the upset win. Last season no matter the scoreline I had hope that the Kickers could pull out a win, this year no matter the scoreline I’m nervous that something will derail the team and disaster will strike.

Prediction

Forward Madison is in a similar slump as the Kickers. Both teams have 2 draws and 1 lose in the past three games. Forward Madison has a +4 goal differential while the Kickers have a -2. Predicting how this team will do has been nearly impossible this season. I thought for sure they would be pumped up and ready to destroy Forward Madison last time they came to town. They did not destroy in fact they lost. The recent signings for the Kickers, all academy kids, help the long term future but don’t do anything for us here and now. I’m afraid I see the slump continuing.

Kickers 0
Madison 2