2022 Central Valley Fuego FC season

Central Valley Fuego FC 2022 soccer season
Central Valley Fuego FC
2022 season
OwnerJuan and Alicia Ruelas
Head coachJaime Ramirez
StadiumFresno State Soccer Stadium
USL1 PlayoffsDNQ
U.S. Open CupThird Round
Highest home attendance2,752 (5/7 vs. GVL)
Lowest home attendance1,075 (8/6 vs. OMA)
Average home league attendance1,594
Biggest winTRM 0–4 CV (5/21)
Biggest defeatCLT 4–0 CV (7/29)

The 2022 Central Valley Fuego FC season was the first season in the club's existence. It marks the return of professional soccer to Fresno since USL Championship club Fresno FC dissolved in October 2019.[1] The club will play its first season in USL League One in the third division of the American soccer pyramid. They will play their home games at Fresno State Soccer Stadium on the campus of Fresno State University.

Jaime Ramirez, initially named the team's sporting director, was later named the head coach in late December.[2] He would resign his position in the preseason, and was replaced by Milton Blanco in the interim.[3] Martín Vásquez was named the permanent head coach on April 14.[4]

Club

Roster

As of March 10, 2022[5]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Ofek Antman  Israel
4 DF William Gillingham  England
5 DF Nathan Smith  United States
6 MF Ozzie Ramos  United States
7 MF Mouhamed Dabo  Senegal
8 MF Victor Falck  Sweden
9 FW Christian Chaney  United States
10 MF Anthony Velarde  United States
12 FW Michael McFarlane  United States
13 DF Francois Dulysse  Haiti
14 MF Julian Chavez  United States
15 DF Jordan Chavez  United States
16 MF Neil Boyal  United States
17 FW Tunde Akinlosotu  United States
18 GK Mitch North  United States
20 FW Villyan Bijev  Bulgaria
22 MF Diego Casillas  Mexico
23 FW Renato Bustamante  Peru
28 MF Marco Torralva  United States
30 DF Maxi Schenfeld  Chile
31 GK Matías Fernández  United States
32 MF Alan Gutierrez  United States
— DF Michael Hornsby  Germany

Competitions

Exhibitions

Sacramento Republic FC v Fuego FC
February 26, 2022 (2022-02-26) Preseason 1 Sacramento Republic FC 3–2 Fuego FC Sacramento, California
2:00 PM PST Report Stadium: Cosumnes River College Stadium
Oakland Roots SC v Fuego FC
March 5, 2022 (2022-03-05) Preseason 2 Oakland Roots SC 1–0 Fuego FC Oakland, California
3:00 PM PST Report
Fuego FC v Cal State Northridge
March 12, 2022 (2022-03-12) Preseason 3 Fuego FC v Cal State Northridge
3:00 PM PDT

USL League One

Standings

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
6 Charlotte Independence 30 12 12 6 48 48 0 42 Qualification for the play-offs
7 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 30 11 10 9 42 38 +4 42
8 Central Valley Fuego FC 30 11 12 7 37 40 −3 40
9 Forward Madison FC 30 7 11 12 34 44 −10 33
10 FC Tucson 30 8 14 8 34 44 −10 32
Source: USL League One
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.

Match results

Greenville Triumph v Fuego FC
April 2, 2022 (2022-04-02) 1 Greenville Triumph 0–2 Fuego FC Greenville, South Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Smith Yellow card 13'
Lee Yellow card 40'
Labovitz Yellow card 67'		 Report Falck Yellow card 20'
Chaney 56', 69'
Casillas Yellow card 80'
Antman Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Legacy Early College Field
Attendance: 2,561
Referee: William Steffen
Charlotte Independence v Fuego FC
April 8, 2022 (2022-04-08) 2 Charlotte Independence 3–3 Fuego FC Charlotte, North Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Mbuyu 32', 41'
Dutey 89'
McNeill Yellow card 90'
Dimick Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Chaney Yellow card 34'
Ramos 39', Yellow card 43'
Bijev 81', 90+6'		 Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,435
Referee: Izlen Peksenar
Union Omaha v Fuego FC
April 23, 2022 (2022-04-23) 3 Union Omaha 3–0 Fuego FC Papillion, Nebraska
4:00 PM PDT Kametani 48'
Malcolm 90'
Scearce 90+4' (pen)		 Report S. Chavez Yellow card 15' Yellow-red card 90+3'
Ramos Yellow card 17'
Smith Yellow card 63'
Casillas Yellow card 90+4'		 Stadium: Werner Park
Attendance: 3,375
Referee: Greg Dopka
Forward Madison v Fuego FC
April 30, 2022 (2022-04-30) 4 Forward Madison 0–1 Fuego FC Madison, Wisconsin
3:00 PM PDT Maldonado Yellow card 27'
Leonard Yellow card 44'
Bartman Yellow card 90+6'		 Report Ramos Yellow card
Partida Yellow card 51', 54'
Schenfeld Yellow card 61'
Dulysse Yellow card 81'
Smith Yellow card 82'
Antman Yellow card 87'		 Stadium: Breese Stevens Field
Attendance: 2,605
Referee: Jervis Atagana
Fuego FC v Greenville Triumph
May 7, 2022 (2022-05-07) 5 Fuego FC 1–1 Greenville Triumph Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Falck Yellow card 6'
Ramos Yellow card 41'
Casillas 45+3'
Smith Yellow card 68'
Chaney Yellow card 71'
Dieye Yellow card 84'		 Report Gavilanes Yellow card 46'
Dulysse 53' (o.g.)
Lee Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 2,752
Referee: Adam Zarrin
Chattanooga Red Wolves v Fuego FC
May 14, 2022 (2022-05-14) 6 Chattanooga Red Wolves 2–2 Fuego FC East Ridge, Tennessee
4:30 PM PDT Mentzingen 3'
Galindrez 45+5' (pen)
Lombardi Yellow card 50'
Luna Yellow card 56'
Cardona Yellow card 89'
Carrera-García Red card 90'		 Report Casillas 15'
Falck 45+3'
Schenfeld Yellow card 90+7'		 Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,104
Referee: Kyle Johnston
Tormenta FC v Fuego FC
May 21, 2022 (2022-05-21) 7 Tormenta FC 0–4 Fuego FC Statesboro, Georgia
4:30 PM PDT Sterling Yellow card 31' Report Falck 12'
S. Chavez 17'
Bijev 35', 42'
Schenfeld Yellow card 59'
Dulysse Yellow card 61'
Hornsby Yellow card 75'
Antman Yellow card 77'
Bustamante Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Optim Health System Field
Attendance: 1,254
Referee: Alejo Calume
Fuego FC v Forward Madison
May 28, 2022 (2022-05-28) 8 Fuego FC 1–1 Forward Madison Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT
Report
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Referee: Karen Callado
Fuego FC v Chattanooga Red Wolves
June 11, 2022 (2022-06-11) 9 Fuego FC 0–2 Chattanooga Red Wolves Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT
Report
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,545
Referee: Laura Rodriguez
Fuego FC v FC Tucson
June 18, 2022 (2022-06-18) 10 Fuego FC 0–0 FC Tucson Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Ramos Yellow card 21'
Dieye Yellow card 48'
Schenfeld Yellow card 56'
Chaney Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Fahling Yellow card 65'
Bedoya Yellow card 73'
Shaw Yellow card 78'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Referee: Joseph Salinas
Hailstorm FC v Fuego FC
June 22, 2022 (2022-06-22) 11 Hailstorm FC 4–1 Fuego FC Windsor, Colorado
6:00 PM PDT McLean 21'
Amann 41'
Parra Yellow card 50', 74'
Hernández 77'		 Report Casillas 7'
Gillingham Yellow card 45+2'
Dieye Yellow card 83'
Smith Yellow card 90+6' Yellow-red card 90+7'		 Stadium: Future Legends Complex
Referee: Joshua Belzer
Fuego FC v North Carolina FC
June 25, 2022 (2022-06-25) 12 Fuego FC 3–2 North Carolina FC Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Ramos Yellow card 17'
S. Chavez Yellow card 18'
Dulysse Yellow card 22'
Schenfeld 30'
Chaney 45+5', 75'
Antman Yellow card 65'
Diaz Yellow card 80'		 Report Servania Yellow card 18'
Anderson 37', Yellow card 66'
Fernandes Yellow card 45+2'
McLaughlin 90'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,753
Referee: Michael Zapata
Fuego FC v Tormenta FC
July 2, 2022 (2022-07-02) 13 Fuego FC 0–1 Tormenta FC Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Dullysse Yellow card 31'
Villarreal Yellow card 78'		 Report Cabral 60'
Nembhard Yellow card 70'
Jara Yellow card 87'
Soto Yellow card 90+4'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,546
Referee: Robert Vincze
Greenville Triumph v Fuego FC
July 9, 2022 (2022-07-09) 14 Greenville Triumph 1–0 Fuego FC Greenville, South Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Evans 66' Report Casillas Yellow card 80' Stadium: Legacy Early College Field
Attendance: 1,832
Referee: Josiah Parke
Hailstorm FC v Fuego FC
July 13, 2022 (2022-07-13) 15 Hailstorm FC 0–1 Fuego FC Windsor, Colorado
6:00 PM PDT Folla Yellow card 37'
Lukic Yellow card 65' Yellow-red card 90'
Nortey Yellow card 90'
Cornwall Yellow card 90+4'		 Report Ramos Yellow card 26'
Torralva Yellow card 32'
Partida Yellow card 54'
Chaney Yellow card 87', 90+2'		 Stadium: Future Legends Complex
Attendance: 596
Referee: Esad Omanovic
Fuego FC v Richmond Kickers
July 23, 2022 (2022-07-23) 16 Fuego FC 3–1 Richmond Kickers Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Falck 16', 35'
Hornsby Yellow card 45'
Partida Yellow card 53'
Cerritos 58'
Strong Yellow card 63'		 Report Payne Yellow card 15' Yellow-red card 19'
Barnathan 45', Yellow card 76'
Aune Red card 48'
Fitzgerald Yellow card 56'
Candela Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,345
Referee: Adrian Gonzalez
Charlotte Independence v Fuego FC
July 29, 2022 (2022-07-29) 17 Charlotte Independence 4–0 Fuego FC Charlotte, North Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Dutey Yellow card 12'
Ciss Yellow card 16'
Bennett Yellow card 20', 39', 45+3', 64'
Santos Yellow card 43'
Acosta 52'		 Report S. Chavez Yellow card 66'
Keslley Yellow card 73'
Chaney Yellow card 90+1'		 Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,511
Referee: Emma Richards
Fuego FC v Chattanooga Red Wolves
August 3, 2022 (2022-08-03) 18 Fuego FC 0–1 Chattanooga Red Wolves Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Casillas Yellow card 29' Yellow-red card 45+3'
Bijev Yellow card 39'
Antman Yellow card 74'
Dieye Yellow card 77'
Partida Yellow card 90+2'
Chaney soccer ball with red X 90+6'		 Report Cartagena Yellow card 20'
Carrera-García Yellow card 49'
A. Hernández 74'
Saunders Yellow card 85'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,143
Referee: Killian Richardson
Fuego FC v Union Omaha
August 6, 2022 (2022-08-06) 19 Fuego FC 0–1 Union Omaha Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Bijev soccer ball with red X 16'
Partida Yellow card 29'
Chaney Yellow card 78'
S. Chavez Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Nuhu Yellow card 16'
Scearce 23'
Brito Yellow card 40'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,075
Referee: Joseph Salinas
North Carolina FC v Fuego FC
August 13, 2022 (2022-08-13) 20 North Carolina FC 0–1 Fuego FC Cary, North Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Martinez Yellow card 19'
Servania Yellow card 78'
Tahir Yellow card 90+4'		 Report Smith 34'
Dieye Yellow card 40'
Gillingham Yellow card 45+2'
Bijev Yellow card 61'
Chaney Yellow card 90+8'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,092
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
Fuego FC v Richmond Kickers
August 20, 2022 (2022-08-20) 21 Fuego FC 2–2 Richmond Kickers Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Falck 24' Yellow card 32'
Smith Yellow card 36'
Villarreal Yellow card 57'
North Yellow card 60'
Schenfeld 67'		 Report Bolanos Yellow card 38'
Aune Yellow card 57'
Terzaghi 70' (pen.)
Bentley 90+3'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,193
Referee: Robert Vincze
Fuego FC v Tormenta FC
August 27, 2022 (2022-08-27) 22 Fuego FC 0–2 Tormenta FC Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Casillas Yellow card 24'
Cerritos Yellow card 65'
Schenfeld Yellow card 70'		 Report Cabral Yellow card 25'
Sterling 26', 54'
Phelps Yellow card 45+5'
Akale Yellow card 54'
Sierakowski Yellow card 71'
Billhardt Yellow card 90+5'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,074
Referee: Adam Zarrin
Fuego FC v FC Tucson
August 31, 2022 (2022-08-31) 23 Fuego FC 3–2 FC Tucson Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Chaney 34', Yellow card 45+3'
Dieye 52'
Falck Yellow card 57', 75'
Dabo Yellow card 78'		 Report F. Pérez 16', Yellow card 81'
Toia 25'
Sunday Red card 40'
Fahling Yellow card 45' Red card 90+1'
L. Perez Yellow card 77'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 826
Referee: Adrian Gonzalez
Fuego FC v Charlotte Independence
September 17, 2022 (2022-09-17) 25 Fuego FC 0–3 Charlotte Independence Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Smith Yellow card 36'
Dullysse Yellow card 36'
Villarreal Yellow card 45+1'		 Report Falck 38' (o.g.)
Bennett 43', 55', Yellow card 79'
Mbuyu Yellow card 58'
Zendejas Yellow card 64'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Fuego FC v Forward Madison
September 21, 2022 (2022-09-21) 26 Fuego FC 3–0 Forward Madison Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Chaney 9'
Ramos Yellow card 51'
Dieye 82', 90+2'		 Report Conner Yellow card 36' Yellow-red card 73'
Cassini Red card 50'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,078
Referee: Karen Callado
Richmond Kickers v Fuego FC
September 24, 2022 (2022-09-24) 27 Richmond Kickers 1–1 Fuego FC Richmond, Virginia
3:30 PM PDT Bryant 36'
Bolanos Yellow card 58'
Crisler Yellow card 75'		 Report Ramos Yellow card 31'
Schenfeld Yellow card 43'
Bijev Yellow card 55'
Crisler 69' (o.g.)
S. Chavez Yellow card 74' Yellow-red card 80'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
North Carolina FC v Fuego FC
September 28, 2022 (2022-09-28) 24 North Carolina FC 2–1 Fuego FC Cary, North Carolina
4:00 PM PDT Fernandes Yellow card 9'
McLaughlin 22'
Skelton Yellow card 47'
Rincon 68'
Pecka Yellow card 90'
Servania Yellow card 90+5'		 Report Vera Yellow card 24'
Chaney 29', Yellow card 90+2'
Dabo Yellow card 58'
Falck Yellow card 63'
Strong Red card 73'
Hornsby Yellow card 76'
Dullysse Yellow card 90+4'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Josiah Parke
Note: Re-schedule of Sept. 10 match that was postponed due to travel difficulties.[6]
Fuego FC v Hailstorm FC
October 1, 2022 (2022-10-01) 28 Fuego FC 0–1 Hailstorm FC Fresno, California
7:30 PM PDT Dieye Yellow card 10'
Falck Yellow card 58'
Schenfeld Yellow card 72'
Dabo Yellow card 86'
Smith Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Amann Yellow card 14'
Dullysse 62' (o.g.)
Cornwall Yellow card 58'
Hernández Yellow card 71'		 Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Referee: Brandon Stevis
FC Tucson v Fuego FC
October 5, 2022 (2022-10-05) 29 FC Tucson 0–2 Fuego FC Tucson, Arizona
7:00 PM PDT Mastrantonio Yellow card 12' Report Villarreal Yellow card 13'
Chaney Yellow card 43' 68'
Casillas Yellow card 45+2'
Vazquez 50'
Smith Yellow card 70'		 Stadium: Kino North Stadium
Referee: DeShun Beard
Union Omaha v Fuego FC
October 15, 2022 (2022-10-15) 30 Union Omaha 0–2 Fuego FC Papillion, Nebraska
2:00 PM PDT Rivera Yellow card 23' Report Casillas Yellow card 32'
S. Chavez Yellow card 40'
Villarreal Yellow card 45+2'
Dieye 61', Yellow card 74'
Chaney Yellow card 78', 90+10'
Gillingham Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Werner Park
Attendance: 3,174
Referee: Ricardo Fierro

U.S. Open Cup

Fuego FC made their Open Cup debut in the Second Round.

Fuego FC (USL1) California v Texas El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC)
April 5 2nd Round Fuego FC (USL1) California 4–1Texas El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC)Clovis, California
7:30 pm PDT
Report
Stadium: Lamonica Stadium at Clovis High School
Referee: Michael Zapata
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) California v California Central Valley Fuego FC (USL1)
April 20 3rd Round Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) California 2–1 California Central Valley Fuego FC (USL1) Sacramento, California
7:30 pm PDT Casey 44'
LaGrassa Yellow card 54'
López 90+4' (pen)		 Report Smith Yellow card 56'
Bustamante 78'
Dullysse Yellow card 80'
Ramos Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: Heart Health Park
Attendance: 3,712

References

  1. ^ "Fresno FC announces it's done in Fresno, ceasing operations". KFSN-TV. October 29, 2019.
  2. ^ Marden, Andrew (December 16, 2020). "FPU's Jaime Ramirez named 'Sporting Director' for Central Valley Fuego FC". YourCentralValley.com. KSEE/KGPE. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. ^ Fuego FC Staff (April 13, 2022). "Fuego FC Announces Technical Staff Update". fuegofc.com. Central Valley Fuego FC. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Fuego FC Staff (April 14, 2022). "Central Valley Fuego FC Announces Martín Vásquez As New Head Coach For USL League One Team". fuegofc.com. Central Valley Fuego FC. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Christian Chaney Signs with Central Valley Fuego FC". fuegofc.com. Central Valley Fuego FC. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "North Carolina FC vs. Central Valley Fuego FC Postponed". September 8, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
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