The 2022 Central Valley Fuego FC season was the first season in the club's existence. It marked the return of professional soccer to Fresno since USL Championship club Fresno FC dissolved in October 2019.[1] The club played its first season in USL League One in the third division of the American soccer pyramid. They played their home games at Fresno State Soccer Stadium on the campus of Fresno State University.
| 2022 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Juan and Alicia Ruelas |
| Head coach | Jaime Ramirez |
| Stadium | Fresno State Soccer Stadium |
| USL1 Playoffs | DNQ |
| U.S. Open Cup | Third Round |
| Highest home attendance | 2,752 (5/7 vs. GVL) |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,075 (8/6 vs. OMA) |
| Average home league attendance | 1,594 |
| Biggest win | TRM 0–4 CV (5/21) |
| Biggest defeat | CLT 4–0 CV (7/29) |
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
editRoster
edit- 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
editExhibitions
edit| February 26, 2022 Preseason 1 | Sacramento Republic FC | 3–2 | Fuego FC | Sacramento, California |
| 2:00 PM PST | Report | Stadium: Cosumnes River College Stadium |
| March 5, 2022 Preseason 2 | Oakland Roots SC | 1–0 | Fuego FC | Oakland, California |
| 3:00 PM PST | Report |
| March 12, 2022 Preseason 3 | Fuego FC | v | Cal State Northridge | |
| 3:00 PM PDT |
USL League One
editStandings
edit| Pos | Team | 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.
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
edit| April 2, 2022 1 | Greenville Triumph | 0–2 | Fuego FC | Greenville, South Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Smith  13' Lee 40' Labovitz 67' |
Report | Falck 20' Chaney  56', 69' Casillas 80' Antman 86' |
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,561 Referee: William Steffen |
| April 8, 2022 2 | Charlotte Independence | 3–3 | Fuego FC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Mbuyu 32', 41' Dutey 89' McNeill 90' Dimick 90+7' |
Report | Chaney 34' Ramos 39', 43' Bijev 81', 90+6' |
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,435 Referee: Izlen Peksenar |
| April 23, 2022 3 | Union Omaha | 3–0 | Fuego FC | Papillion, Nebraska |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Kametani 48' Malcolm 90'Scearce 90+4' (pen) |
Report | S. Chavez 15'  90+3'Ramos 17'Smith 63'Casillas 90+4' |
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,375 Referee: Greg Dopka |
| April 30, 2022 4 | Forward Madison | 0–1 | Fuego FC | Madison, Wisconsin |
| 3:00 PM PDT | Maldonado 27' Leonard 44'Bartman 90+6' |
Report | Ramos Partida 51', 54'Schenfeld 61'Dulysse 81'Smith 82'Antman 87' |
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 2,605 Referee: Jervis Atagana |
| May 7, 2022 5 | Fuego FC | 1–1 | Greenville Triumph | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Falck 6' Ramos 41'Casillas 45+3'Smith 68'Chaney 71'Dieye 84' |
Report | Gavilanes 46' Dulysse 53' (o.g.)Lee 90+3' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 2,752 Referee: Adam Zarrin |
| May 14, 2022 6 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 2–2 | Fuego FC | East Ridge, Tennessee |
| 4:30 PM PDT | Mentzingen 3' Galindrez 45+5' (pen)Lombardi 50'Luna 56'Cardona 89'Carrera-García  90' |
Report | Casillas 15' Falck 45+3'Schenfeld 90+7' |
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,104 Referee: Kyle Johnston |
| May 21, 2022 7 | Tormenta FC | 0–4 | Fuego FC | Statesboro, Georgia |
| 4:30 PM PDT | Sterling 31' |
Report | Falck 12' S. Chavez 17' Bijev 35', 42' Schenfeld 59' Dulysse 61' Hornsby 75' Antman 77' Bustamante 90' |
Stadium: Optim Health System Field Attendance: 1,254 Referee: Alejo Calume |
| May 28, 2022 8 | Fuego FC | 1–1 | Forward Madison | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Report | Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Referee: Karen Callado |
| June 11, 2022 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 |
| June 18, 2022 10 | Fuego FC | 0–0 | FC Tucson | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Ramos 21' Dieye 48' Schenfeld 56' Chaney 90+3' |
Report | Fahling 65' Bedoya 73' Shaw 78' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| June 22, 2022 11 | Hailstorm FC | 4–1 | Fuego FC | Windsor, Colorado |
| 6:00 PM PDT | McLean 21' Amann 41' Parra 50', 74' Hernández 77' |
Report | Casillas 7' Gillingham 45+2' Dieye 83' Smith 90+6' 90+7' |
Stadium: Future Legends Complex Referee: Joshua Belzer |
| June 25, 2022 12 | Fuego FC | 3–2 | North Carolina FC | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Ramos 17' S. Chavez 18' Dulysse 22' Schenfeld 30' Chaney 45+5', 75' Antman 65' Diaz 80' |
Report | Servania 18' Anderson 37', 66' Fernandes 45+2' McLaughlin 90' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,753 Referee: Michael Zapata |
| July 2, 2022 13 | Fuego FC | 0–1 | Tormenta FC | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Dullysse 31' Villarreal 78' |
Report | Cabral 60' Nembhard 70' Jara 87' Soto 90+4' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,546 Referee: Robert Vincze |
| July 9, 2022 14 | Greenville Triumph | 1–0 | Fuego FC | Greenville, South Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Evans 66' |
Report | Casillas 80' |
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 1,832 Referee: Josiah Parke |
| July 13, 2022 15 | Hailstorm FC | 0–1 | Fuego FC | Windsor, Colorado |
| 6:00 PM PDT | Folla 37' Lukic 65' 90' Nortey 90' Cornwall 90+4' |
Report | Ramos 26' Torralva 32' Partida 54' Chaney 87', 90+2' |
Stadium: Future Legends Complex Attendance: 596 Referee: Esad Omanovic |
| July 23, 2022 16 | Fuego FC | 3–1 | Richmond Kickers | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Falck 16', 35' Hornsby 45' Partida 53' Cerritos 58' Strong 63' |
Report | Payne 15' 19' Barnathan 45', 76' Aune 48' Fitzgerald 56' Candela 90+3' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,345 Referee: Adrian Gonzalez |
| July 29, 2022 17 | Charlotte Independence | 4–0 | Fuego FC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Dutey 12' Ciss 16' Bennett 20', 39', 45+3', 64' Santos 43' Acosta 52' |
Report | S. Chavez 66' Keslley 73' Chaney 90+1' |
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1,511 Referee: Emma Richards |
| August 3, 2022 18 | Fuego FC | 0–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Casillas 29' 45+3' Bijev 39' Antman 74' Dieye 77' Partida 90+2' Chaney  90+6' |
Report | Cartagena 20' Carrera-García 49' A. Hernández 74' Saunders 85' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,143 Referee: Killian Richardson |
| August 6, 2022 19 | Fuego FC | 0–1 | Union Omaha | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Bijev 16' Partida 29' Chaney 78' S. Chavez 90+7' |
Report | Nuhu 16' Scearce 23' Brito 40' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,075 Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| August 13, 2022 20 | North Carolina FC | 0–1 | Fuego FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Martinez 19' Servania 78' Tahir 90+4' |
Report | Smith 34' Dieye 40' Gillingham 45+2' Bijev 61' Chaney 90+8' |
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 5,092 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| August 20, 2022 21 | Fuego FC | 2–2 | Richmond Kickers | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Falck 24' 32' Smith 36'Villarreal 57'North 60'Schenfeld 67' |
Report | Bolanos 38' Aune 57'Terzaghi 70' (pen.)Bentley 90+3' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,193 Referee: Robert Vincze |
| August 27, 2022 22 | Fuego FC | 0–2 | Tormenta FC | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Casillas 24' Cerritos 65' Schenfeld 70' |
Report | Cabral 25' Sterling 26', 54' Phelps 45+5' Akale 54' Sierakowski 71' Billhardt 90+5' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,074 Referee: Adam Zarrin |
| August 31, 2022 23 | Fuego FC | 3–2 | FC Tucson | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Chaney 34', 45+3' Dieye 52' Falck 57', 75' Dabo 78' |
Report | F. Pérez 16', 81' Toia 25' Sunday 40' Fahling 45' 90+1' L. Perez 77' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 826 Referee: Adrian Gonzalez |
| September 17, 2022 25 | Fuego FC | 0–3 | Charlotte Independence | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Smith 36' Dullysse 36' Villarreal 45+1' |
Report | Falck 38' (o.g.) Bennett 43', 55', 79' Mbuyu 58' Zendejas 64' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Referee: Samantha Martinez |
| September 21, 2022 26 | Fuego FC | 3–0 | Forward Madison | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Chaney 9' Ramos 51' Dieye 82', 90+2' |
Report | Conner 36' 73' Cassini 50' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,078 Referee: Karen Callado |
| September 24, 2022 27 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Fuego FC | Richmond, Virginia |
| 3:30 PM PDT | Bryant 36' Bolanos 58' Crisler 75' |
Report | Ramos 31' Schenfeld 43' Bijev 55' Crisler 69' (o.g.) S. Chavez 74' 80' |
Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| September 28, 2022 24 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Fuego FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 4:00 PM PDT | Fernandes 9' McLaughlin 22' Skelton 47' Rincon 68' Pecka 90' Servania 90+5' |
Report | Vera 24' Chaney 29', 90+2' Dabo 58' Falck 63' Strong 73' Hornsby 76' Dullysse 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] | ||||
| October 1, 2022 28 | Fuego FC | 0–1 | Hailstorm FC | Fresno, California |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Dieye 10' Falck 58' Schenfeld 72' Dabo 86' Smith 90+7' |
Report | Amann 14' Dullysse 62' (o.g.) Cornwall 58' Hernández 71' |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| October 5, 2022 29 | FC Tucson | 0–2 | Fuego FC | Tucson, Arizona |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Mastrantonio 12' |
Report | Villarreal 13' Chaney 43' 68' Casillas 45+2' Vazquez 50' Smith 70' |
Stadium: Kino North Stadium Referee: DeShun Beard |
| October 15, 2022 30 | Union Omaha | 0–2 | Fuego FC | Papillion, Nebraska |
| 2:00 PM PDT | Rivera 23' |
Report | Casillas 32' S. Chavez 40'Villarreal 45+2'Dieye 61', 74'Chaney 78', 90+10'Gillingham 79' |
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,174 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
U.S. Open Cup
editFuego FC made their Open Cup debut in the Second Round.
| April 5 2nd Round | Fuego FC (USL1)  | 4–1 |  El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC) | Clovis, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Lamonica Stadium at Clovis High School Referee: Michael Zapata |
| April 20 3rd Round | Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) | 2–1 | Central Valley Fuego FC (USL1) | Sacramento, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Casey 44' LaGrassa 54'López 90+4' (pen) |
Report | Smith 56' Bustamante 78'Dullysse 80'Ramos 89' |
Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 3,712 |
References
edit- ^ "Fresno FC announces it's done in Fresno, ceasing operations". KFSN-TV. October 29, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Fuego FC Staff (April 13, 2022). "Fuego FC Announces Technical Staff Update". fuegofc.com. Central Valley Fuego FC. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Christian Chaney Signs with Central Valley Fuego FC". fuegofc.com. Central Valley Fuego FC. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolina FC vs. Central Valley Fuego FC Postponed". September 8, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.