*** Fuego’s Double-header weekend is bitter sweet–
Friday nights game against the Southern California Seahorses turned physical and ended 3-2 in double OT in favor of the Fuego. Fabricio Codeceira’s penalty kick lifted the Fuego for their fifth consecutive win. The Fuego improved to 5-0 in it’s second OT win of the season.
The match was the first of four U.S. Open Cup qualifiers. Orlando Ramirez opened up the scoring after receiving a cross from Jose “Tin” Espindola. This was the first of three goals of the night. Raul Rivera added the second with powerful right kick to the “upper V”. The Seahorses tied the game and sent it to OT with one minute left in regulation.
Codeceira was able to lift the Fuego by slicing through So. Cals’ tough defense and drawing a penalty to grant the PK for the victory.
On Sunday, the Fuego had an even tougher opponent. The rivalry between the O.C. Bluestar and the Fuego is becoming quite the game to watch.
The Fuego controlled the tempo, out-shot it’s rival, created more plays but the frustration of the “Blue Star” good goal-tending kept the Fuego from maintaining its undefeated status.
The lone goal came off a pass from Edgardo Contreras to “Tin” Espindola which tied the game. However, the Blue Star scored the game winner in another counter-attack to make it 2-1 in the final minutes of the game.
This was the second U.S. Open Cup qualifier. The Fuego must now win it’s next two games to advance to the 1st Round of the Cup.
GO FUEGO!!!