Fresno Fuego

2004 News

On Friday evening the Fuego played Cascade Surge for the first time in club history. Fresno was the dominant team for the entire game and scored in the 78th minute on a penalty kick by Milton Blanco. Both teams seemed to be in tremendous game shape but in the 79th minute Jose "Tin" Espindola was ejected from the game and Fresno played with ten players for almost an endless 11 minutes. Miraculously, the Surge tied the game on a counter-attack that led the game into OT.

The overtime victory was awarded to Cascade on a looping goal over Fuego goalkeeper Jeremy Proud. All 700 fans in attendance were left with their hearts in their throat. Fresno is now 11-2-1 and in second place in the overall 52 team picture in the PDL.

The Fuego play away July 9th and 10th in Salem, OR and then in Yakima WA. Fresno returns to play their final two games of the season July 16th and 17th at Fresno Pacific University's "Steinert Field".

On a hot "Father's Day" afternoon, the Fresno Fuego found it in themselves to shake off the heat and play the level of soccer they're taught to play. The match was even at zero until (M) Orlando Ramirez crossed a ball from Gaston Cignetti, who then headed the ball passed (GK) Brandon Hearron. The Fuego took the lead into halftime 1-0.

Three minutes into the second half, (Fwd) Hercules Gomez scored on a free kick to even the score 1-1. It was a 'Rain of Goals' for the Fuego after the tying goal however. Edgardo Contreras (Fwd) scored in the 64th min (asst. (M) Fabricio Codeceira), 78th min (asst. (M) Milton Blanco), 89th min (asst. (M) Fabricio Codeceira), and in the 90th (asst (Def) Derek Lopez) to finish the game 5-1. "It was the Lords willingness" Edgardo responded. "I found the ball in front of my feet and just made quick decisions" he added. Contreras leads the Fuego with 11 goals.

The Fuego have won 5 straight games against the Gauchos and outscored them 17-3 dating as far back as May of 2003. Jaime Ramirez's team is now 11-1-1 and at top of the PDL with 34 points. Fresno plays Cascade Surge for the first time in their brief history on Friday June 25th 2004 at Fresno Pacific's 'Steinert Field'.

On Saturday evening June 12th, the Fuego faced a dormant giant at Fresno Pacific's "Steinert Field". The Nevada Wonders (2-7-1), are not the team whose record justifies their true potential.

In three games, the Fuego have tied 3-3, won 1-0 and 4-2 vs Wonders. Fresno fans may have thought this game was a cruise but Nevada had other sentiments while staying at the Radisson Hotel Friday evening.

In the 9th minute, Raul Rivera (2nd goal) took the Fuego lead 1-0. The Wonders however, scored a minute later with a 30 yard shot. With 15 minutes left in the first half, Nevada took a surprising 2-1 lead into halftime.

The second half belonged to the Fuego however. In a matter of a minute, Orlando Ramirez (4th goal) took a pass from Tin Espindola and netted the tie at 2-2. Four minutes later, Tin Espindola (7th goal) scored... advantage Fuego 3-2. The score remained the same until the 76th minute when Ramirez (5th goal) scored his second of the night to finish the Wonders 4-2 once and for all.

Saturday nights game at Steinert Field finished in a 4-0 victory for the Fuego. The prolific display of passing, goal keeping and outstanding decisions by Fuego forwards gave way to Fresno's unmatched 9-1-1 record.

The California Gold of Modesto (PSL), came to Fresno with the intent capture a road win. The response from Fresno however, countered the Gold's idea. Two of Fresno's leading scorers were uplifted by an array of passes that combined for four goals.

The scoring began with Jose Espindola (assist by Milton Blanco) in the 24th minute of the match. Five minutes later, Espindola found the net again when Edgardo Contreras passed the ball through a mix of Gold defenders. In the 34th minute, Contreras was open and Orlando Ramirez capitalized by passing the ball to Edgardo, to make it 3-0. The scoring did not stop there. In the 88th minute Edgardo found the back of the goal by receiving a pass from Fabricio Codeceira to finalize the game 4-0.

***Fuego Jrs. win primary match***

Two goals by Gabriel Ramirez and solid performance by the team, helped Jrs. to victory. The match between Fuego Jrs and Monach Warriors was scheduled at 4:45 at Steinert Field. The Jrs. have a lot of talent. It is no surprise they will be looking forward to moving up in the near future. Good luck boys!!!

***Ramirez...Espindola--Connect for Game Winner!***

The South-West division is battling to a grind. Yes, the Fuego is 8-1-1 but appearances that Fresno may be in total control of their division comrades is no simplicity. Every encounter on the schedule is a battle. In Carson City, NV a 1-0 game on Thursday June 3rd, lifted the Fuego over the Wonders. Orlando Ramirez took the ball from a defender... following the steal, Ramirez touched it along to Jose Espindola which took the game winning shot in the 87th minute of regulation.

"It has been one of the toughest teams we have played." said coach Jaime Ramirez. Considering travel, injury and the away issue, Fresno manages to slip goals past defenses in dire situations. Could it be the (asst. coach) Joel Ramirez's rigid physical training and help of asst directives? Or is it coach Jaime's eloquent tactic and game structure?

Fresno is winning one game at a time. This 2004 season, the South-West Division (PDL) has collected intriguing stories. New rivalries evolving in PSL play, have made the South-West a stronger division.

Now Fresno is one of the leagues most wanted. Everywhere Fresno turns, an opponent wants a piece of the Fuego. The game is evolving in the U.S. and Fresno is keeping up.

The Fuego's next home match is Saturday June 5th, in Fresno Pacific's Stienert Field. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. There will be a preliminary match featuring the newly formed Fuego JRS. Come join the Fuego for a night with great entertaiment!!!

*** Nagged by injuries-Fuego ties 3-3 in Nevada

The story continues to unfold.  Fresno drew a 3-3 tie with Nevada and is now 7-1-1 and still at top of the SW Division.  Three new key players are out due to injuries. Fabricio Codeceira M, Edgardo Contreras F, and Raul Rivera M, came out of the game and left the Fuego short-handed for the remainder of the match. 

Injuries happen to plague the Fuego.  Eddie Gutierrez M, Jarrod Souza D, Gaston Cignetti M and company mentioned above are just to name a few.  It is no doubt that having seven matches in one month can be a difficult task to encounter.  Especially with the inevitability of injuries. 

The Wonders play very tough at home and capitalize on any mistakes.  The series of scoring began in the 13th minute when the ball got away from a Fuego defender and just passed GK Joshua Ollenberger.  Joshua is supplementing at keeper while another Fuego starter, GK Jeremy Proud, nurses an injury. 

The Fuego responded with two goals, Nick Garcia (asst. Dan Oka) in the 16th and Edgardo Contreras (asst. Orlando Ramirez) in the 29th minute.  Nevada found another slip by a Fuego defender and hit the back of the net for the 2-2 tie in the 61st.

The scoring was not through however.  In the 87th minute, Nevada was able to score their third goal to take the lead 3-2.  "As an experienced player, one must come through with knowledge and capitalize on opportunity."  said "Tin" Espindola, after his tying goal in the 90th minute to send the game into OT.  The game ended in a 3-3 tie.  Considering the situation of injury and tough play by Nevada, the Fuego came out with one more point in the division. 

The Fuego travel again to Nevada for a second time on Thursday June 3rd.  After the match, they will head back home to meet CAL GOLD on Saturday June 5th at Steinert Field in Fresno Pacific University.

*** 2 WINS IS "NO CUP" OF TEA -- FUEGO NOW IN SEARCH FOR PDL TITLE ***

There is absolutely no mistake in saying the Southwest Division of the Western Conference is the toughest group in the PDL.  The Fuego may not be advancing to the Open CUP.  The focus now and main priority for Fresno is the PDL championship.

On the weekend of May 22-23 of 2004, the Fuego took on rival Southern California and nemesis Orange County Blue Star.  This game was revenge for the Fuego...

--FUEGO 3 -Vs- So. Cal. Seahorses 1--
On Saturday 22, the Fuego started things off with Derek Lopez scoring in the 20th minute off an assist from Milton Blanco.  Edgardo "Garin" Contreras then added two more goals in the 50th and 77th minute to stabilize the victory.  This victory was dedicated to the Family of Eddie Rodriguez..."May GOD bless them". 

--FUEGO 2 -Vs- Orange County Blue-star 1--
Sundays match was by far the most physical game played this season.  Three Blue-stars made it easier after their ejections for violent conduct.  The game was in control for Fresno and it stayed that way for the 2-1 victory for the Fuego.

Scoring by Nick Garcia in the 16th minute and Jarrod Souza in the 66th minute (assist "Tin" Espindola) is all it took for the Fuego to win.

Fresno is now 7-1 with 21 points and at top contention for the PDL play-offs.  For more information, please visit USLsoccer.com

*** 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.

*** The Fuego win in Golden goal by Adam Arteaga--

The Fuego once again come out victorious against a PSL team.  The team's record is now 4-0.  In the final minute of double over-time, Fabricio Codeceira crossed a ball to Adam Arteaga.  Adam then lifted his spirit higher than any on the field and found the back of the net with a game winning header.  "This was the game silencer", said Adam.  "We sought a win and a win is what we got."

The first goal came off an assist from Tin Espindola to Fabricio Codeceira.  Ten minutes later, the Gauchos scored to make it even.  Both teams played to finish in a 1-1 tie.  By the first over-time the Gauchos had two players red carted and the Fuego one.

The following game on Sunday May 9th vs. Orange County Blue Star was cancelled due to an internal complication with the Blue Star.  The supposed first US Open Cup match was postponed until further notice. 

*** The Fresno Fuego go on the road this weekend for their first two Open Cup matches.  They will be facing the San Diego Gauchos on Saturday May 8^th and Orange County Blue Stars on Sunday May 9^th.

*** Congratulations to the Fuego on their 5-1 victory over the California Gold of Modesto.  Goals scored by Gaston Cignetti (2), Edgardo Contreras (2), and Jose Luis Espindola.

*** The Fresno Fuego go on the road this weekend for their first two Open Cup matches.  They will be facing the San Diego Gauchos on Saturday May 8^th and Orange County Blue Stars on Sunday May 9^th.

*** A goal by forward Jose "Tin" Espindola in the first half, gives the Fuego a 1-0 victory against the Utah Blilzz. The goal was scored on the 32nd minute of the first half on a assist by Eli Delgado. Official Match Report - Click Here