Fuego FC ride red-hot start in cross-country trip to Charlotte
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 60°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #CLTvCV
The first meeting between the Charlotte Independence (0-0-0, 6th) and Central Valley Fuego FC (1-0-0, 2nd) sees the two League One newcomers starting their respective seasons off in very different manners. Fuego FC is reeling, coming off of a 2-0 victory over Greenville Triumph SC last Saturday and more recently a 4-1 thumping of USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action. The Independence will look to bounce back from a disappointing Open Cup loss to North Carolina Fusion U23 in its first League One match in club history.
CLT - Ayrton Páez: In his first competitive match in the United States, Páez demonstrated his versatility as the Venezualan striker assisted Shalom Dutey's goal and scored one of his own in the club's Open Cup defeat earlier in the week.
CV - Villyan Bijev: The USL Championship veteran looks to be making a name for himself in League One as the Bulgarian forward provided Fuego FC with a brace and an assist in the club's dismantling of El Paso in Open Cup play.