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Gameday Report: Independence, Fuego FC Play to Thrilling 3-3 Draw

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 04/08/22, 9:30PM EDT

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Charlotte's Mbuyu, Central Valley's Bijev shine in six-goal thriller

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence (0-0-1, 4th) and Central Valley Fuego FC (1-0-1, 1st) played to a riveting 3-3 draw on Friday night at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Featuring a pair of braces from Tresor Mbuyu and Villyan Bijev, the end-to-end match was highlighted by a trio of goals coming in the final 10 minutes of play.

The first half saw the home side control the tempo early in Charlotte's first League One match. Despite that, the match remained relatively quiet until the 30th minute. Third-year Independence man, Tresor Mbuyu broke the deadlock on a deflected goal off a Diego Rocha free kick from the edge of the penalty area. Fuego FC found its equalizer on Ozzie Ramos' first goal of the year, a long-distance strike from just beyond the penalty area. Instantly responding, however, Mbuyu continued his strong night, tapping the ball over the sliding Central Valley goalkeeper following a perfect assist from Miguel Ibarra.

With another quiet start to the second half, it was the visiting Fuego FC who struck first in the half as Villyan Bijev nodded in a late score to even the scoreline off of a corner. The home side seemingly confirmed a late victory when Shalom Dutey tapped in a second-chance opportunity in the 89th minute. Six minutes into stoppage time, however, the visitors found their unlikely equalizer as Villyan Bijev chipped in a deflected ball over Charlotte's goalkeeper, placing it perfectly under the bar and above the heads of a pair of leaping defenders.

USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match

Villyan Bijev (CV) – In his second brace of the week, Bijev's pair of scores within the final ten minutes of the match not only gave the USL Championship veteran his first pair of League One goals but also meant that Fuego FC would salvage a point to move into the top position in the league table.

Scoring Summary
CLT – Mbuyu (Rocha) 32'
CV – Ramos (Chaney) 39'
CLT – Mbuyu (Ibarra) 41'
CV – Bijev (Bustamante) 81'
CLT – Dutey 89'
CV – Bijev 90+6'

Full Box Score


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