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USL Fresno FC

Fresno's Christian Chaney Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

May 7, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Fresno FC News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - After scoring two goals Saturday to spark comeback win at Real Monarchs SLC, Fresno FC striker Christian Chaney has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 9.

Chaney, 24, becomes the fifth Zorro this season to earn the weekly award, which also is the first in his USL Championship career. With Los Zorros trailing Real Monarchs 1-0 in the first half, Chaney headed at the equalizer in the 27th minute, and after the halftime break contributed to an own goal at the 58th for the lead, and three minutes later, scored his second of the afternoon. It was the multi-goal game of his pro career.

Chaney is tied for the club lead in goals scored with Jemal Johnson at three, with all of them coming in the club's previous two matches. The Fresno native joins left back Alex Cooper (Week 1), midfielder Arun Basuljevic (Week 2), goalkeeper CJ Cochran (Week 3), and midfielder Jemal Johnson (Week 6) as 2019 USL Championship Team of the Week selections.

Fresno FC (3W-0L-4D) looks to continue its unbeaten start to the year this Wednesday, May 8, when it hosts Sacramento Republic FC (3-3-2) in the first Highway 99 Derby of the season. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m at Chukchansi Park. As with all weekday matches, fans can enjoy the 4-for-$40 ticket special, which is available for purchase at the stadium box office, by calling 559-320-2525 or at tickets.fresnofc.com.

USL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK - WEEK 9

GK - Evan Newton, Indy Eleven

D - Nate Shultz, LA Galaxy II

D - Jordan Scarlett, New York Red Bulls II

D - Ken Tribbett, Nashville SC

M - Wilmer Cabrera Jr., Rio Grande Valley FC

M - Daniel Johnson, Birmingham Legion FC

M - Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

M - Chris Wehan, New Mexico United

F - Jerome Kiesewetter, El Paso Locomotive FC

F - Irvin Parra, Las Vegas Lights FC

F - Christian Chaney, Fresno FC

Bench: Justin vom Steeg (LA), Raymond Lee (HFD), Deshorn Brown (OKC), Mathias Jørgensen (NY), Michee Ngalina (BST), Kyle Murphy (LDN), Corey Hertzog (RNO)

Match Preview: Fresno FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC (Highway 99 Derby)

Still the last undefeated team in the USL Western Conference, Fresno FC looks to extend that streak against its nearest rival, Sacramento Republic FC, on Wednesday, May 8th when the two teams kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Chukchansi Park. It is billed to be a hot Highway 99 Derby as former Sacramento Republic FC assistant coach Adam Smith looks for his second win against his old club. Former Republic FC products on the Fresno FC roster include forward Christian Chaney and center back Mickey Daly. Fresno connections on the Republic FC roster include forward Villyan Bijev (Edison HS/Buchanan HS) and defender Elliott Hord (Fresno Fuego/Bullard HS/UC Davis).

Los Zorros (3W-0L-4D, 6th place, 13 points) are coming off an impressive 4-2 comeback road victory against Real Monarchs that saw Fresno native Christian Chaney score for the second straight game. Chaney scored twice against Real Monarchs, and also scored the team's first goal in a 2-2 draw against Orange County SC in Week 7. New midfielder Jackson leads the club in assists with four. Fresno FC continues to be one of the best defensive clubs in the league, with a 6-plus goal differential that ranks second in the conference and has allowed just six goals for the third-lowest in the West. Fresno currently sits in sixth place in the 18-team Western Conference with 13 points, just four behind front-runner New Mexico United, with two games in hand. Sacramento (3-3-2, 12th place, 11 points) has dropped three of its last five games and looks to bounce back from a 4-2 loss at Las Vegas Lights over the weekend.

Sacramento Republic FC leads the all-time series with Fresno FC 2W-1L-0D, with both wins coming by way of 1-0 results on June 13 at Chukchansi Park and August 4 at Papa Murphy's Park in Sacramento. Fresno FC won the second of three meetings last season - a 2-0 victory that saw goals from Juan Pablo Caffa and Franck Tayou.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 7, 2019


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