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It was a daunting task from the moment it was announced – playing the first three matches in Las Vegas Lights Football Club history on consecutive Saturdays against a trio of Major League Soccer opponents.
But through two of the three legs that make up the inaugural Lights FC Soccer Spring Training, the club is pleased overall with the way momentum is moving on the pitch as Saturday’s preseason finale against D.C. United approaches. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. at Cashman Field (Single-match tickets available here, starting at just $15).
“I think we’ve been more than holding our own,” said Lights FC midfielder Alex Mendoza. “I think most of the goals (we’ve allowed) have been errors on our part. (Correcting) that comes with time in training and getting to know each other. As far as competing, they’re not easy teams. They’re strong clubs. We’re out to show that we can compete with the best teams – whoever comes in here to play or whoever we go out to play.”
Those first two matches came against Montreal Impact – a 2-0 Lights FC loss in front of a capacity crowd – and last Saturday night at home against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who was an MLS Western Conference semifinalist last year for the second time in three seasons.
Lights FC dropped the decision on Saturday, 3-2, but helped deliver one of the most thrilling second halves you could ever hope to draw up, that had everything – drama, goals and plenty of smoke rising from the Supporters Section behind the goal Lights FC happened to be firing at.
Lights FC head coach Chelís and assistant coach Isidro Sánchez – along with Whitecaps FC assistant Martyn Pert – were all sent off following a sideline squabble that came on the heels of Lights FC defender Marcelo Alatorre drawing a red card in the 57th minute.
Taking the rest of the match in from the front row of the Supporters Section, Chelís saw forward Juan Jose Calderon drive home two goals to erase a 2-0 deficit and tie up the affair.
“In Mexico, we have a quote: ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you fat,’” Chelís said following the match. “Those two send-offs, and the personality of the team, helped us. I am happy that the best performance from my team was with me out. They made everything (happen).”
Riding that wave of momentum, and their general upward trend since Soccer Spring Training began, the team is hoping to cap off the exhibition season now with a win against a significantly re-tooled D.C. United roster. Following a disappointing 2017 season, the club turned over the majority of its roster, bringing in several intriguing pieces, including midfielder Yamil Asad (7 goals and 13 assists last season with Atlanta United) and forward Paul Arriola (16 United States Men’s National Team caps).
But even with another round of MLS star power coming to town this weekend, one thing Lights FC players will not be come Saturday night is intimidated.
“Chelís always wants to fight and go forward, and that’s what we want,” defender Miguel Angel Garduño said. “We don’t care if they are MLS players. We are also professional players and think we are at that same level, and we have to prove it every game.
“Vancouver, they have a great roster and we played very good against them. They have a lot of experience, a lot of National Team players. They made a couple of (positive) comments about us, and felt it was a good atmosphere, so this is good for us, for the fans, for everybody.”
