Right after making a league-wide statement last Saturday night by winning the first United Soccer League regular season match in club history on the road, focus shifted forward as quickly as possible for Las Vegas Lights FC.
“We said right after the game at Fresno – ‘How many games do we have left? 33 now,’” Lights FC midfielder Julian Portugal recalled. “We’re well aware of where we’re at. It’s the first game, with a very long road ahead. We enjoyed the win, but we’re over that, and we’re focused on Reno now.
“We’re not letting anything get to our heads right now.”
In Las Vegas, for many outside of the club, the focus has been on March 24th since the league’s schedule was first announced. The Las Vegas vs. Reno rivalry holds state-wide meaning, and Saturday’s match simply adds another layer to it.
Lights FC (1-0-0, 3 pts) and Reno 1868 FC (0-1-0, 0 pts) – who finished third in the USL Western Conference in 2017 in its inaugural regular season – meet for the first of three scheduled 2018 clashes Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Cashman Field. It will be the only meeting in Las Vegas this regular season, and the first leg of the newly-minted Silver State Cup, which the two clubs will battle for on an annual basis.
“The biggest team in Nevada, I think is the Las Vegas Lights,” Technical Director Chelís said. “But they must show that on Saturday. We’ve forgotten the first game, and this is a new story. We need to have better passes, better possessions.”
Lights FC came onto the USL scene with a bang last Saturday, with a thrilling 3-2 win at Fresno FC. They struck early – Matt Thomas’s second-minute goal was the fastest ever scored by a USL expansion club in its first match – and built a 3-0 lead. Then came the staving off of a furious Fresno rally to take home three points.
As a result, Thomas was named to the USL’s Team of the Week, while one of goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño’s seven saves – a late diving stop of a Fresno FC header – was nominated as one of the league’s Top 5 Saves of the Week.
“Now, we have to think that it’s the first time we’ve won, and we have to handle winning, know how to play when ahead, and that’s it,” defender Miguel Garduño said. “I liked the effort. We all connected. Defensively, we were strong almost the whole game.”
It’s all a part of the fast-paced, up-and-down brand of soccer that Lights FC is already becoming known for. And within that frenetic pace, Garduño – who had a team-high 18 defensive clearances at Fresno – and the back line have continued to gel and give the entire team the freedom to keep its collective foot on the gas.
If last week’s season opener for Reno 1868 FC was an indication – combined with Lights FC’s now-signature style – fans at Cashman Field could be in for some fun Saturday night. Playing in wintry conditions at home against Swope Park Rangers, Reno jumped on top early, but ultimately fell, 4-3.
“We expect the best Reno,” Garduño said. “They lost their last game, so they’re coming to win. What we have to do is play a very smart game. With all the support of our home fans, we’re going to be concentrated and focused on playing a great game Saturday.”
That fan support will matter plenty, in Chelís’s eyes.
“I need it full, I need a sell-out,” he said. “The team is for the fans. The players have a very big job, and the show is for the people. I have had a dream that Cashman Field, Saturday night, is full.”
HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S SILVER STATE CUP OPENER VS. RENO 1868 FC:
- Saturday’s match kicks off at 8 p.m. For on-site ticket purchase at Cashman Field, the box office will open at 10 a.m., and Will Call opens at 4:30 p.m.
- The expanded Zappos Tailgate, featuring live music, a variety of food trucks, an experiential beer garden from Motley Brews and tailgate games for both kids and adults begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Cashman parking lot. It is FREE for fans to attend.
- Gates to the stadium for general public entry open at 7 p.m., with three available entrances at Cashman Field: The Main Gate, the Zappos Gate and the Stadium Corner Gate.
WHERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN
- The match will stream live worldwide at Youtube.com/USL, and on the LightsFC.com homepage.
- The Spanish-language radio broadcast takes place on ESPN Deportes 1460 AM, and can be streamed live at LVSportsNetwork.com
WHO TO KNOW FOR LIGHTS FC
- Midfielder Carlos Alvarez (#7) was productive all over the field last Saturday night, assisting on both the second and third goals the club scored.
- Midfielder Daigo Kobayashi (#44) was equally important in anchoring Lights FC’s pace and attack. He tied with Alvarez for the team lead with three key passes, and notched the assist on the first goal of the game. His years of high-level pro experience have been a steadying influence so far for the club.
- Defender Joel Huiqui (#3) anchored the back line and wore the captain’s armband last week with the absence of Marcelo Alatorre, who was the club’s captain in all four preseason matches. The Mexican National Team veteran will be expected to lead by example again this Saturday.
- Midfielder/Forward Matt Thomas (#21) earned the start in last Saturday’s opener, and his early goal gave Lights FC its first lead of 2018. His ability to strike with power from the left side will be worth keeping an eye on moving forward.
WHO TO KNOW FOR RENO 1868 FC
- Forward Brian Brown (#99) scored a goal last week for Reno 1868 FC, coming on the heels of scoring three and notching five assists last year for the club. Brown previously played for Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union in 2014.
- Midfielder Antoine Hoppenot (#29) was the team’s co-MVP last season, scoring 12 goals and recording six assists on top of creating 51 chances for the club.
- Forward Danny Musovski (#12) was a second-round pick of San Jose Earthquakes in this year’s MLS SuperDraft after starring at UNLV. Musovski, a Henderson native, is returning home for his second pro match after playing 22 minutes as a sub in last week’s game.