Since April 30, Lights FC players and coaches have craved an opportunity to take on Real Monarchs SLC for a full 90 minutes of 11-on-11 soccer.
Saturday night, that opportunity comes, as the Monarchs – currently in first place in the USL Western Conference – visits Cashman Field for an 8 p.m. showdown that begins a key midseason run of matches for Lights FC.
Tickets for Saturday night’s “Sinners vs. Saints” showdown are available, starting at just $15 at LightsFC.com/SingleTix. Saturday’s match will air locally on myLVTV, and stream nationwide on the new ESPN+ app.
It was less than three weeks ago when the two teams first met in Utah. In that match, the two sides dueled to a 0-0 draw, which for Lights FC (2-2-4, 10 points) felt a bit like a win, as the team played 10-on-11 for nearly 80 minutes following an early Marcelo Alatorre red card ejection.
Despite facing one of the league’s top teams a man short, the club dug deep against Real Monarchs (7-1-1, 22 points) – one of the USL’s sharpest tactical clubs – on both ends of the field to earn a point on the table.
Even a couple of weeks later, that result gives the club confidence heading into the rematch.
“We have this feeling that with 10 guys, we gained something out of that game,” Lights FC Head Coach Isidro Sánchez said. “We are sure that given 11 vs. 11, we will get something better. The difficult part is repeating that good performance. But, of course, before the game, we’re going to have a better probability.”
Added midfielder Matt Thomas: “During that match, when we had 11 men, we looked pretty dangerous. It’ll be fun to see how it goes 11-on-11 again. They have some good veterans on their team, some who play with the (MLS) team.”
In the first meeting, Real Monarchs showed the precision they’ve become known for, led by midfielders Sebástian Velásquez and Justin Portillo, who have each notched three assists on the season through nine matches.
After reviewing loads of the club’s film heading into Saturday night, Sánchez doesn’t expect anything different from the visitors.
“They have great quality players,” he said. “If you’re not right on time against them, you’re going to miss. They only need one play, one second to solve a game. We need to be very aware of that, defensively and offensively.
“We know where they are dangerous, we know where they give opportunities.”
Lights FC should have plenty of confidence to attack those opportunities, coming off of a much-needed win Wednesday night – A well-timed, 4-2 result in U.S. Open Cup second round action against USL PDL side FC Tucson.
The victory featured plenty of aggressive offense from Lights FC, and the four impressive finishes included two from forward Sammy Ochoa in the second half in a potential breakout performance.
That type of offense will need to supplement a repeat of Lights FC’s April 30 defensive performance to grab a valuable three points on the Western Conference table Saturday night.
“Even though we know they’re in first place, in this league, anything happens,” Ochoa said. “It’s whoever comes out that day and makes the fewest mistakes who takes the victory.”
LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY NIGHT
ALVAREZ CONTINUES TO BE A STEADYING FORCE: Though Wednesday night’s numbers from U.S. Open Cup competition don’t count towards regular season statistical totals, it was no surprise that during Lights FC’s early offensive charge in the match, Carlos Alvarez was right in the middle of things. During USL play, Alvarez leads the team in goals scored (3) and assists (2), and as the team scored two goals in the first 10 minutes against FC Tucson, Alvarez notched both a goal and an assist. In the first meeting with Real Monarchs, the 10-on-11 circumstances forced him to have a more defensive mindset, but if Lights FC’s offense stays hot as it heads back into USL play, expect Alvarez to be right in the mix.
BACK LINE AT FULL STRENGTH: After yellow card accumulation forced defender and captain Joel Huiqui into a 1-game suspension for last Friday’s 1-0 setback at Colorado Springs, he will be back on the pitch Saturday night, once again helping anchor a back line that has been an unquestioned strength for the club in USL play. With the Mexican National Team veteran out last Friday, it was no surprise that Miguel Garduño again stepped up his play in Huiqui’s absence. The 27-year-old is having a breakout campaign in his first season playing professionally in the U.S., leading the club in duels won (63) and defensive clearances (62). The team has been strong defensively overall, conceding just 10 goals in eight regular season matches.
BUSY WEEK AHEAD: After two matches this week, another 2-match slate lies ahead next week. It will double as an extended road trip for the club. It begins with Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup third round match with USL PDL club FC Golden State Force. The winner heads to the fourth round for a likely match-up with a Major League Soccer opponent. After that, the team will stay in Southern California to prepare for next Saturday’s away match against LA Galaxy II.
DISCIPLINE UPDATES: Lights FC will not have any players serving disciplinary suspensions this weekend, though both Garduño and goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño have four yellow cards this season. With one more for either player, they will serve an automatic 1-match accumulation suspension. As for Technical Director Chelís, Saturday’s match will mark the final portion of his 4-game USL suspension stemming from the club’s April 27 loss to San Antonio FC. Isidro Sánchez will again lead the team on the sidelines Saturday night.
INJURY UPDATES: Rounding back into form physically still is forward Juan Jose Calderon, who is working his way back from a lower body injury suffered in the preseason. Calderon is questionable for Saturday’s match. Also questionable is forward Juan Carlos Garcia, who suffered a lower body injury on May 5 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC.
WHO TO KNOW FOR LIGHTS FC
Defender Joel Huiqui (#3) is back to USL play following his 1-match suspension for yellow card accumulation, and will resume both his captaincy and his role as the anchor of Lights FC’s stout back line. Playing alongside Huiqui has greatly benefited some of Lights FC’s younger defenders who are emerging this season, such as Miguel Garduño, Marco Cesar Jaime Jr. and Juan Herrera-Perla.
Midfielder Carlos Alvarez (#7) continues to do it all in the middle of the field and leading the offensive attack for Lights FC. With three goals and two assists to his credit already in USL play, Alvarez is on pace for a career year as a pro. In Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup win, he looked even more dangerous when flanked on the wings by the speed of Matt Thomas and Zak Drake.
Goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño (#1) continues to steady his overall play in goal, balancing skill with calculated aggression when charging from the box to make plays and stymie offensive chances. His 28 goalkeeper saves are tied for the second-most in the 33-team USL.
WHO TO KNOW FOR REAL MONARCHS SLC
Midfielder Sebastián Velásquez (#55) showed in the first meeting between these two clubs just how dangerous he can be. His speed was a factor in that match, as it has been in several others. He’s recorded two goals and three assists so far in 2018.
Defender Kalen Ryden (#52) has been dangerous on both ends of the pitch for Real Monarchs during its hot start to the season. From the back of the attack, he’s scored four goals off of seven shots on target.
HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S MATCH VS. REAL MONARCHS SLC
– Saturday’s match kicks off at 8 p.m. For on-site ticket purchase at Cashman Field, the box office will open at 12 p.m., and Will Call opens at 4:30 p.m.
– The expanded Zappos Tailgate Party, featuring Lights FC’s own “Cash the Soccer Rocker,” 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. The Zappos Tailgate is FREE for fans to attend.
– Saturday night, beginning at the Zappos Tailgate Party at 5:30 p.m., the World’s Largest Soccer Scarf will be on display for fans to see and sign, before it gets displayed above the Supporters Section at Cashman Field. There, it will be on display at each Lights FC home match for the remainder of the season. Fans can also come sign the scarf on the pitch after Saturday’s match.
– Also Saturday night, the limited edition “Sinners vs. Saints” scarf will be on sale, both during the Zappos Tailgate Party and inside Cashman Field, for $20. The fan-designed scarf commemorates the first home meeting between Lights FC and Real Monarchs SLC.
– 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 air locally on myLVTV. myLVTV is available locally over the air (Channel 21), on COX (Channel 12, 1012 in HD), on Centurylink (Channel 21) and on DirecTV (Channel 21). It will stream nationwide on the new ESPN+ app.
– The Spanish-language radio broadcast takes place on ESPN Deportes 1460 AM, and can be streamed live at LVSportsNetwork.com.
