Five months ago, Las Vegas Lights FC opened its inaugural season with a bang in Fresno.
On March 17, Matt Thomas scored the first goal in club history just over a minute into the season opener, and his club went on to gain three points on the table right out of the gates with a 3-2 victory over Fresno FC.
Now, with 10 matches to go in the club’s inaugural season, Lights FC (7-12-5, 26 points) is on a mission to pile up more points in a hurry in an effort to crack the Top 8 in the USL Western Conference and earn a playoff berth.
Fresno FC (8-9-9, 33 points) comes to Las Vegas for an 8 p.m. showdown at Cashman Field on Saturday night to close out August’s “Saturday Night Lights” schedule. Tickets start at just $15 at LightsFC.com/August for a night that will be filled with fun and fireworks – pre-match, post-match and after every Lights FC goal scored.
Saturday’s match will also air locally on myLVTV and stream nationwide on ESPN+.
As was the case in the first meeting with Fresno, Lights FC will look to overwhelm its visitors on the scoreboard.
“One of the goals against them is winning the ball as fast as possible, and scoring, scoring, scoring,” Technical Director Chelís said.
Despite having its 4-match home pitch winning streak snapped last Saturday night at the hands of Phoenix Rising FC, the Lights FC staff was again encouraged by its team’s play – Especially in the first 45 minutes.
That came on the heels of what the staff called its best 20 minutes of the season three nights earlier on the road against Orange County SC to begin the match.
But those stretches will lose value if they don’t translate into wins and points on the table moving forward.
“It’s difficult to appreciate these kinds of performances, because you want goals and wins,” Chelís added. “I have to be very aware in my analysis and of what specifically my players did in those two games.”
As for the aforementioned desired run to a playoff berth, six of Lights FC’s final 10 matches will come on its home pitch, where it is an impressive 5-3-3 in its inaugural season.
Reaching that goal will mean that winning as many of those home opportunities is paramount.
“It’s not impossible, just now a more complicated path (to the playoffs),” Chelís said. “What I know that we got out of these last two games was good for the mental strength of our team.”
LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY NIGHT:
LOOKING BACK AT THE FIRST MEETING: In the first meeting of the season between Lights FC and Fresno FC, there was no shortage of fireworks on the pitch. Following Matt Thomas’s dramatic goal in the opening minutes for Lights FC, Joel Huiqui and Alex Mendoza each added scores to give the club a 3-0 lead. Fresno FC made a late push with goals in the 70th and 90th minutes, but a couple of heroic saves by Lights FC’s Ricardo Ferriño helped preserve the result. The first of those two goals was scored by Jemal Johnson, who leads Fresno FC with eight goals in 2018.
PLAYOFF CHASE UPDATE: Entering Saturday night’s match in DTLV, Lights FC sits eight points outside of the eighth and final playoff spot in the USL Western Conference. Fresno FC enters in closer range to the playoff qualifying portion of the table, as it sits just one point behind eighth place San Antonio FC heading into play on Saturday.
RAFAEL GARCIA MAKING EARLY IMPACT: It was only two weeks ago when 2-time LA Galaxy MLS Cup champion Rafael Garcia signed with Lights FC for the remainder of the 2018 season. The veteran midfielder has proved plenty already by example. Two days after signing with the club, he played the full 90 minutes in a road match at Saint Louis FC. To keep that momentum going, he played all 270 minutes of the three-games-in-eight-days stretch that concluded last Saturday at Cashman Field. As the club continues to try and mount its late season push towards a playoff berth, Garcia figures to factor in heavily. Get to know more about Garcia in this week’s installment of Lights FC Q&A.
LIGHTS FC ANNOUNCES A BIG SEPTEMBER ON TAP: Beginning with a $5,000 helicopter cash drop over Cashman Field on Sept. 8 when Lights FC hosts LA Galaxy II, the club on Thursday announced a schedule of events for what should be an entertaining month at every turn. Full details on the month’s promotions are available at LightsFC.com/September, including exclusive Season Ticket Member parties, the first annual Copa Lights adult soccer tournament at Cashman Field and the first Bobblehead Night in Lights FC history. The month will feature four of Lights FC’s remaining six home matches in the 2018 season.
DISCIPLINE UPDATES: Lights FC will be without defender Miguel Garduño on Saturday night, as he serves the final game of a suspension stemming from a red card issued against Saint Louis FC on August 11.
INJURY UPDATES: Listed as questionable for Saturday’s match is midfielder Matt Thomas, who is recovering from a lower body injury.
WHO TO KNOW FOR LIGHTS FC
Midfielder Carlos Alvarez (#7) returns to the pitch for Lights FC on Saturday night, and will give a major boost for the club on both ends of the field. The former No. 2 overall MLS SuperDraft pick is tied for the club lead in goals (5) and assists (3) this season.
Forward Raul Mendiola (#40) has quickly become a fan favorite with Lights FC as a midseason signee. The former LA Galaxy fixture scored his second goal of the season on Saturday, July 7 – the deciding score in a 1-0 home victory over Saint Louis FC – then followed it up with the first Hat Trick in club history at OKC Energy FC four nights later. He’s proven to be an aggressive, speedy force within the attack, and others are feeding off of his energy and hunger.
Midfielder Daigo Kobayashi (#44) has provided a steadying influence within the attack all season for Lights FC, and has also shown some scoring punch of his own. The long-time MLS veteran has played more than 1,400 minutes this season and is viewed as an extension of the coaching staff on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño (#1) has earned a reputation as quite possibly the most unique goalkeeper in the USL in 2018. Playing a “sweeper keeper” style, the aggressive Ferriño is fifth in the 33-team league with 67 saves.
HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S MATCH VS. FRESNO FC:
– 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.
– Saturday’s Zappos Tailgate Party, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Cashman Field parking lot, will feature picnic-style BBQ options, beer specials, tailgate games for adults and kids, music, Lights FC merchandise and much more. The night will also feature fireworks before the match, after the match and following each Lights FC goal scored.
– Media credential on-site pick-up and entry begins at 5 p.m. Credentials can be picked up at Media Check-In, located at the Zappos Gate. For all other media-related inquiries, please visit our Media Center.
– 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 TO LIGHTS FC VS. FRESNO:
– Tonight’s match will air locally on myLVTV and stream nationwide on ESPN+.
– The Spanish-language radio broadcast takes place on ESPN Deportes 1460 AM, and can be streamed live at LVSportsNetwork.com.
