Las Vegas Lights FC is visiting Memphis 901 FC this weekend to kick off the 2024 USL Championship season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network if you’re in Las Vegas and then available to stream nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2023 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Las Vegas: 3-21-10 (19 points, 12th West), Memphis: 14-10-10 (52 points, 4th East)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Lights and Memphis 901 played to a 2-2 draw last April in Memphis. Lucas Stauffer and Emmanuel Ledesma scored for Las Vegas, while Jeremy Kelly and Luiz Fernando tallied for the hosts.
FRESH START: Las Vegas enters the 2024 campaign with a major overhaul from last season. Former Major League Baseball player José Bautista recently became the new owner, while Gianleonardo Neglia and Dennis Sanchez have taken over as Sporting Director and Head Coach, respectively.
BIG SHOES TO FILL: Memphis will look to replace the contributions of Rodrigo da Costa, who departed for North Carolina FC this past offseason. The Brazilian finished tied for seventh in goals in the USL Championship last season with 15.
HEADED WEST: After spending its first five USL Championship seasons in the Eastern Conference, Memphis joins the West with the arrivals of North Carolina FC and Rhode Island FC.
MAJOR ACQUISITIONS
Las Vegas – Charlie Adams, M: One of the first new signings of the new regime, Adams brings a wealth of experience to the Las Vegas midfield. The 29-year-old Englishman spent the previous four seasons with San Diego Loyal SC where he was club captain and made over 100 appearances.
Memphis – Neco Brett, F: The Jamaican scored 12 goals for Birmingham Legion last season, his second stint with the club. Brett will need to be a constant on the score sheet this season for Head Coach Stephen Glass.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Las Vegas – Edison Azcona, M: The Dominican Republic international joins Las Vegas on loan for the 2024 season from Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and is poised to be a focal point in Sanchez’s attack. Since his debut at just 16, the 20-year-old has experience in MLS, MLS Next Pro and the USL Championship.
Memphis – Emerson Hyndman, M: The former United States international will need to be a key contributor if Memphis is going to have continued success in 2024. A product of Fulham and several other European clubs, the 27-year-old will be expected to take the reins in his first full season in Memphis.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Las Vegas Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez:
“With our identity and what we’re trying to build right now, we want to be the protagonist, we want to be in control of the ball and in control of space. We want teams to have to adapt to us…If you were to come out and watch us play, the goal is for us to be in our attacking half as much as we can and have sustained attacks over a period of time where teams feel like they can’t get out, there’s a level of suffering, and through different ways of arriving we’re creating a high amount of goalscoring opportunities.”
Las Vegas Lights Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia:
“We expect to be competitive from Day One. We’re not shying away from that. Obviously, we have had our challenges in terms of timing and when we started, but that in no way is an excuse. We feel that we have assembled a competitive team to take the field and we expect to be competing for a playoff spot.”
