MATCH RECAP: Memphis 901 FC 2:1 Las Vegas Lights FC

Memphis 901 FC defeated Las Vegas Lights FC 2-1 on Saturday at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn., in the 2024 USL Championship season-opener. Valentin Nöel opened the scoring for Las Vegas in the 22^nd minute before Samuel Careaga and Nighte Pickering responded with two unanswered goals in the first half.

Memphis’s Emerson Hyndman had the first good look of the match in the 12^th minute when his shot from the right side of the box forced Vegas goalkeeper Austin Wormell into a diving save.

Nöel gave Vegas the lead after 22 minutes when he received a pass on the half-turn 40 yards out, drove toward goal and fired a left-footed shot from the top of the box to the bottom right corner.

Pickering nearly equalized in the 32^nd minute when he intercepted a back pass and dribbled around an onrushing Wormell, but his shot with an empty net rang the crossbar.

Memphis found the leveler just a minute later when Careaga tapped in a deflection off a Wormell save.

Khori Bennett almost gave Las Vegas the lead right back in the 36^th minute when he forced goalkeeper Tyer Deric into a fingertip save that he sent over the crossbar.

Memphis went ahead a minute shy of halftime when Pickering unleashed a left-footed strike from 25 yards out that beat Wormell.

Wormell was called on yet again 10 minutes into the second half when he parried away Luiz Fernando’s shot from 12 yards out.

Nöel was close to bagging a brace in the 62^nd minute when Deric pushed aside his effort from outside the box.

Deric made a massive stop in the 89^th minute to keep Bennett’s shot across the box from finding the far corner.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Sanchez’s first match

Saturday marked the inaugural match at the helm of Las Vegas for Sanchez, who was hired this past offseason from MLS Next Pro side Austin FC II. Sanchez is one of a host of changes undergone by the Lights this offseason, including new owner José Bautista and Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia.

Nöel’s instant impact

After being added to Las Vegas’s roster on Friday, Nöel earned the start and was lively in attack, highlighted by his first-half goal. The Frenchman spent last season at Austin FC II playing under Sanchez.

Home-opener awaits

Las Vegas will kick off its 2024 USL Championship home slate next Saturday when the club welcomes FC Tulsa to Cashman Field (5 p.m. PT | TICKETS).