Las Vegas Lights FC is hosting El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, March 23, in a Western Conference clash at Cashman Field. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m. PT at Cashman Field (TICKETS).
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Parking, Fan Code of Conduct, and other matchday information at Cashman Field can be found here.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match is available to watch locally on the Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network (SSSEN) and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (Subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights FC: 0-2-0 (0 points, 11th West), Locomotive FC: 0-2-1 (1 point, 9th West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: Locomotive FC defeated Lights FC 1-0 in Las Vegas on Sept. 13, 2023, behind a 12th-minute goal from Miles Lyons.
ALBA AND AZCONA AWAY: New Lights FC forward Riki Alba came on as a second-half substitute against FC Tulsa last week to make his club debut and found the back of the net just three minutes later. Vegas will be without its promising striker signing this week, though, as the Dominican Republic called up Alba for its international friendlies against Aruba on March 23 and Peru on March 26. Midfielder Edison Azcona, who assisted Alba’s debut goal last Saturday, has also earned a call-up to the Dominican Republic’s Under-23 roster. Azcona will miss Lights FC action this weekend for a pair friendlies against Paraguay’s U-23 squad on March 23 and March 26.
LOCOMOTIVE ABSENCES: El Paso is not immune to international call-ups this week either. Locomotive FC will be without Amando Moreno (El Salvador), Jeremy Garay (El Salvador) and Jahmali White (Jamaica).
MIDWEEK FRIENDLY: Prior to heading to Vegas this weekend, El Paso will take on Liga MX’s FC Juarez in the inaugural Derby Paso Del Norte.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Las Vegas Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On preparation for this weekend:
“We have a really great group of guys. They are really committed to the process. We’ve talked a lot about improving on a daily basis, on a weekly basis. The reality is with the movement of players and bringing guys in, we’re still very much in a preseason phase. We continue to learn about our group, and what I’m learning right now is that even though the results haven’t gone our way, we’re very much improving and competing every time we step on the field. There is a belief within the group that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Las Vegas Lights FC defender Emrah Klimenta
On establishing style of play and camaraderie within the group:
“It’s essentially a whole new era: whole new players, coaching staff, ownership. We’ve adapted quite quickly. It’s just a matter of us fine-tuning some details that are preventing us at the moment from getting all three of those points. We’re playing some great football, a great style of play. The coaching staff and ownership did a good job of bringing in players who are good players but also good human beings. That goes hand-in-hand with how quickly we’ve meshed and we’ve jelled together.”
Las Vegas Lights FC forward Joe Gyau
On the connection with the fans:
“The fans are our 12th man at home. It’s super important to build that connection to have that unwavering support at home and have them build that trust in us that they know that we’re going to be fighting all the time on the pitch…Us going around the field [to interact with the fans] at the end of the game is just to show that we appreciate the support from them 100%. Without them, there is none of this. We have to keep that bond strong.”
EL PASO PLAYER TO WATCH: Justin Dhillon, F
With Moreno away on international duty, look for Head Coach Brian Clarhaut to turn to USL Championship veteran Justin Dhillon, who Locomotive FC acquired from San Antonio FC this past offseason. The 28-year-old recorded 16 goals and 16 assists over the last three seasons in San Antonio and has nearly 60 combined goal contributions in 146 career USL Championship contests.
