Las Vegas Lights FC is hosting San Antonio FC on Saturday in their first of two meetings this season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Cashman Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match is available to watch locally on SSSEN & FOX5, and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Las Vegas: 2-2-0 (6 points, 5th West), San Antonio: 2-0-2 (8 points, 3rd West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: San Antonio defeated Las Vegas 2-1 at Cashman Field on May 7, 2023. Preston Tabort Etaka canceled out Sam Adeniran’s early goal, but Tani Oluwaseyi’s goal in the 81st minute secured three points for the visitors.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Lights FC featured an impressive three players on last week’s USL Championship Team of the Week following a convincing 3-0 road win over Oakland Roots SC. Shawn Smart, Valentin Noël and Gaoussou Samaké all earned the weekly honor for the first time this season.
DEFENSIVE COHESION: Las Vegas enters this weekend on the heels of back-to-back clean sheets. The club is one of just seven to record two shutouts through the first four matches of the campaign.
ATTACKING FIREPOWER: San Antonio boasts one of the best attacks in USL Championship. Its eight goals scored is second in the league and first in the Western Conference.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Las Vegas Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On building off the performance against Oakland…
Watching the game back, we defended really well. It’s been a constant theme over the last couple weeks of how we can be better at controlling space and looking at specific times where we can build pressure, move forward together, move in coordination with the ball and limit the opposition with opportunities. That’s two shutouts in a row, and there’s a reason behind that. It takes a collective effort and a collective mentality.
Las Vegas Lights FC defender Fabien Garcia
On back-to-back clean sheets…
The team is evolving and people are getting to know each other. It’s a brand new team. We knew it was going to take a little time to work all together, but every week, people are getting on the same page, the mentality is growing. We want to defend, we want to work for each other.
Las Vegas Lights FC forward Riki Alba
On the mentality heading into the match against San Antonio…
We’re a whole new team, and we’re just getting started. Now you can see what we’re trying to do…We look at this weekend as a great opportunity to show where this group is headed.
SAN ANTONIO PLAYER TO WATCH: Jorge Hernández, M
Hernández is off to a fast start in 2024. The Mexican No. 10 and LA Galaxy Academy product leads USL Championship in assists with three and chances created with 13, four more than any other player.
