Las Vegas Lights FC defeated San Antonio FC 1-0 on Saturday night at Cashman Field behind a second-half goal from rookie Shawn Smart.
Fabien Garcia had the first opportunity of the match on a header in the seventh minute off a Valentin Nöel free kick right, but Garcia hit it right at Pablo Sisniega.
Arozarena came up with a strong stop on a shot from distance by Bura in the 23rd minute.
Vegas went ahead in the 56th minute when Smart unleashed a right-footed strike from the top of the right side of the box that slipped under Sisniega’s arms and found the far corner.
Nöel nearly doubled the lead with a strong effort in the 64th minute that forced Sisniega into a difficult save.
San Antonio almost found an equalizer in the 71st minute when Carter Manley’s shot at the back post off a corner went wide of the net.
Riki Alba was inches away from making it 2-0 in the 77th minute when J.C. Ngando slipped in Alba, but Sisniega made a fingertip save to deny the Dominican international.
Klimenta almost scored as well off the ensuing corner kick when his shot at the back post off a Sisniega drop just went wide of the net.
Arozarena came up huge in the 80th minute when he denied Juan Agudelo from 12 yards out.
Hernández had a chance on a free kick in the second minute of stoppage time, but Arozarena pushed it over the bar.
Vegas will head on the road next Saturday looking for another win when the club visits Monterey Bay FC (7 p.m. PT, ESPN+).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Three straight wins
After recoding just three wins all last season, the Lights have rattled off three consecutive victories in the first five matches of the Dennis Sanchez era. Vegas has been exceptional on the defensive side of the ball during this stretch, notching three clean sheets in the process.
Adams makes debut
Following an injury in warmups in the season-opener against Memphis, Lights midfielder Charlie Adams made his club debut. The 29-year-old Englishman joined Las Vegas this past offseason after a successful four-year stint with San Diego Loyal.
Arozarena shines
Since being inserted into the starting lineup against El Paso Locomotive FC in Week 3, Arozarena has yet to be beaten. The 27-year-old Cuban international made five saves on the evening.
SCORING SUMMARY
LV – Shawn Smart 56’ (assist: J.C. Ngando)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Edison Azcona (caution) 17’
SA – Luke Haakenson (caution) 38’
SA – Lucas Silva (caution) 50’
LV – Fabien Garcia (caution) 54’
SA – Kevon Lambert (caution) 55’
SA – Juan Agudelo (caution) 76’
SA – Mitchell Taintor (caution) 77’
SA – Kameron Lacey (caution) 90’+6’
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Gaoussou Samaké (Maliek Howell 88’), Fabien Garcia, Emrah Klimenta, Shawn Smart; J.C. Ngando, Valentin Nöel, Coleman Gannon; Edison Azcona (Gennaro Nigro 33’), Riki Alba (Khori Bennett 88’), Solomon Asante (Charlie Adams 73’)
Substitutes not used: Austin Wormell, Nicholas Ammeter, Hayden Sargis, All Gue, Alexander Romero
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner kicks: 5
Saves: 5
San Antonio FC – Pablo Sisniega; Mitchell Taintor, Kendall Burks, Carter Manley; Lucas Silva (Shannon Gomez 68’), Bura Nogueira (Kameron Lacey 62’), Kevon Lambert, Luke Haakenson, Jorge Hernández; Hugo Mbongue (Machop Chol 57’), Juan Agudelo
Substitutes not used: Kendall McIntosh, Trova Boni, Mohamed Omar, José Mulato
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 19
Offside: 3
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 4
