Las Vegas Lights FC defeated USL League One side Spokane Velocity FC 2-1 after extra time on Wednesday night at Cashman Field in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Valentin Noël scored the opening goal in the 51st minute before Andre Lewis sent the match to extra time with an equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Riki Alba won it for Vegas in the 113th minute to send the hosts through to the Round of 32.
The first half was a rather quiet affair with neither side recording a shot on goal.
Spokane had the first real chance 36 minutes in when Kimarni Smith broke free down the left flank to lead a potential 4-v-1 counterattack, but Gennaro Nigro’s key deflection cut out the opportunity.
The game’s first on target came in the 48th minute when J.C. Ngando played a through ball over the top to Alba, whose subsequent shot was saved by goalkeeper Peter Swinkels.
The Lights opened the scoring in the 51st minute after a high press forced a turnover to Solomon Asante. The Ghanaian drew in defenders then slipped in Nöel to his left, and Nöel coolly deposited a one-timed shot to the lower far corner.
Noël thought he found his brace in the 62nd minute when he was on the receiving end of a free kick, but he was whistled for offside.
Spokane was reduced to 10 men in the third minute of stoppage time when Derek Waldeck, who came on as a second-half substitute, received a second yellow card.
The Velocity found an equalizer at the death when Lewis ripped a shot from 35 yards out that beat Raiko Arozarena in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The goal was Spokane’s first shot on target all evening.
Khori Bennett forced Swinkels into a diving save on a shot from distance in the 91st minute to start the first of two 15-minute extra time periods.
Josh Dolling had a chance on a break in the 112th minute, but Arozarena came up with a big save.
Just one minute later, Alba put Vegas ahead when he cleaned up a scramble in the box to secure the win.
The draw for the Round of 32 will take place on Thursday, April 18.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Grind it out
Vegas didn’t make the job easy for itself on Wednesday, as it succumbed to an equalizer in the final moments of regular time. But the Lights dug deep and found a way to use their man-advantage to survive and advance.
Noël steps up again
It’s been a promising start to his first season in Las Vegas for Noël. The 24-year-old French midfielder now has three goals and an assist through six contests in all competitions.
Quick turn
The Lights will play their third match in eight days when they host Rhode Island FC back in USL Championship play on Saturday at Cashman Field (5 p.m. PT; Stream on ESPN+ | TICKETS).
SCORING SUMMARY
LV – Valentin Noël 51’ (Assist: Solomon Asante)
SPK – Andre Lewis 90’+6’ (Assist: Josh Dolling)
LV – Riki Alba 113’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Fabien Garcia (caution) 12’
LV – Valentin Noël (caution) 16’
SPK – Camron Miller (caution) 43’
LV – Gennardo Nigro (caution) 64’
SPK – Leigh Veidman (caution) 69’
SPK – Derek Waldeck (caution) 73’
SPK – Derek Waldeck (second caution; ejection) 90’+3’
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Shawn Smart (Maliek Howell 72’), Fabien Garcia, Emrah Klimenta, Gennaro Nigro; J.C. Ngando, Valentin Noël (Sawyer Crisostomo 89’), Coleman Gannon (Zander Romero 45’); Solomon Asante (All Gue 114’), Edison Azcona (Riki Alba 45’), Khori Bennett (Hayden Sargis 120’)
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Ammeter
Total shots: 23
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 16
Corner kicks: 12
Saves: 1
Spokane Velocity – Peter Swinkels; Javier Martin Gil (Romain Métanire 58’), Ahmed Longmire, Camron Miller, Elijah Amadin (Derek Waldeck 58’); Andre Lewis, Jack Denton (Collin Fernandez 78’); Morgan Hackworth (Luis Gil,58’), Ariel Mbumba (Josh Dolling 72’), Pierre Reedy; Kimarni Smith (Marcelo Lage 99’)
Substitutes not used: Carlos Merancio
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 21
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 4
