Las Vegas Lights FC fell 2-1 to Rhode Island FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field behind first-half goals from Stephen Turnbull and Noah Fuson. Valentin Noël pulled one back for the hosts in the second half.
Fuson thought he opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he beat Raiko Arozarena to the far post, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Turnbull got the visitors on the board first in the 25th minute when Fuson drove to the left end line and played a cross in the box that Turnbull one-timed into the net.
Albert Dikwa had a chance to double the lead in the 36th minute when an attempted clearance in the box fell to him, but he skied his volley over the crossbar from 12 yards out.
Fuson staked Rhode Island to a 2-0 lead in the final minute before halftime when he cleaned up a scrum in the box following a blocked shot by Dikwa.
Vegas’s best chance of the first half came in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Valentin Noël’s shot from close range was off target after the Lights had a penalty shout.
The Lights halved the deficit in the 54th minute when Nöel headed in a cross from Gaoussou Samaké after a great passage of play. Gennaro Nigro whipped in a cross for Solomon Asante, who beat his man to the end line and dropped a pass for Samaké, who picked out Noël at the back post.
Las Vegas had a chance to equalize in the 68th minute when Asante played a cross for Riki Alba, but he missed on his attempt at contact.
The Lights came within inches of tying the match in the 84th minute when Alba’s header off a corner caromed off the post and back into play.
Alba had another opportunity in the 89th minute when he stretched for a cross, but his volleyed attempt from six yards out went over the bar.
The win was Rhode Island’s first in club history in its inaugural USL Championship season.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Noël’s form continues
Another match and another goal for Lights midfielder Noël. The French midfielder now has a team-high four goals in all competitions this season including back-to-back games.
Taking a breather
Following three matches in eight days, the Lights will have a chance to regroup and rest up as they look to get back into the win column in USL Championship play.
Battery await
Vegas will return to action next Saturday at USL Championship-leading Charleston Battery (1:00 p.m. PT; ESPN+). The Battery are unbeaten through eight league matches so far this season (5-0-3).
SCORING SUMMARY
RI – Stephen Turnbull 25’ (Assist: Noah Fuson)
RI – Noah Fuson 45’
LV – Valentin Noël 54’ (Assist: Gaoussou Samaké)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Riki Alba (caution) 28’
RI – Jackson Lee (caution) 30’
LV – Gennaro Nigro (caution) 45’+2’
LV – Dennis Sanchez (caution) 70’
LV – Joe Hafftery (caution) 74’
RI – Mark Doyle (caution) 90’+1’
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Shawn Smart, Fabien Garcia (Joe Hafferty 45’), Maliek Howell (Hayden Sargis 66’), Gennaro Nigro (Joe Gyau 66’); J.C. Ngando, Coleman Gannon (Charlie Adams 45’), Valentin Noël; Solomon Asante (Khori Bennett 76’), Riki Alba, Gaoussou Samaké
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Ammeter, Sawyer Crisostomo, All Gue, Zander Romero
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Corner kicks: 7
Offside: 1
Saves: 0
Rhode Island FC – Jackson Lee; Stephen Turnbull (Collin Smith 71’), Frank Nodarse, Gabriel Alves, Karifa Yao; Noah Fuson (Mark Doyle 71’), Clay Holstad, Jojea Kwizera (Nathan Messer 82’), Joe Brito (Kofi Twumasi 62’), Marc Ybarra; Albert Dikwa
Substitutes not used: Koke Vegas, Prince Saydee, Kevin Vang
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 8
Corner kicks: 6
Offside: 1
Saves: 3
