Las Vegas Lights FC is hosting New Mexico United on Saturday in the first of two league clashes with the Black & Gold. Here are all the details:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Cashman Field in Las Vegas.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch locally on SSSEN and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Las Vegas: 3-5-0 (9 points, 7th West), New Mexico: 4-2-1 (13 points, 4th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: LLWLW, New Mexico: LWWWW
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Lights traveled to New Mexico on August 30, 2023, and pulled out a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Isotopes Park that saw Las Vegas come back from a 1-0 deficit to go 3-1 up, only for New Mexico to come back and snatch a draw.
FAMILIAR TURF FOR NOËL: Valentin Noël has scored in each of the club’s last two home games (W1 L1) in all competitions and can help push forward a Las Vegas side that currently sits right in the middle of the Western Conference in total goals scored.
KEEPING IT CLOSE: Las Vegas has won both of its home games by a 1-0 scoreline and has lost both home games in which their opponent has scored (3-1 vs. TUL, 2-1 vs. RIFC), meaning a clean sheet is a vital focus.
SIMILAR PATHS: Both Las Vegas and New Mexico have already played Rhode Island, El Paso, and Charleston, with the Lights going 1-2-0 (3 pts) against that opposition compared to New Mexico’s 1-1-1 record (4 pts). Both sides defeated El Paso and lost to Charleston, but New Mexico was able to earn a point against Rhode Island where Las Vegas fell just short.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
DEFENDER EMRAH KLIMENTA
On the focus turning back to the weekend…
“Back at home–very exciting. It was a tough one for us last weekend but all you can do is learn from it and try to replace the mistakes to the best of our abilities. We talked as a team together and the quicker we try and forget that result and fix our mistakes and the little things as we move onto this weekend, the better it is collectively.”
On maintaining perspective…
“A fresh start this weekend as we try and bounce back. I know New Mexico is in the same position after losing this past weekend. It’s going to be a battle at the end of the day – who wants it more. The tactical side of course comes into play but sometimes whoever wants it more or whoever has more energy tends to win certain games like this, especially after games like this last weekend with what happened to the both of us.”
MIDFIELDER J.C. NGANDO
On how to win tight, tough games…
“I feel like we have chances, but when you start the game down 3-0 it’s really hard to be in the game. Coach always says we attack together and we defend together. If we start the game the right way and defend the way we’re supposed to defend, the goals are going to come.”
On team fundamentals being the priority…
“It’s a mental thing. At the end of the day, you need to have pride for yourself. It is a team sport, but soccer is 11-v-11 so you find yourself in a 1-v-1 most of the time. You have to be ready for 1-v-1. You might lose one, and your team will be there to support you, but you have to have pride to and be where you’re supposed to be. We work every single week and coach gives us tasks to do every single week. It’s up to us when we step on the field to do the task the way coach asks us to do it.”
HEAD COACH DENNIS SANCHEZ
On returning home…
“We always love playing at home. We want to make this a fortress, we want to make it very difficult for teams to come in to Las Vegas and understand if they are going to come here, they have to earn victories or earn points from us. Again, going back to focusing on us, in a perfect world we don’t concede any and find a way to score and ultimately have a good collective performance and a good response from last week.”
On shared leadership and responsibility in difficulty…
“I always look at myself first as the leader of the group and the team. I always hold myself accountable, I’m very reflective and I ask myself regardless of whether we win or lose how we can improve. I spend a lot of time reflecting after the game. I think it was a very humbling experience not only for myself but for the staff and the team and controlling the narrative is a really important aspect both for myself and the team. The message earlier this week was about maintaining the right perspective, but also understanding that we are in control of our energy.
NEW MEXICO PLAYER TO WATCH: Greg Hurst, F
As of this match week, forward Greg Hurst sits T-4 in the Western Conference in scoring with three goals, a tally that is good enough for T-11 overall in the USL Championship charts. In Hurst’s seven starts, one of his goals came from the penalty spot, and his 11 shots are second on the team behind Dayonn Harris (12). Of note, New Mexico’s 66 total shots are the lowest in the league.
