The Las Vegas Lights are hosting Louisville City FC on Saturday in their first and only meeting of the season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT this Saturday, May 18, at Cashman Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch locally on SSSEN and FOX5, and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 3-6-1 (10 points, 10th West), Louisville: 7-1-0 (21 points, 2nd East)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: DLLLL, Louisville: WLWWW
PREVIOUS MEETING: LouCity defeated the Lights 1-0 at Lynn Family Stadium in Kentucky on June 24, 2023. Enoch Mushagalusa scored the lone goal for the hosts in the 77th minute.
NOËL CONTINUES TO SHINE: Despite only coming away with a 1-1 draw last weekend against San Antonio, Lights midfielder Valentin Noël scored yet again, his fourth in league play and fifth in all competitions. The Frenchman is tied for ninth in the USL Championship in goals.
REASON FOR OPTIMISM: Despite a tough run of form, the Lights still sit on 10 points and are just outside of the early playoff picture on goal differential. They also have three of the next four matches at home.
TOUGH TEST: LouCity is one of the best teams in the USL Championship and they do it on both ends of the field. They’re first in goals scored (26) while also being tied for first in clean sheets (five).
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Las Vegas Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On how he can build off the road draw at San Antonio last weekend…
In a way, I love that our guys came off the field pissed off that we didn’t achieve three points. It’s a really good mentality to have. On paper, going away to San Antonio and getting a point, we probably would have taken it before the game, but at the same time, with the way the game transpired, we felt like we dropped a couple points. That needs to serve as motivation heading into Louisville.
Lights midfielder Edison Azcona
On messaging heading into this weekend’s match against Louisville City…
Once we get into the opposing team’s final third, being more patient, being more ruthless and having that killer mindset of putting away those chances and half-chances that we get. We want to impose our style of play on Louisville, especially at home, and like we did against San Antonio, fight until the 90th minute.
Lights defender Shawn Smart
On limiting Louisville City’s opportunities…
It’s going to be a good challenge. It’s no secret that they’re one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, but that doesn’t play a big factor in how differently we go about the game. A lot of the goals we have conceded this season have been small mistakes, a domino effect leading up to goals, and once we sharpen up on those, which we have been, we’ll have a solid chance this weekend.
LOUISVILLE PLAYER TO WATCH: Wilson Harris, F
Harris has been the best player in the USL Championship not named Nick Markanich this season. The former Sporting Kansas City Homegrown has been a goal machine, notching eight in as many matches for the highest-scoring team in the league.
