Las Vegas Lights FC and Louisville City FC played to a 2-2 draw at Cashman Field on Saturday night. Taylor Davila and Ray Serrano scored for LouCity while Valentin Nöel and Charlie Adams tallied for Vegas.
Louisville found an opener just seven minutes in when Davila drove through the center of the Lights defense and fired a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Nicholas Ammeter.
The Lights answered in the 16th minute when a good attacking sequence led to a cross for Gaoussou Samaké, who was unable to get solid contact, but it fell nicely for Nöel, who one-timed home a half-volley from six yards out.
LouCity almost retook the lead in the 28th minute when Sean Totsch’s header from six yards out went just over the crossbar.
Las Vegas went ahead in the 36th minute when Adams beat goalkeeper Damian Las at the near post on a wicked free kick from just right of the box. The goal was Adams’s first of his Lights tenure.
Louisville’s Wilson Harris had a chance in the opening seconds of the second half, but his spinning effort from the top of the box was straight at Ammeter.
Harris had another great opportunity in the 51st minute when he took a bouncing ball off a half-volley on the left side of the box, but he pulled his effort wide of the far post.
Louisville City had a fantastic chance in the 57th minute when Shawn Smart fouled Harris on the edge of the box, but Adrien Perez’s ensuing free kick was deflected out for a corner.
LouCity found an equalizer in the 70th minute when Serrano pounced on a loose ball a few yards from goal after Ammeter initially deflected a cross into the box.
Vegas was inches away from taking a late lead when Solomon Asante hit the near post in the 81st minute after a great counterattack.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Nöel scores again
Nöel notched his fifth goal of the USL Championship season and sixth in all competitions. The Frenchman has been one of the best attacking midfielders in the league so far this season.
Adams opens his account
After missing the beginning of the season through injury, Adams opened his Lights account in style on Saturday with a brilliant free kick. The USL Championship veteran was a huge offseason acquisition after spending the previous four years with San Diego Loyal SC.
Positive direction
While they’re not wins, the Lights have posted back-to-back impressive results with a point on the road at San Antonio followed by a home draw against one of the best teams in the USL Championship. The Lights will look for another result on the road next weekend when they visit the Tampa Bay Rowdies (4:30 p.m. PT).
SCORING SUMMARY
LOU – Taylor Davila 7’ (Assist: Elijah Wynder)
LV – Valentin Nöel 16’ (Assist: Gaoussou Samaké)
LV – Charlie Adams 36’
LOU – Ray Serrano 70’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LOU – Wilson Harris 48’ (caution)
LV – Shawn Smart 55’ (caution)
LOU – Kyle Adams 62’ (caution)
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Nicholas Ammeter; Shawn Smart (Joe Hafferty 59’), Fabien Garcia, Emrah Klimenta, Gennaro Nigro; Gaoussou Samaké (Zander Romero 59’), Charlie Adams (Riki Alba 77’), J.C. Ngando (Maliek Howell 88’), Solomon Asante; Valentin Nöel, Edison Azcona
Substitutes not used: Raiko Arozarena, Hayden Sargis, Sawyer Crisostomo, All Gue, Khori Bennett
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Corner kicks: 3
Offside: 0
Saves: 3
Louisville City FC – Damian Las; Kyle Adams, Arturo Ordoñez ) Wesley Charpie 85’), Sean Totsch; Aiden McFadden (Jansen Wilson 45’), Jake Morris (Amadou Dia 45’), Taylor Davila, Elijah Wynder (Ray Serrano 45’); Wilson Harris, Adrien Perez, Jorge Gonzalez (Tola Showunmi 77’)
Substitutes not used: Danny Faundez, Niall McCabe
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 16
Corner kicks: 7
Offside: 3
Saves: 2
