Las Vegas Lights FC is hosting Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday in their first of two meetings this season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Cashman Field in Las Vegas (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch locally on FOX5 and SSSEN, and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 3-7-2 (11 points, 10th West), Rising: 4-5-3 (15 point, 6th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: LDDLL, Phoenix: LLWDW
PREVIOUS MEETING: Phoenix defeated Las Vegas 3-2 on Aug. 26, 2023, at Cashman Field. Daniel Rios recorded a brace for the Lights, while Manuel Arteaga, Daniel Trejo and Panos Armenakas scored for the visitors.
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT: The Lights will observe Military Appreciation Night, presented by Findlay Nissan, on Saturday. As part of the club’s gratitude for those who have proudly served in the United States military, several opportunities are available for military members to enjoy a Lights match this weekend. You can find more information about the activation HERE.
SAMAKÉ INJURY: Lights forward Gaoussou Samaké went down with an injury just minutes into Las Vegas’s match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies last weekend. Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez said this week that the injury diagnosis was not looking promising and is expecting Samaké to miss significant time.
FAMILIAR FACE: Lights forward Solomon Asante will go head-to-head with his former team where he cemented himself as one of the best players in the USL Championship. The Ghanaian scored 54 goals in 113 matches with Phoenix from 2018-21.
TITLE-HOLDERS: The Rising are the defending USL Championship winners after defeating the Charleston Battery in penalties in the final last season. The title was the first in Phoenix’s history.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rémi Cabral, F
The Colorado Rapids loanee has hit the ground running in his first year in Phoenix and is the main target point in attack for the Rising. Cabral has six goals already, which is tied for sixth in the USL Championship.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On his main focuses for the match against Phoenix…
Phoenix is a side that wants to have the ball. They spend a good amount of time on the ball during the games in terms of their possession, they circulate well, they create advantages centrally and they also have a No. 9 who can really change the game in Cabral. We’re going to need another strong defensive outing, but at the same time, the best way to take the ball away from them is for us to have the ball.
Lights FC forward Solomon Asante
On how the USL Championship has grown since he began his career here…
I always say that this is one of the best leagues that I’ve played in. Right now, the league has grown a lot and progressed. Looking at 2017, 2018, a lot of things have changed: pitches, the crowds, the fans. It’s progressing quickly.
