Las Vegas Lights FC outplayed the reigning champs Phoenix Rising FC but ultimately played to a scoreless draw at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The Lights had a great opportunity in the 10th minute when Joe Hafferty played Solomon Asante in behind. The Ghanaian picked out the late run of Valentin Nöel, but his first-timed shot was right at goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo.
Asante forced Ríos Novo into a diving save in the 34th minute when he collected a loose ball, drove toward goal and unleashed a shot destined for the far corner.
Asante had a solid chance in the first minute of the second half when he sprinted down the left flank and fired a shot that Ríos Novo dove to his left to save.
Charlie Adams had a powerful hit from distance in the 48th minute that just bent wide of the far post.
Las Vegas’s best chance of the evening came in the 56th minute when J.C. Ngando picked out Shawn Smart, whose header on the doorstep was initially saved by Ríos Novo. The Rising goalkeeper then dove to keep the ball from crossing the goal line and cleared it away.
Edison Azcona had a gilt-edge chance to open the scoring in the 64th minute when he was played in behind and beat his man inside, but his shot from close-range was right at Ríos Novo.
Asante had a shot from distance in the 68th minute that rattled the crossbar and ricocheted out of danger.
Vegas had a penalty shout in the 73rd minute when Nöel went down in the box, but no foul was awarded by referee Muhammad Hassan.
Khori Bennett ripped a shot from 20 yards out in the second minute of stoppage time, but Ríos Novo got up to parry it over the bar.
Las Vegas improves to 3-7-3 on the season with 12 points from 13 matches.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Fourth clean sheet of the year
The Lights earned their fourth clean sheet of 2024 and first since April 6 in a 1-0 win over San Antonio FC. Las Vegas held Phoenix to just three shots on target all match.
Asante shines against former team
Asante made a name for himself as one of the best players in USL Championship history during his tenure with Phoenix Rising from 2018-21. He was lively all evening against his former club, creating two chances and getting three shots off.
Miami FC awaits
The Lights will be back at home next Saturday when they host Miami FC at Cashman Field (7:30 p.m. PT | TICKETS). Miami is currently last on points in the USL Championship with seven points from 13 matches.
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
PHX – Edgardo Rito (caution) 21’
PHX – Alejandro Fuenmayor (caution) 44’
LV – Charlie Adams (caution) 45’+1’
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Nicholas Ammeter; Shawn Smart, Fabien Garcia, Joe Hafferty, Gennaro Nigro; J.C. Ngando, Charlie Adams (Zander Romero 60’), Coleman Gannon (Maliek Howell 83’), Solomon Asante (Khori Bennett 83’); Valentin Nöel, Edison Azcona
Substitutes not used: Raiko Arozarena, Emrah Klimenta, Hayden Sargis, Sawyer Crisostomo, All Gue
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 7
Corner kicks: 6
Offside: 0
Saves: 3
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo; Alejandro Fuenmayor (Mohamed Traore 85’), John Stenberg, Laurence Wyke; Edgardo Rito, Gabriel Torres (Juan Carlos Azócar 69’), Renzo Zambrano, José Hernández; (J.P. Scearce 74’) Panos Armenakas, Rémi Cabral (Dariusz Formella 69’), Fede Varela (Erickson Gallardo 74’)
Substitutes not used: Patrick Rakovsky, Pape Mar Boye
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 8
Corner kicks: 2
Offside: 3
Saves: 10
