Las Vegas Lights FC produced a resilient 3-1 comeback against Miami FC on Saturday night, with forward Khori Bennett scoring a brace and captain Valentin Noël helping secure the result late on. The Lights went down against the run of play in the first half, but a stoppage time equalizer from Bennett was added onto via second half strikes from the two forwards to deliver all three points to the hosts.
Las Vegas was on the attack from the outset, but the side’s ability to settle into the tempo and control the match helped dictate its chances to crack open the opposition defense. In the opening 15 minutes of the match, Las Vegas owned over two-thirds of the possession while creating the lion’s share of the chances despite not finding the back of the net.
However, in the 25th minute and against the run of play, Miami’s long ball over the top opened up space for an attack. After midfielder Michael Lawrence chested a pass down for López in the box, the forward flicked up and over the reach of a Lights FC defender before poking the ball past Las Vegas goalkeeper Nicholas Ammeter. With little to do about the effort, Miami broke the deadlock from close range.
The hosts would continue to press the Miami defense in a bid to find an equalizer before the close of the half, and just as the half was ending, they were able to break through as forward Khori Bennett picked out the bottom right corner from close in. The Lights had just prevented a second from Miami on the other end when they launched one more attack. That attack then saw Las Vegas work the ball around the penalty area before Coleman Gannon on the right eventually found Bennett in the middle, who produced a stunning backheel on the fly to level the score.
When the halftime whistle sounded, Las Vegas had done enough to find itself level at the break with opportunity in the second half.
Five minutes into the second half, an impressive effort from Shawn Smart following a set-piece forced Miami goalkeeper Felipe Rodriguez into a sharp save toward his bottom left corner. Moments later, Miami then had a chance of their own as a deflected cross saw Ammeter leap to push the ball away to safety. The drama did not cease there, as just before the hour mark Valentin Noël struck the post via a solid effort that bounced away before Miami could clear.
However, a true turning point in the match came as Khori Bennett chased a pass into that box that resulted in Miami’s Daltyn Knutson being judged to have brought Bennett down near goal. This led the official to award a penalty kick, one that Bennett stepped up and sent Rodriguez the wrong way with to score in the 63rd minute.
Seeking to maintain the lead, Las Vegas found itself in a pinch in the 80th minute when it looked as if López would be back through on goal after receiving a pass in the penalty area. However, Lights substitute defender Maliek Howell made a fantastic last ditch tackle to prevent López from getting the shot off and kill the momentum.
Then, two minutes later, Las Vegas got the insurance goal it needed as an incredible ball from Gennaro Nigro to the back post allowed Valentin Noël to beat the ball back across goal and into the far side netting. Noël, who has been a consistent name on the scoresheet for Las Vegas this season, spared not even a touch to settle as he hit the cross first time to beat Rodriguez.
In the end, Las Vegas earned an important home win as the side came back from down a goal to earn a 3-1 win behind Bennett’s brace and Noël’s finishing touch near the match’s end. The Lights now head on the road to face Loudoun United FC on Friday, with kickoff at Segra Field scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Resilience When Behind
Though the Lights were the stronger of the two sides in attack early on, Miami’s goal provided a difficult obstacle for Las Vegas to overcome. However, the hosts demonstrated resilience in pulling back the goal that led to its positive result. The last time Las Vegas was able to come from behind to secure at least a point was a 2-2 home draw against Louisville on May 18.
Efficiency from the Spot
Forward Khori Bennett stepped up just after the hour mark with a big chance to continue his efficiency from 12 yards out. Having won the penalty, Bennett then faced Felipe Rodriguez after scoring 5 of his previous 7 penalty attempts. Burying his chance to the right side of goal, Bennett improved his all-time conversion rate to 75 percent.
Back to Winning Ways
Las Vegas earned the club’s first league win since April (1-0 vs. San Antonio FC), and as an even further sign of positive momentum, the team has now lost just one of its last five games in all competitions. The result helps Las Vegas up in the table and may help instill even further belief in a side that also recently took points from San Antonio (away) and Louisville and Phoenix (home) to continue its ascent up the USL Championship standings.
SCORING SUMMARY
MIA – Frank López 25’ (Assist: Michael Lawrence)
LV – Khori Bennett 45+3’ (Assist: Coleman Gannon)
LV – Khori Bennett 63’ (penalty)
LV – Valentin Noël 82’ (Assist: Gennaro Nigro)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Gennaro Nigro 40’ (caution)
MIA – Mujeeb Murana 65’ (caution)
MIA – Michael Lawrence 87’ (dissent)
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Nicholas Ammeter; Shawn Smart, Joe Hafferty, Emrah Klimenta (Maliek Howell 55’), Fabien Garcia, Gennaro Nigro; Coleman Gannon (Christian Pinzón 75’), Jean-Claude Ngando (Hayden Sargis 89’), Solomon Asante (Joe Gyau 75’); Valentin Noël (Alexander Romero 89’), Khori Bennett
Substitutes not used: Raiko Arozarena, Austin Wormell, Sawyer Crisostomo, All Gue
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 9
Corner kicks: 6
Saves: 2
Miami FC – Felipe Rodriguez; Mujeeb Murana, Alejandro Mitrano, Samuel Biek (Lucas DePaula 78’), Daltyn Knutson; Andrew Booth, Rocco Genzano (Jordan Ayimbila 67’), Allen Gavilanes (Manuel Botta 67’), Michael Lawrence, Gabriel de Freitas; Frank López
Substitutes not used: Daniel Gagliardi, Marco Santana, Chris Jean Francois, Roberto Molina
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 16
Corner kicks: 6
Saves: 1
