The Las Vegas Lights came from behind late to draw Memphis 901 FC 1-1 at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Bruno Lapa opened the scoring in the 43rd minute for the visitors before Khori Bennett equalized from the penalty spot in the 80th minute.
Both teams felt each other over the first half-hour. The first real chance of the match came in the 29th minute when Lapa got through on the left flank and toe-poked a shot to the far post that just skipped wide.
Lights goalkeeper Nicholas Ammeter made a great save in the 37th minute when he got down to kick away a shot by Emerson Hyndman from the top of the box.
Lapa opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when he picked up a turnover and unleashed a 60-yard shot from inside his own half that beat Ammeter, who was off his line.
Vegas found a lifeline in the 78th minute when Memphis was whistled for a foul in the box. Bennett stepped up in the 80th minute and calmly converted the penalty into the bottom left corner.
Charlie Adams almost won the match at the death in the fourth minute of stoppage time when his free kick from 25 yards out rattled the crossbar.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Bennett scores again
Bennett now has four goals in as many matches, including three from the penalty spot. He’s second on the team in goals behind only Valentin Noël (seven).
Rescuing a point
For the second time in five days, Las Vegas came from behind to earn a point at home. After erasing two one-goal deficits against the Colorado Switchbacks on Tuesday, and even taking the lead, the Lights fought back to earn a result on Saturday.
Final match in the homestand awaits
The Lights will close out their three-match homestand with a clash against the Eastern Conference’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets to the Lights’ Pride Night are available at www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
SCORING SUMMARY
MEM – Bruno Lapa 43’ (Assist: Zach Duncan)
LV – Khori Bennett 80’ (penalty)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Charlie Adams 54’ (caution)
MEM – Emerson Hyndman 62’ (caution)
MEM – Leston Paul 63’ (caution)
MEM – Samuel Careaga 72’ (caution)
LV – Maliek Howell 74’ (caution)
LV – Edison Azcona 83’ (caution)
LV – Khori Bennett 90’ (caution)
MEM – Bruno Lapa 90’+3’ (caution)
LINEUPS AND STATS | USL Championship Stats
Las Vegas Lights FC – Nicholas Ammeter; Shawn Smart, Joe Hafferty, Maliek Howell, Gennaro Nigro; Solomon Asante (Christian Pinzón 65’), J.C. Ngando (Khori Bennett 65’), Dre Fortune (Charlie Adams 46’), Coleman Gannon (Emrah Klimenta 65’); Valentin Noël, Edison Azcona
Substitutes not used: Raiko Arozarena, Fabien Garcia, Hayden Sargis, All Gue, Zander Romero
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 12
Corner kicks: 3
Offside: 5
Saves: 1
Memphis 901 FC – Tyler Deric; Carson Vom Steeg, Akeem Ward, AB Cissoko, Lucas Turci; Emerson Hyndman (Samuel Careaga 70’), Luiz Fernando (Walid Yacoubou 69’), Zach Duncan, Bruno Lapa, Leston Paul (Dylan Borczak 81’); Marlon
Substitutes not used: Aren Seeger, Oscar Jimenez, Noe Meza, Nighte Pickering
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 18
Corner kicks: 1
Offside: 4
Saves: 0
