The Las Vegas Lights are visiting El Paso Locomotive FC on Friday in their second and final meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. PT at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN: The match will be available to watch locally on SSSEN, on SiriusXM FC CH. 157, and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 6-7-6 (24 points, 8th West), Locomotive: 3-11-3 (12 points, 12th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: WWDDD, El Paso: LLDWL
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Lights defeated the Locomotive 1-0 at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on March 23 behind an own goal from El Paso goalkeeper Javier Garcia.
AZCONA IS HERE TO STAY: The Lights on Tuesday made their loan deal for Edison Azcona permanent in the largest transaction in club history. Las Vegas signed Azcona from Major League Soccer side Inter Miami CF, from where he has been on loan since the start of the USL Championship season. The 20-year-old has one assist in 13 appearances this season and will be joining the Dominican Republic national team shortly for the Paris Olympic Games.
SANCHEZ COACH OF THE WEEK: Following an impressive 1-0 road win against Sacramento Republic FC last Tuesday, the first away win at Sacramento in club history, the USL Championship named Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez as its Week 18 Coach of the Week.
WESTERN CONFERENCE REMAINS TIGHT: Las Vegas enters this week above the playoff line in the eighth and final spot. Just five points separate the Lights in eighth and the Oakland Roots in second.
ROAD TRIP CONTINUES: The Lights will embark on their second of four consecutive road matches throughout the month of July. Following their win at Sacramento and this Friday’s match in El Paso, Las Vegas will visit the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on July 26 and then New Mexico United on 31. The Lights will return to Cashman Field on Aug. 10 for a tilt against Detroit City FC (TICKETS).
NEW MAN IN CHARGE: El Paso hired North American soccer coaching veteran Wilmer Cabrera to be the fourth head coach in club history on May 20. Cabrera has spent 19 years coaching across Major League Soccer, USL Championship and the United States Youth National Team. The Locomotive parted ways with Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut on May 17.
HOME STRUGGLES: El Paso is the only team in the USL Championship without a win at home this season (0-6-2). All three of the Locomotive’s wins this season have come on the road.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Amando Moreno, M
Moreno missed almost all of June with an injury, but he returned as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 loss at Rhode Island FC on June 26. The 28-year-old has a team-high five goals on the season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On making Edison Azcona’s loan deal permanent…
I’m very happy for Edison and for the club to secure him permanently. He’s a young, talented player who still has a lot of room for growth, which makes us really excited about where he’s headed. He’s got some unique attacking qualities are different than a lot of his peers, so it’s going to be our job to continue to nurture his talent and give him opportunities and challenge him appropriately.
On what the team can take moving forward from its win at Sacramento Republic…
It was very much a mentality win and one we can build off for the future. It’s great for the guys to be writing their own history and securing the first win in Sacramento in club history and at the same time beating a good Sacramento team…I’m really happy for the guys and want to continue to build momentum moving forward.
On what to expect on Friday against El Paso…
They have a new coach in Wilmer Cabrera. I have a lot of respect for him for what he’s done over the course of his coaching career. He’s a winner, he’s very well-organized. We’re anticipating a very difficult and competitive match. It’s really important that we go out and respect the opposition. Their record is not indicative of what they’re trying to build as a team right now, which is a group of players who are trying to prove to their new coach that they’re warranted of opportunities. It’s always tough going there, but we’re coming in full of confidence.
