Las Vegas Lights FC defeated El Paso Locomotive FC 2-0 on Friday night at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas. Coleman Gannon scored the opener in the 64th minute before an own goal by Lucas Stauffer in the 83rd secured all three points.
El Paso had the first good look at goal in the 19th minute when Joaquín Rivas received the ball in the box with his back to goal, turned and then fired a shot that was saved by Raiko Arozarena.
The Lights almost found the breakthrough one minute later when Valentin Noël set up Christian Pinzón, but Locomotive goalkeeper Jahmali Waite dove to his left to parry it away.
The Locomotive had a golden chance in the 39th minute when they turned the ball over in Vegas’s defensive third, but the ensuing shot from Rivas hit the outside of the near post and went wide.
The best chance of the half for Vegas came in the 45th minute when Pinzón returned the favor for Noël by setting up the Frenchman on a late run into the box. Noël’s first-timed effort from 10 yards out was pushed away again by Waite.
El Paso had a gilt-edge chance in the second minute of the second half, but Rivas’s left-footed shot from close range missed wide.
Pinzón had a similarly dangerous opportunity in the 54th minute when he broke free on the left side of the box, but his shot skipped just past the far post.
Four minutes later, Khori Bennett had a chance at the back post off a beautiful cross from Noël, but Bennett couldn’t get a touch to it.
The Lights scored the go-ahead goal in the 64th minute after a brilliant behind-the-back pass from J.C. Ngando sent Noël in behind on the left. His shot was saved at the near post by Waite before Pinzón’s rebound attempt was cleared off the line by Noah Dollenmayer. Gannon finally cleaned up the scrum by rifling the ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
Arozarena made a fantastic stop in the 72nd minute to deny Amando Moreno’s shot from the left side of the box. The Cuban goalkeeper did well to get down to his left and push it aside.
Arozarena made another massive save in the 76th minute when he stonewalled a point-blank attempt from Tumi Moshobane.
Las Vegas found an insurance goal in the 83rd minute when Noël attacked down the right flank and crossed a ball aimed for the far post, but El Paso defender Stauffer deflected the cross into his own net.
The Lights head into the weekend up to fifth in the Western Conference with 27 points from 20 matches. They are just two points outside of second place.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Unbeaten run continues
Las Vegas extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches (4-0-4) and has now lost just once in its last 11 contests.
Defensive resiliency
The Lights earned their third consecutive clean sheet on Friday. Vegas hasn’t conceded since the 43rd minute against Memphis 901 FC on June 22.
Perfect start to the road trip
The Lights have taken all six available points from their two road matches at Sacramento Republic and El Paso Locomotive over the past two weeks. Las Vegas will have two more away games at the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (July 26) and New Mexico United (July 31) before returning to Cashman Field for a home match against Detroit City FC (TICKETS).
SCORING SUMMARY
LV – Coleman Gannon 64’
LV – Lucas Stauffer (OG) 83’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ELP – Brandan Craig 2’ (caution)
ELP – Eder Borelli 59’ (caution)
LV – Christian Pinzón 89’ (caution)
LINEUPS AND STATS | USL Championship Stats
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Shawn Smart, Joe Hafferty, Maliek Howell, Gennaro Nigro; Coleman Gannon (Sawyer Crisostomo 90’+7’), J.C. Ngando, Dre Fortune (Emrah Klimenta 81’), Christian Pinzón (Solomon Asante 89’); Valentin Noël (Zander Romero 89’), Khori Bennett
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Ammeter, Austin Wormell
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 10
Corner kicks: 4
Offside: 1
Saves: 5
El Paso Locomotive FC – Jahmali Waite; Lucas Stauffer, Brandan Craig, Noah Dollenmayer, Eder Borelli (Miles Lyons 90’); Tumi Moshobane (Bolu Akinyode 90’+5’), Javier Nevarez, Amando Moreno, Emiliano Rodríguez (Nick Hinds 69’); Joaquín Rivas (Petar Petrovic 61’), Ricardo Zacarías
Substitutes not used: Javier Garcia, Ramon Pasquel, Finnley O’Brien
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 12
Corner kicks: 8
Offside: 0
Saves: 2
