Las Vegas Lights FC are visiting New Mexico United on Wednesday, July 31, in their second and final meeting in the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. PT at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch locally on SSSEN and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 7-7-7 (28 points, 6th West), New Mexico: 12-4-2 (38 points, 1st West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: DWWWD, New Mexico: WDWWW
PREVIOUS MEETING: New Mexico United defeated the Lights 2-1 in Las Vegas on May 4. Daniel Bruce recorded a first-half brace for the visitors before Gaoussou Samaké pulled one back for the Lights.
UNBEATEN RUN: Following the club’s 1-1 draw at the Colorado Springs Switchbacks over the weekend, Las Vegas has run its unbeaten streak to nine matches. It’s the longest active streak in the USL Championship and two off the longest in the league this season.
ROAD TRIP FINALE: Wednesday marks the end of a monthlong, four-match road trip. The Lights picked up wins at Sacramento Republic and El Paso Locomotive before leaving Colorado Springs with a point. The Lights return to Cashman Field on Aug. 10 for a match against Detroit City FC (TICKETS).
HOME DOMINANCE: New Mexico has been in incredible form at home this season, taking 25 out of a possible 27 points from nine matches (8-0-1).
PLAYER TO WATCH: Greg Hurst, F
It’s been a productive year for Hurst, who is in his second season in New Mexico. The Scottish striker has eight goals in 18 matches, which is tied for eighth in the league.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On key takeaways from the draw at Colorado Springs over the weekend…
It’s not an easy place to go and play with the elevation. Credit to the Switchbacks, they’re a very well-organized team and have some really good attacking threats and press aggressively. That definitely caused us some problems. We know we weren’t at our best on the day, but what I like is that the mark of a championship-oriented team is learning how to be successful on days when you’re not at your best. We grinded out a result, we suffered, we bent but didn’t break and I’m proud to come out of there with a point but also know that we can be much better.
On what he’s expecting from this match against first-place New Mexico United…
A little bit similar to Colorado Springs. They’re a team that has really good attacking players. Similar to us, they want to overload centrally. They do a good job getting their fullbacks high. They have a really clear identity of how they want to play…It’s not an easy place to play, so we’re expecting a very competitive game, but we look at ourselves and we’re in a good run of form as well and coming in full of confidence.
On how the team is feeling heading into the final match of a four-game road trip…
We feel good. With the quick turnaround, there’s a healthy balance of looking back but also looking forward. The biggest thing is that we continue to rest and recover physically and mentally.
