Las Vegas Lights FC are hosting Detroit City FC on Saturday in their first and only meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Cashman Field (TICKETS).
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: 8-7-7 (31 points, 6th West), Detroit: 8-7-6 (30 points, 6th East)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: WDWWW, Detroit: DDLLD
PREVIOUS MEETING: Detroit City defeated the Lights 1-0 at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich., on Aug. 19, 2023. Skage Simonsen scored the match’s lone goal in the 36th minute.
ANOTHER REINFORCEMENT: A few weeks after adding Ousman Jabang and Grayson Doody on loan from MLS side CF Montréal, the Lights bolstered their defense with the signing of Elias Gärtig on Aug. 2. The 21-year-old Danish center back was most recently with Danish side Nykobing FC and has made more than 80 appearances in the second and third divisions of Danish football.
TRENDING OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS: Las Vegas Lights FC enters this weekend as the league’s hottest team, boasting a 10-match unbeaten run and winners of four of its last five. Detroit City, meanwhile, is winless in its last seven contests and hasn’t won since June 29.
BATTLE OF FIRST-YEAR COACHES: Like Las Vegas Head Coach Dennis Sanchez, Detroit City manager Danny Dichio is in his first year in charge in the Motor City. The Englishman was most recently an assistant at Sacramento Republic.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Maxi Rodríguez, M
Rodríguez leads Detroit City with seven goals on the season and is second on the team with three assists.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Lights FC attacker Christian Pinzón
On returning home after four straight road matches in July…
We’re looking to give our home fans a win, especially with how [this club] has done over the past few years, we haven’t done so great at home. We’re trying to change the atmosphere, change the culture here, bring some more people out here to our games and hopefully get three points this weekend.
Lights FC defender Grayson Doody
On settling into his new team and contributing right away…
The guys have been really welcoming. I was excited to get down here. The coaches have been great and everything is fitting in perfectly…For me coming in, I immediately wanted to understand the collective vibe and energy that was brought into the locker room and the training sessions. I’m trying to be adaptive and really help move things along in the right way.
Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On what he’s expecting from Detroit City on Saturday…
Detroit, even pre-USL Championship days, have been a living breed of the city of Detroit: very blue-collar, hardworking, gritty…We’re expecting a very competitive team, and they have a few individuals who can make the difference. As always, it’s about us and the things that we can do to adapt to their weaknesses and strengths. I know [Detroit City FC Head Coach] Danny [Dichio] personally, and he’s a true competitor.
