Las Vegas Lights FC drew Detroit City FC 1-1 at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Ben Morris opened the scoring for Detroit in the 39th minute before Khori Bennett equalized in the 66th minute to split the points.
After a couple half-chances, the Lights tested goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña for the first time in the 19th minute when Solomon Asante played a great through ball in behind for Shawn Smart, whose shot was saved out for a corner.
Detroit City took the lead out of nothing in the 39th minute when Morris picked off an errant pass and then immediately chipped Raiko Arozarena from 40 yards out.
Christian Pinzón unleashed a left-footed effort from 20 yards out in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, but his effort was denied by Saldaña.
Smart made a great cross in the 53rd minute that a sliding Pinzón just couldn’t get enough on, and the cross trickled out for a goal kick.
Vegas had a chance to counter off a turnover in the 64th minute, but a shot from Bennett from just inside the box was right at Saldaña.
Arozarena made a save of his own a minute later when he parried away a shot from Connor Rutz from 12 yards out.
Bennett found the equalizer in the 66th minute when he stretched to one-time and redirect a cross from Grayson Doody.
Maliek Howell made a point-saving tackle in the seventh minute of stoppage time when he recovered to deny a shot from Elvis Amoh that was bound for goal.
The Lights thought they won the match in the 10th minute of stoppage time when Valentin Noël’s header at the back post was kept out by Saldaña.
The Lights finish the evening fifth in the Western Conference with 32 points from 23 matches. They are just three points outside of second place.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Bennett back on the score sheet
Bennett made a huge impact as a halftime substitute on Saturday, recording his seventh goal of the season and first since June 29 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. He’s now just one behind Noël for the team-lead.
Unbeaten run reaches 11
The Lights have extended their club-record unbeaten streak to 11 matches (5-0-6). Las Vegas’s streak ties the longest in the USL Championship this season.
Hartford Athletic await
Las Vegas Lights FC will now turn its attention to a cross-country away trip at Hartford Athletic next Saturday. The Lights are coming off a four-match road trip that saw them earn impressive away wins at Sacramento Republic and New Mexico United.
SCORING SUMMARY
DET – Ben Morris 39’
LV – Khori Bennett 66’ (Assist: Grayson Doody)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
DET – James Murphy 54’ (caution)
LV – Khori Bennett 56’ (caution)
LINEUPS AND STATS | USL Championship Match Center
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Joe Hafferty, Emrah Klimenta (Charlie Adams 46’), Maliek Howell, Grayson Doody (Edison Azcona 90’+6’, concussion sub); Shawn Smart (Joe Gyau 74’), Ousman Jabang (Khori Bennett 46’), J.C. Ngando, Solomon Asante (Dre Fortune 74’); Valentin Noël, Christian Pinzón (Coleman Gannon 74’)
Substitutes not used: Austin Wormell, Ali Gue, Zander Romero
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 9
Corner kicks: 5
Offside: 0
Saves: 1
Detroit City – Carlos Saldaña; Rhys Williams (Matt Sheldon 88’), Stephen Carroll, Devon Amoo-Mensah, Brett Levis, Ben Morris (Victor Bezerra 90’+8’, concussion sub); Abdoulaye Diop (Maxi Rodríguez 46’), Jeciel Cedeño (Michael Bryant 46’), James Murphy; Connor Rutz (Elvis Amoh 77’), Daniel Espeleta (Alex Villanueva 76’)
Substitutes not used: Nate Steinwascher
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 4
Corner kicks: 2
Offside: 0
Saves: 4
