After a painful elimination from the U.S. Open Cup against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, the Lights have the perfect opportunity to bounce back at home against FC Tulsa.
Read on for the keys of the match as the sixth USL Championship game looms with the goal of climbing up the Western Conference standings.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC vs FC Tulsa
When: Saturday, April 19
Where: Cashman Field
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: SSSEN, ESPN+
Tickets: Buy your tickets now!
It’s Always Darkest Before Dawn
The Lights enter the match against FC Tulsa after a disappointing early exit from the U.S. Open Cup courtesy of Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. 120 minutes and goals from Edison Azcona and Christian Pinzon were not enough to settle the game in favor of Las Vegas, who were edged out of the competition after an unfortunate penalty shootout.
FC Tulsa’s luck in the nation’s premier cup tournament was no different, as they were knocked out at home by Phoenix Rising via penalties following a 1-1 draw.
How They Stand
Despite their cup eliminations, both Las Vegas and Tulsa have had strong starts to their USL Championship seasons.
The Lights are currently fifth in the Western Conference and haven’t lost a match since March 15th, when they were defeated 3-2 by New Mexico United at Cashman Field. In the following three matches, they collected five points out of a possible nine.
Meanwhile, FC Tulsa is fourth in the same Conference, having surprisingly lost their last match at home against the last-placed Oakland Roots 2-1.
Apart from being close in the standings, the Lights and Tulsa also share identical goal statistics: four goals in favor and three against. Make of those numbers what you will, but one thing is clear: Boy, are we in for a defensive treat.
After Wednesday’s upset, this upcoming match between seemingly equal forces offers the Lights a perfect opportunity to turn the page and regain the confidence necessary to face the rest of the season.
Keys to the Match
Here are the three keys to look out for on Saturday night:
Don’t Make Stupid Mistakes
Following the match against Chattanooga, Head Coach Antonio Nocerino stated that he considered the opposing team’s goals to have originated from “stupid mistakes from individual players.”
And while the Lights’ defensive line has been solid throughout the season, it is true that all five goals conceded across all competitions have come from innocent errors in the back, both individual and collective.
If these mistakes are successfully avoided, then it will be even harder to score against a defensive system that has already proven to be solid and among the best in the league.
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Without taking into consideration stoppage time, the Lights have only been in the lead for 16 minutes this entire season.
If the Lights are to win this and upcoming matches and be considered a serious candidate to win the USL Championship title, they must be proactive and not only react to opposition goals. Playing catch-up or waiting for a miraculous, last-minute goal is never ideal, despite the team delivering them as of late (see: Nighte Pickering’s dramatic stoppage time winner over Orange County or Christian Pinzon’s equalizer against Chattanooga).
Ultimately, this key comes down to stronger starts, especially in the first half. If Head Coach Antonio Nocerino’s team can start taking early leads and then protecting that lead with their shutdown defense, they will be a very dangerous proposition.
Break Down the Opposition’s Defense
The Lights’ defense is very solid, but so is Tulsa’s. The Oklahoma side has only conceded 5 goals in 7 matches, and they have won every single match they have played away this season.
If there are no surprises, Tulsa should come out with three in the back, maintaining a solid low block with the aim of cutting any offensive efforts coming through inside channels. This mirrors much of the Lights’ approach when Nocerino elects to go with a back three instead of a back four.
The team’s creative players, like captain Valentin Noel, Edison Azcona, and Christian Pinzon, amongst others, will need to pick up the ball in those inside pockets that Tulsa is trying to deny. Space will be tight, but one moment of bravery and brilliance in a tight spot could unlock the chance needed to win the game.
Finding ways to get dangerous players in dangerous spaces and taking advantage of any potential coordination errors in Tulsa’s defense will be essential to make sure all three points stay at Cashman Field this Saturday.