Following a resounding victory in Orange County, the Lights are set to face AV Alta at Cashman Field with the objective of remaining at the top of the USL Jägermeister Cup Group 1 standings.
Read on for the keys of the match as the Lights make their home debut in this year’s edition of the USL Jägermeister Cup.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC vs AV Alta FC
When: Wednesday, April 30
Where: Cashman Field
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: ESPN+, FOX5
How to Listen: Sirius XM Channel 157
Tickets: Buy your tickets now!
New Kids on the Block
Founded on October 4th, 2023 in Lancaster, California with the goals of creating opportunities for young players and building civic pride within their community, AV Alta FC is one of USL’s newest clubs. “AV” stands for Antelope Valley, and Alta (tall or high in Spanish) hints at the valley’s high altitude. The team made its official USL League One debut in March of this year at South Georgia Tormenta FC, and currently sits eighth out of fourteen clubs in the league standings after three defeats and two victories in five matches.
Despite their inconsistent results in the league, AV Alta has impressed in the prestigious U.S. Open Cup. Having gone past Ventura County Fusion and LAFC 2 in the first two rounds, AV Alta went on to upset USL Championship side Orange County in a penalty shootout to earn their spot in the Fourth Round, where they will face MLS club FC Dallas.
AV Alta made their USL Jägermeister Cup debut last Saturday, losing 1-0 away to Sacramento Republic FC but proving to be a competitive side that enjoys playing possession-based soccer.
Keys to the Match
Here are three keys to look out for on Wednesday night:
An Ever-Improving Attack
During the first five matches of the season the Lights were only able to score a total of four goals, and the team’s attack seemed tactically disconnected from the rest of the formation. And given that in this sport goals are necessary to win, and wins are imperative to earn silverware, the prospect of making a statement by lifting a trophy this year was looking less than ideal.
But there’s great news: the team’s attack is clicking and showing signs of significant improvement. In the past three matches, the Lights have managed to score six goals, an average of two per match. Beyond the stats, strong signs of synergies between players in the offensive front offer hope for the rest of the season. The hard work executed in every training session is starting to bear fruit.
Being surgical and precise up front versus AV Alta will be of great importance if the Lights want to stay on top of the Group 1 standings. The attacking momentum is there. Execution (and some luck, as always) is a must.
Solid Defending
Let’s go back to the start of the season… again. The Lights’ had the lowest Expected Goals Allowed (xGA) in the league, meaning that the team’s defensive structure was so solid that opposing teams couldn’t create high-quality chances against them. And, when they did manage to score, they were either lucky or clinical to the max.
But in the past three matches, the Lights conceded seven goals. At face value, those numbers are not good.
However, these stats conceal the fact that the team is getting better at defending under pressure. This was noticeable against Orange County, where despite multiple attempts from the Californian side to penetrate the Lights’ defense, the team held the line and did not yield. The back line remained calm and composed, repealing Orange County’s efforts successfully.
Regardless of how dominant a team may play, there will be moments during a full 90 minutes when the team will “suffer” by conceding some possession and chances. This is part and parcel of the game.
What’s important is how the team weathers the storm during these inevitable periods of pressure. Against Orange County, the defense held up remarkably well in these moments. More of that will be needed for a win tonight over AV Alta.
The Danger Man
So far in this young season, AV Alta’s leading goal scorer has four goals across all competitions… from midfield.
Jimmie Villalobos, a 29-year-old attacking midfielder, is the heart and soul of AV Alta’s attacking thrust. After standout performances with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in USL League One, AV Alta made the California native their second-ever signing ahead of their debut season this year.
His goal against his previous team in league play this year is a great example of the danger he presents. After a good combination up the left side, Villalobos arrived in the box as a late third-man runner and rifled home his one-time finish from a cut-back cross.
If the Lights are going to keep AV Alta off the board on Wednesday night, they’ll need to be constantly aware of Villalobos’ movement and late arrivals into the box. Shutting down Alta’s star attacking midfielder will go a long way towards shutting down their attack as a whole.