The Lights returned to winning ways thanks to an inspired Johnny Rodriguez, who bagged a brace vs. Monterey Bay FC to lead the team to a 2-0 victory.
Interim Head Coach Giovanni Troise recorded his first professional win in charge at just 28 years old.
They did it. After a long and painful losing streak, the Lights finally returned to victory with a 2-0 win over Monterey Bay FC at Cashman Field.
Two goals from Johnny Rodriguez were enough for Vegas to clinch some highly sought three points against a rival who was riding a three-match winning streak.
After Las Vegas Lights FC and Head Coach Antonio Nocerino mutually agreed to part ways earlier in the week, Assistant Coach Giovanni Troise took on the mantle of Interim Head Coach – at just 28 years old. He became the 4th-youngest head coach in USL Championship history on Saturday night, taking the win on his debut.
After a tight first half, Rodriguez bagged his brace in a quick five-minute span. First, his shot from a wide area took a big deflection, looping up and over the Monterey Bay goalkeeper to open the scoring in the 60th minute.
Then, Gennaro Nigro served in an inch-perfect set piece delivery in the 65th minute. Rodriguez found himself in behind and expertly guided the ball into the back of the net to double the lead.
From there, the Lights closed out the match professionally to preserve Raiko Arozarena’s sixth shutout of the season.
What They’re Saying
INTERIM HEAD COACH GIOVANNI TROISE
On his overall thoughts on the performance…
I think that everybody saw tonight an amazing performance. I said to them before the game that during the week I felt that they were happy. During our training, I was more than sure that we were ready to show what you saw tonight.
On Johnny Rodriguez’s performance…
Talking about Johnny, he’s an amazing guy like all of them in our locker room. He’s a classy number nine – when he doesn’t score, he’s a little bit sad.
But, everybody believes in him. He’s our number nine, and we know that he’s important for us. I try to, with him and others, to explain that he’s important even when he doesn’t score.
Of course, when these nights arrive for him, it’s amazing.
On what the win means to him as the 4th-youngest acting head coach in league history…
It means a lot. It means a lot because, like you said, I’m still young. I [still] have to learn a lot.
But, for sure, if this is happening, it’s because people have given me the opportunity to stay here. It’s an opportunity that starts with Mr. Nocerino. Then, I have all the support from my family, my friends, and I want to give them this win.
And then, once again, the thing that is important is to talk about the team. I’m happy for myself, of course. But me, alone without the team, I’m nothing. So, it’s important that we give all our congratulations to the guys and we keep going forward.
FORWARD JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ
On his emotions after the win…
I’m buzzing. I’m happy for the team, happy for the locker room, happy for the coaching staff, happy for the fans, happy for the whole organization. It was kind of a difficult road as of late, but I’m happy to get this result and to keep going.
On what changed in the second half…
I think it was Coach Gio telling us to be a little more aggressive and play a little more free. Just go for it, we have nothing to lose, so just go for it. We’re at home, we have the fans behind us, so just go for it. That was the biggest change we made.
On how it feels to get Giovanni Troise his first win…
I’m happy for him. I think the team is getting behind him, and we’re happy to keep going. That’s just what this business is about; we have to keep going, and hopefully the results keep going our way.
On what was working for him to score his two goals…
I think I just needed to get on the scoresheet. It’s been, again, a long road. It’s been a couple games that I haven’t been on the scoresheet, and that’s my job to get on the scoresheet. So, I tried to do that. Luckily, I have a good team around me. They gave me some good balls, and I just tapped them in.
Summary
Lights Starting XI:
Arozarena (GK), Nigro, Jones (Howell, 66′), Gartig, Peeters (Covil, 82′), Boudadi, Leal (Pearson, 73′), Noel (c), Smart (Gyau, 66′), Pinzon, Rodriguez (Stojanovic, 82′)
Monterey Bay FC Starting XI:
Campuzano (GK), Gordon (c), Guzman, Fonguck (Gallaway, 82′), Rebollar (Ivanovic, 59′), Larsson, Dixon (Malango, 59′), Lyons, Paul, Sojberg (Gnaulati, 66′), Guediri (Robinson, 59′)
Goals:
LV – Johnny Rodriguez – 60’
LV – Johnny Rodriguez – 65’
Discipline:
LV –Yellow, Nate Jones – 7’
LV –Yellow, Elias Gartig – 37’
MB –Yellow, Wesley Fonguck – 63’
LV –Yellow, Vaughn Covil – 87’
Next Up
Las Vegas Lights FC will be traveling to Indiana to face Indy Eleven on Saturday, June 21 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium at 4:00 pm.
The Lights will be back home on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 PM playing against Spokane Velocity, where they will be hosting Pride Night at Cashman Field. Grab your tickets now at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.