An unfortunate first half performance after some key individual and collective mistakes contributed to the Lights’ defeat in Irvine at the hands of Orange County SC.
Las Vegas Lights FC lost 4-0 in their visit to Orange County in a lopsided match dominated by the opposition.
After a shaky start from both sides, Orange County were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute following a Shawn Smart foul on Chris Hegardt. Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena went on and did what he always does: save the penalty. To his misfortune, the rebound fell right at Ethan Zubak’s feet, who would score and give his side an early lead.
In the 24th minute, a magisterial collective effort from Orange County’s attack was finished by Ryan Doghman to make things 2-0. Things were not looking good for the Lights.
To make matters worse, midfielder Christopher Pearson was sent off in the 38th minute, leaving the team at a disadvantage in an already uphill battle for the three points. Orange County took advantage of the circumstances, scoring a third goal only two minutes later through Mouhamadou War and heading into halftime with a significant lead.
The second half was less dynamic, with the Lights keeping a more stable defensive structure despite being a man down and Orange County stepping the foot off the gas while always looking for opportunities to score a fourth. Their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute, when Chris Hegardt buried a powerful shot into the net to give the game its final score: 4-0.
The Lights now shift their focus to their August 2 match at El Paso Locomotive FC, another vital match for playoff qualification.
What They’re Saying
DEFENDER YOUNES BOUDADI
On his overall thoughts on the game…
It’s tough. Obviously, we had a situation where our regular coaching staff wasn’t here, so it was a little bit tougher navigating through the game.
If you go down 3-0 and you get a red card, at halftime it’s going to be hard to come back in it. So, we kind of just went into the second half to try to mitigate the rest of the game, so the score doesn’t get too big.
I think we did a decent job and at least showed some attitude in the second half. Obviously it’s tough to come back in the game… but it’s not a great result, you know.
On how the team can move forward…
I think the break comes at the right time. We have six days to reflect and come back, but I think it’s going to be one where everyone as individuals is going to have to reflect and look at ourselves, if we’re doing enough on a day-to-day basis to get consistent results. The league is going in a direction where every team is really good, every team is deep, every team is physically strong.
So, if you’re going to turn a corner here, I think as individuals we’re going to have to look one-by-one to ourselves: what we can do better and how we can address every day with the right attitude, because I think that’s been lacking a little bit recently.
Summary
Lights Starting XI:
Arozarena (GK), Smart (Pickering, 82′), Singer (Nigro, 46′), Gartig, Jones, Boudadi, Pearson, Noel (c), Leal (Peeters, 64′), Stojanovic (Covil, 46′ (Gannon, 63′)), Rodriguez
Orange County SC Starting XI:
Shutler (GK), Ciotta (Santos, 62′), Brewitt (c), Latinovich (Miles, 71′), Doghman (Guimaraes, 63′), Sylla (Dunbar, 74′), Benalcazar, Partida (Karam, 75′), Hegardt, Zubak, War
Goals:
OC – Ethan Zubak – 12′
OC – Ryan Doghman (assist: Hegardt) – 24′
OC – Mouhamadou War (assist: Sylla) – 41′
OC – Chris Hegardt (assist: Karam) – 89′
Discipline:
LV – Yellow, Jack Singer – 33′
LV – Red, Christopher Pearson – 38′
LV – Yellow, Nate Jones – 45′
OC – Yellow, Ousmane Sylla – 58′
LV – Yellow, Younes Boudadi – 89′
LV – Yellow, Nighte Pickering – 90+2′
Next Up
The Las Vegas Lights will be traveling again, this time to El Paso, Texas to take on El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m. PT.