After two draws to open the Devin Rensing era, the team needs a win in Saturday’s home match against NCFC.
It will be a critical moment in the playoff race with only 10 matches remaining. Read on for the keys to victory for Rensing’s team to take home all three points.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC (5-5-10, 20 points, 12th in Western Conference) vs San Antonio FC (8-4-7, 28 points, 3rd in Eastern Conference)
When: Saturday, August 23
Where: Cashman Field, Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: SSSEN, ESPN+
Tickets: Buy your tickets now!
The Playoff Race Intensifies
After a rollercoaster of a season through 20 matches, the Lights now find themselves with a third of the season remaining and the final playoff spot above them in the table.
However, with just 10 matches left, Las Vegas is only 5 points away from the 8th and final playoff spot. The Western Conference has been a bloodbath in 2025, with only 11 points separating 2nd place from 12th place (FC Tulsa have begun to separate themselves at the top in recent weeks).
The good news? Everything is still to play for.
The not-so-good news? The Lights only have four matches left at home, and two of them are over the next two weekends (including this match against NCFC).
Given that tough run-in to the end of the regular season schedule, these two back-to-back home matches are going to be absolutely critical to the Lights’ chances of climbing the table and avoid being left behind as the season comes to a close.
Wins are a must.
Keys to the Match
North Carolina Conservatism
North Carolina FC usually plays in a 3-4-3 formation, with three center backs and two wing backs who tend to stay behind instead of collaborating with attacking efforts. In defensive situations, they are essentially a back five that leaves little room for the opposition to break through and create high quality opportunities.
However, this defensive structure does not mean that North Carolina FC is not a threat in attack, as they are ninth in the entire USL Championship for goals scored per match (1.53). The Raleigh side is known for its ability to rapidly transition from defense to attack, relying heavily on quick, ball-carrying players such as Pedro Dolabella, Louis Perez, and Mikey Maldonado to either generate goalscoring opportunities or score themselves. They are lethal in counterattacks.
It is imperative for the Lights to make it past North Carolina’s low block to score and have a decent chance of earning three points at Cashman Field. But they must do so understanding that any turnover could represent a huge risk against a team like North Carolina that thrives against teams with high pressing systems.
The T-Mac Experience
Tommy McNamara is a key addition to the Lights’ midfield repertoire. With more than 200 MLS matches on his shoulders, Tommy has brought years of experience at the highest level to a talented but young squad.
Beyond his invaluable experience, McNamara also possesses something that could potentially make a big difference in this and in upcoming matches: a high-threat mid-range shot. His powerful and yet precise shot is one of his most recognizable attributes and it turned him into an MLS cult legend, especially with New York City FC and New England Revolution fans.
The Lights haven’t taken advantage of shots from outside the box in the last few games, and this could be an excellent opportunity for T-Mac to do what he does best and score against a low block that will not ease up.
Press. Press. Press.
Under Head Coach Devin Rensing, the Lights have taken up a new approach regarding how they press their rivals. After many months of passive marking and long distances between the lines, the Lights now target opposing teams as they start building up from the back, putting up numbers in attack and forcing turnovers that lead to quality opportunities.
The team also looks a lot more compact and organized, keeping tight lines across the pitch and facilitating the creation of passing patterns that makes ball-carrying less of a hassle than it once was.
This match requires an intelligent press from Vegas; an approach that’s both firm but cognizant of the risks involved in keeping a high defensive line against a team that thrives under pressure and has earned itself a reputation for its threatening counterattacks. If the Lights keep an organized approach, then victory is within reach in a must-win match.