Despite controlling possession in the late stages and halving the deficit through Coleman Gannon’s strike from distance, the Lights couldn’t find their equalizer at home.
Las Vegas Lights FC put in a determined performance, but the team ultimately fell 2-1 to North Carolina FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field. North Carolina struck early through Pedro Dolabella in the 3rd minute and added a second from Thomas Roberts in the 76th. Despite trailing, the Lights showed resilience when Coleman Gannon found the back of the net in the 83rd minute with an incredible strike from range to spark hopes of a comeback.
Throughout the night, the Lights held the majority of possession and created several quality chances, but struggled to find the finishing touch. Even with 63% of the ball and more shots than their opponents, Las Vegas couldn’t capitalize in the face of NCFC’s stout defensive structure and a poor start in the first half ultimately doomed the team to a loss.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
HEAD COACH DEVIN RENSING
On his overall thoughts on the match…
Yeah, it was disappointing. We started out slow. For a team that’s fighting for the playoffs, we can’t start out that way.
It was not acceptable. Not on our home field. Unacceptable in the first half. Too little too late. We showed some fight and energy towards the end. But, it was just too little too late, and it was unacceptable.
On what needs to improve to get positive results down the stretch…
We need to start lookingin the mirror and understand that nothing is ever given to you. We have to go and take it.
We’re waiting around for something, and I don’t know what we’re waiting around for. We have to go and take the game.
On Coleman Gannon’s performance…
He’s obviously been a bright spot. I was happy he got rewarded with the goal.
He’s getting into the spots that we’ve been trying to get into. We have to be a little more decisive with our runs from our forwards when he gets into those spots.
It’s nice for him. But it’s still a 2-1 loss.
On any positives to take from the performance…
Listen, the guys showed fight. They never gave up, and I’m proud of that effort. We just started slow.
We got into good spots, but we have to be more decisive with our runs and our finishing.
There’s definitely some bright spots, but we have to show that fight and energy from the beginning of the game. We just didn’t, and that was disappointing.
Summary
Lights Starting XI:
Arozarena (GK), Herbert, Pearson (O’Driscoll, 46′), Nigro(c), Gartig, Boudadi (Smart, 77′), Leal, Gannon, Pickering (Gaines, 46′), Rodriguez (Covil, 77′), Stojanovic (McNamara, 61′)
North Carolina FC Starting XI:
Semmle, Hodge, Washington, Sundstrom, Burner (Al-Qaq, 79′), Servania (Forbes, 79′), Maldonado, Somersall (Roberts, 65′), Perez (c), Dolabella (Anderson, 65′), Conway (da Costa, 88′)
Goals:
NC – Pedro Dolabella – 4′
NC – Thomas Roberts – 76′
LV – Coleman Gannon – 82’
Discipline:
NC – Yellow, Washington – 18’
NC – Yellow, Somersall – 29’
NC – Yellow, Burner – 39’
LV – Yellow, Gartig – 39’
LV – Yellow, Boudadi – 68’
NC – Yellow, Servania – 71’
NC – Yellow, Anderson – 90’