The Lights are set to face Western Conference rivals Lexington SC at Cashman Field in a crucial match to keep playoff aspirations alive and well.
Read on to discover the keys to tonight’s potentially pivotal matchup.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC (5-5-11, 12th in Western Conference) vs Lexington SC (7-7-7, 5th in Western Conference)
When: Saturday, August 30
Where: Cashman Field, Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: Antenna 5.4, Cox Cable Channel 125, ESPN+
We Meet Again…
On Saturday, April 12, the Lights paid a visit to the Bluegrass State to face USL Championship debutant club Lexington SC for the very first time. Both clubs arrived to that match after a promising but shaky start to their respective seasons, with the Lights earning seven out of a possible 12 points while keeping three clean sheets, and Lexington earning five out of 15 in their first string of Championship matches.
But things, as they usually do, have changed.
The Lights now sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, winless in the USL Championship since June 21, when they defeated Indy Eleven away 1-0 thanks to a Nighte Pickering late goal. Antonio Nocerino is no longer the club’s head coach, with Devin Rensing taking charge of the team on August 4. Devin Rensing’s Lights have earned two points in their last three games, showing a drastic improvement in overall performance despite being unable to snap their winless streak.
Meanwhile, Lexington arrive to this match with a lot of positive momentum behind them. The Kentucky side have won six of their last 10 USL Championship matches, only losing to Monterey Bay and Colorado Springs Switchbacks and making a swift jump from last place to playoff positions.
This Saturday’s match is crucial for both teams. For Vegas, winning is a must to keep playoff aspirations alive. With only three home matches remaining, the Lights must capitalize on every opportunity they have to win and stay close to the pack. For Lexington, a victory would represent a big step toward playoffs and better positioning in the standings as we head into the final stretch of regular season matches.
The conditions are set for a memorable match. It’s do or die. It’s time to play the game.
Keys to the Match
Here are the three keys to look out for on Saturday evening.
Teamwork.
Lexington is one of those teams that places the collective over the individual: a union of self-sacrificing players who move and grind in benefit of the club.
This is more than evident in their attacking numbers: the Kentucky side has scored 23 goals this USL Championship season, with all of them coming from 10 different players in varying roles. Their top scorer, Jamaican striker Cory Burke, has scored four goals, only one more than teammates Marcus Epps and Forster Ajago, and is eight goals away from league top scorers Jennings, Bonfiglio, and Goodrum.
Defensively, Lexington has the sixth lowest expected goals against (xGA) in the Championship (1.19), and they’re only getting better. In their last ten games, they’ve conceded 9 goals (0.9 goals per match) and kept four clean sheets.
Lexington’s defensive solidity, soldier-like attitude, and unpredictable attack with no individual overachievers make them an extremely tough nut to crack. If Vegas want to win on Saturday evening, they must remain on guard and focused, leveraging their individual talents while simultaneously appealing to a proper collective performance.
Press.
The Lights’ press has been looking a lot different as of late. In the first half of the season, the team stood in a passive low block, waiting for turnovers to surprise the opposition with counter-attacks.
Things have changed. Under Devin Rensing, the Lights play a lot higher on the pitch, forcing turnovers instead of waiting for them. The team’s defense keeps a high line, forcing the opposition into uncomfortable positions while the Lights’ attack presses right from the get go, attempting to recover the ball as soon as rivals start building up from the back. This allows for a more compact, solidary structure that takes over more space in key areas of the pitch.
The press has worked. The Lights have managed to scratch two points in their last three matches after a dismal string of defeats, and a lot of it has to do with the team’s new structure.
There’s a saying that goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The structure is there, and it works. There are areas of improvement as with everything, but it is functional and the players have adapted to it in record time.
To win on Saturday, the Lights must continue with their high press and intensity when recovering the ball.
Stefan, the target man
In the Lights’ new iteration of the 4-2-3-1 formation, Johnny Rodriguez, who is the team’s top scorer this season, is no longer the traditional nine. He plays as a false nine/ten, hovering around the box and playing an important role in playmaking.
This means that the striker’s responsibilities now fall on Stefan Stojanovic’s shoulders. As a target man, Stojanovic’s job is to remain in the box awaiting for any crosses or deep passes and slotting them in the net when possible. He must also pin the opposition’s defense, allowing the rest of the attack a lot more space and time to maneuver and generate high quality opportunities.
Stojanovic has not been able to score in the Championship, but he has given out two assists. And he has the talent and soccer IQ to perform the target man role with success.
If Stefan Stojanovic has a good night on Saturday and scores his first Championship goals for the Lights, then victory, and playoffs, are within reach.