Las Vegas Lights FC earn a road point as Raiko Arozarena secures his ninth clean sheet of the season.
Las Vegas Lights FC battled to a 0–0 draw on the road against Phoenix Rising FC, showing grit and defensive organization throughout the match. Goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena was sharp once again, collecting his ninth clean sheet of the season to keep Vegas steady away from home.
The night also marked the debut of Giorgio Probo in a Lights kit. The midfielder nearly had a dream start late in the second half when he a great shot that looked bound for the top corner, only to miss just over the crossbar. His energy added a spark as the Lights pushed for a breakthrough in the closing minutes.
It was a hard-earned point in a tough environment, keeping Vegas in the playoff fight as the season winds down.
What They’re Saying
MIDFIELDER TOMMY MCNAMARA
On his overall thoughts on the match…
It was a tough game, a tough match – Phoenix is good. It’s a difficult place to come play. I thought that we struggled a little bit in the first half, but we held them scoreless, and then we regrouped at halftime, and we put a real big push and real big effort into the second half and a little unfortunate not to find the winning goal at that point.
On what changed from the first half compared to the second…
They were good the first half, to be fair, to Phoenix, their positioning and how they moved the ball. We struggled with how to cope with that and how to deal with that. We were able to get ourselves into the locker room, and then the coaching staff was able to regroup us and get us better organized to deal with it and manage it, and that helped us a lot in the second half.
On his thoughts on the next match against Miami FC…
We need to give everything. Like we did the last two games, we gave everything as a group, and we fought, and we need to just continue fighting and believing and try to keep clean sheets and then try to find a way to score a goal on the other end.
HEAD COACH DEVIN RENSING
On his initial thoughts on the match…
I thought we played well, but well is not good enough. We needed to get three points, and that’s a little bit frustrating because I think our opportunities were there, but the guys battled hard like they always do, and we played well. We just need someone to step up and make them play in front of goal, and it just didn’t happen.
On what the team needs to do to earn three points during the upcoming match …
Finish off plays. We need to finish off plays. Someone needs to step up and make a play. Last week it was Raiko on goal when he made a big -time save, but we need some people to step up and put the ball in the back of the net.
Summary
Lights Starting XI:
Arozarena (GK), Nigro, Boudadi, Herbert, Gartig, Leal, Pearson (Probo, 55′), Gaines, Pickering (Smart, 26′ – Covil, 55′), McNamara (c), Rodriguez
Phoenix Rising FC Starting XI:
Rakovsky (GK), Johnson, Cabral (Dennis, 65′), Sacko, Avayevu, Scearce, Emmers (Formella, 78′), Flores (Flood, 46′), Czichos (Smith, 78′), Boye, Rizzo
Discipline:
LV – Shawn Smart, Yellow, – 29’
PHX – Hope Avayevu, Yellow, – 73’
LV – Rory O’Driscoll, Yellow, – 81’
PHX – Pierce Rizzo, Yellow, – 83’
LV – Rory O’Driscoll, Second Yellow; Red, – 90+3’
Next up: Las Vegas Lights FC return to Cashman Field on September 13 at 7:30 PM for Hispanic Heritage Night to take on Miami FC. Grab your tickets now at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets