Raiko Arozarena shines in goal as missed chances keep the Lights from victory.
Las Vegas Lights FC played to a 0-0 draw in a hard-fought matchup against Miami FC on Saturday night. The Lights leaned on goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena, who came up with key second-half saves to keep the visitors from breaking through.
Despite strong defensive play, the Lights had their chances to grab all three points. Stefan Stojanovic and Tommy McNamara each had promising looks in the second half, but their efforts barely missed the mark. In the end, both teams left the pitch with a point apiece.
What They’re Saying
MIDFIELDER TOMMY MCNAMARA
On his overall impressions of the match…
Disappointed with the result. Our home match, we had the opportunities, myself included, to find the winning goal and didn’t. I think as a performance, it was one of, if not our best, performance of the season.
And I think we’re starting to come closer to putting together a full 90 minutes. Ultimately at this point in the season as well, we need to pick up points and so [only] one is disappointing.
On what positives he saw from this performance…
I thought we were very well organized. We pressed very well.
We were good with the ball at times to create chances and I think we got into a lot of dangerous areas easily into the final third and then we were just lacking that little bit of conviction and composure in the final third.
On what the environment in the locker room is like right now…
We’re disappointed with the result.
After we take a day off and we come back together on Monday, I think that after reflecting on it – and in my opinion – it was one of our better performances so far collectively over the course of 90 minutes. If we can continue in that way and improving in that way, we’re going to give ourselves even better chances of winning games.
HEAD COACH DEVIN RENSING
On his overall thoughts on the game…
Yeah, it was fine. But, fine’s not good enough.
We needed more. We can’t let the last-placed team come into our place and not take care of business. So, we just need to win.
On Raiko Arozarena’s shutout and performance…
He’s been saving us a couple times. We were taking more chances, it opened up a little bit, and that allowed them to come at us a little bit.
Raiko’s been big for us the last couple games.
On celebrating Hispanic Heritage Night with the fans at Cashman Field…
I wish we were able to celebrate with a win. I hope they enjoyed the game, but we needed more and we needed to give them more.
We need to give them a reason to come out and cheer for us. Again, I thought it [the performance] was okay, but we just needed more.
Obviously, anyone who comes to the game is important to us. So, we thank them for coming out and supporting – that’s always meaningful.
Summary
Lights Starting XI:
Arozarena (GK), Boudadi, Herbert (Pearson, 83′), Gartig, Nigro, McNamara (c), Probo, Leal (Gaines, 62′), Gannon, Pickering (Stojanovic, 62′), Rodriguez (Azcona, 80′)
Miami FC Starting XI:
Campisi (GK), Garcia, Mitrano (Veron, 82′), Knutson, Ricketts, Romeo, Mercado (Diaz, 82′), Gavilanes (Blanco, 68′), Vazquez (Bent, 82′), Zarate, Bonfiglio
Discipline:
LV –Yellow, Giorgio Probo – 21′
MIA – Yellow, Cesar Garcia – 67’
MIA – Yellow, Daltyn Knutson – 76’
MIA – Yellow, Diego Mercado – 77’
MIA – Yellow, Sebastian Blanco – 80’
LV –Yellow, Christopher Pearson – 90′
