The Lights head to Pennsylvania for a do-or-die matchup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, with playoff qualification hopes up in the air.
Read on to discover the keys to unlock a vital victory along the Monongahela River.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC (6-7-12, 11th in Western Conference) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (9-7-9, 6th in Eastern Conference)
When: Sunday, September 28
Where: Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. PT
How to Watch: Antenna 5.4, Cox Cable Channel 125, CBS Sports Golazo Network
Last Summer…
The last time the Lights and the Riverhounds faced each other was on June 29, 2024, when the Lights defeated their Eastern Conference opponents thanks to a Khori Bennett brace.
Both teams would go on to make the playoffs, with Pittsburgh falling in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Charleston Battery and Vegas losing out to the Switchbacks in the Western Conference Final.
But things are looking very different for both clubs this season…
Current Reality
Pittsburgh currently stands sixth in the Eastern Conference table, five points clear of ninth-placed Indy Eleven and only a few points away from clinching a playoff berth. In their last five matches, the Riverhounds have earned seven out of a possible 15 points, winning twice away from home at Oakland and Hartford.
Meanwhile, the Lights stand eleventh in the Western Conference with the same number of points as last-placed Monterey Bay FC and six points away from the Switchbacks, who currently hold the last playoff qualification spot. Vegas has earned five points in their last five matches, unable to clinch victory in key matchups against Phoenix Rising away and Miami FC at home.
The Lights’ chances of making it to this season’s playoffs are looking grim, but basic arithmetic does not lie. There is still a mathematically viable path to qualification.
And it all starts with a win in Pittsburgh.
Keys to the Match
Here are the keys to look out for on Sunday afternoon.
Long Balls Galore
Pittsburgh does not play possession-based soccer. They are a physical team who know how to use the dimensions and the artificial turf of the Highmark Stadium’s pitch to their advantage, with long balls being one of their most used tools in transition.
As Head Coach Devin Rensing mentioned in this week’s media availability, it’s imperative for the Lights’ center backs to win as many first balls as possible whenever Pittsburgh goes long while also covering for any second balls that could potentially land in advantageous positions to the Riverhounds’ attack-minded central midfielders. It’s also essential for the Lights’ full backs to win as many one-on-one duels as possible and not allow Pittsburgh to cross the ball as much as they usually do.
Pittsburgh does not possess the best attack of the league, and yet their strength at home and the ease with which they find their forwards through long balls and crosses make them a significant threat to any rival.
To win in Pittsburgh, the Lights need to lock in and lock out the Riverhounds attack.
Johnny Rodriguez
Johnny Rodriguez has been the Lights’ top scorer this season with nine goals across all competitions. He is the linchpin of Vegas’ attacking efforts; a key player who has single-handedly earned many of the Lights’ points this year.
And yet, Devin Rensing expects more from him. When asked during midweek media availability on what he wants to see from Rodriguez outside of scoring goals, he answered that he wants a player who can “hold the ball, draw fouls, pressure the opposition’s defense, and is annoying to play against.” Lately, he is delivering.
Rodriguez will continue to evolve and grow under Devin Rensing. And this match in Pittsburgh, with the team under tremendous pressure and surrounded by an unfavorable context, proves an immense opportunity for him to continue showing the Championship what he’s capable of.
Time To Continue Building
Under Devin Rensing, the Lights have seen a significant improvement in performance, with positive results still a pending account.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that big changes need to be made. Instead, the team needs to continue building on those aspects of the game that have improved, such as the overall press, tactical discipline, and positional flexibility, while working on those elements that have proven harder to enhance, such as finishing and keeping a consistent mentality throughout the 90 minutes of every match.
If the Lights manage to be consistent in their form of play and have the correct mentality to face the challenges ahead of them in this and the other four remaining matches of the regular season, then the miracle of playoff qualification would no longer be a miracle. It would be a plausible possibility.