The Lights end their three-match undefeated streak at home following a 2-0 defeat to Eastern Conference rivals Charleston Battery
Las Vegas Lights FC lost 2-0 to Charleston Battery at Cashman Field on Saturday night.
The Lights controlled most of the action during the first half until Jamaican forward Maalique Foster gave the visiting side the lead in the 40th minute.
The former Jamaica international doubled Charleston’s lead in the 59th minute of action following a magnificent individual play by MLS veteran Miguel Berry, who took on several Lights players and served the ball to an unmarked Foster, who scored his ninth goal of the season.
Vegas yet again out-shot and out-possessed the opposition, but were unable to break the Black and Yellow’s defensive structure despite hitting the woodwork on two separate occasions.
The Lights now set sights on their crucial upcoming match at Cashman Field against New Mexico United.
What They’re Saying
HEAD COACH DEVIN RENSING
On his overall thoughts on the match…
Disappointing not to get three points. Losing at home in front of our fans is disappointing.
Charleston’s a good team. I think we made two mistakes, and they punished us. You can’t do that against good teams.
On any positives from the chances created…
Yeah, I mean listen, at this stage of the year those have to be converted. Yes, a little bit unlucky, but I believe teams make their own luck.
We have to re-watch it, get a little bit better and sharper on the finishing. We’ll work on that in training this week and move on.
On what he tells the attackers after missing chances tonight…
It’s a tough one, right? You have to keep the faith. You have to keep pushing on. You have to keep working on the training ground. You have to keep fighting. You have to keep going and pushing.
You tell the attackers that they maybe need a little bit more composure. It’s difficult. Scoring goals is the most difficult thing to do in our sport. We’ve been pretty good, but it just didn’t fall for us tonight.
On his experience coaching against Ben Pirmann, who he previously worked for at Memphis 901 and the Battery…
It was more about the Charleston Battery versus Las Vegas Lights players.
Ben’s obviously a great coach, he’s done a great job in this league. That team has been together for a long time. It’s a veteran-led team as well. They’re a good team, and you can’t make mistakes against them. Ben’s one of the best coaches in this league, if not the best coach in the league.
It was a challenge for me, and unfortunately he came out the victor.
FORWARD CHRISTIAN PINZON
On what he thought was missing to break the deadlock in the first half…
I think a little bit of luck to it. We hit the post twice. I feel like both goals, we could have prevented, whether it was a lack of focus, a lack of details, but that’s footy, man. You have to take care of those details and really execute.
On what the post-game talk from the coaches centered on…
Yeah, it wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t good enough. I think the players know that. We have to take some more accountability and not just point fingers. What did each individual do? I think we’ll do that, and we’ll come back Monday ready to work.
On what mentality he tries to instill as the team chases playoffs…
Especially at this point in the season where it’s the last few games, anything can happen. The most important thing is to continue to believe. Make sure the guys are on the same page and rowing in the same direction, and good things can happen.
Summary
Las Vegas Lights FC Starting XI:
Lanphier (GK), Sessock (Pope, 76′), Jones, Guillen, Antonoglou, Probo, Leal (Arteaga, 58′), Locker (Okyere, 58′), Pinzon (c), Anderson, Rodriguez (Mines, 76′)
Charleston Battery Starting XI:
Berner (GK), Houssou (Martinez, 63′), Akpunonu, Smith, Suber, Blackstock (Cabrera, 73′), Ycaza (C), Kissiedou (Allan, 83′), Foster (Messer, 73′), Kelly (Pakhomov, 73′), Berry
Goals:
CHS – Maalique Foster (assist, Blackstock) – 40’
CHS – Maalique Foster (assist: Berry) – 59′
Discipline:
LV – Yellow, Sessock – 38’
Next Up
The Lights will face New Mexico United at Cashman Field for Wrestling Night on Saturday, September 5. Get tickets now at lightsfc.com/tickets.
