A Light Preview: Las Vegas Lights FC look for their first victory since July

Last weekend, Las Vegas Lights FC finally ended their ten-match losing streak with a draw at Oakland Roots SC. Next up, they look to pick up their first win since July when they host LA Galaxy II.

Las Vegas Lights FC (5-19-3)

It’s probably fair to say that there’s been some level of a weight lifted from the collective shoulders of Lights FC. No, they haven’t broken their winless streak (now up to 12 matches), but they did pick up a point to snap their losing streak. What are some positives the club can build on from the draw? First, they fought until the final whistle down a player. That competitiveness has been pretty consistent throughout the season, despite the poor results.

Another positive is the emergence of Danny Trejo. The LAFC first-round pick has scored his first two professional goals in the last two matches and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week reserve group. While Cal Jennings and Danny Musovski have provided some productivity up top when they’re loaned down, it’s a huge boost for Las Vegas to get that from a player on their roster every week.

Win, lose, or draw, tonight’s El 2rafico should be an entertaining one. All of the Lights FC matches vs. Los Dos this season have been interesting. There was the season-opening blowout 5-0 loss, then the 4-3 shootout win for Las Vegas. The most recent meeting was a 3-2 win for Los Dos as Remi Cabral’s 90th-minute winner wiped out a late equalizer from Nathan Sepulveda. Tony Leone was shown a straight red card in stoppage time that night, too.

On the opposite end, if you don’t expect to be on the edge of your seat at Cashman Field tonight, you can reserve a mattress on the touchline and take a nap if the action is not up to your standards.

While the mattress promotion has certainly rubbed some supporters the wrong way, the other promotions for tonight are tough not to support. It is the Donate Life Match for Lights FC in partnership with the Nevada Donor Network as the players will wear special kits highlighting organs that can be donated and fans will be encouraged to register to be an organ donor at the match or online here. Also, the club is donating 1,000 tickets to local healthcare workers and their families.

Vegas Player SpotLight

Dekel Keinan: With Mohamed Traore suspended for this match following his red card, the veteran defender could finally make his first start on the Las Vegas backline. His experience could be a much-needed boost for a club without a clean sheet since July 3rd.

LA Galaxy II (9-12-5)

Who You Should Know

Preston Judd: The Las Vegas native has a club-high 12 goals this season and five of those have come in the three matches vs. Lights FC.

Jorge Hernandez: While he’s second-best on the club in goals (ten) and assists (five), he leads the entire USL Championship with 70 chances created (nearly 50 more than the second-most on Los Dos).

Daniel Aguirre: Signed to a first-team deal in July, the 22-year-old is a mainstay in the Los Dos midfield. He has two goals, 23 interceptions, and 109 duels won.

What You Should Know

• Two points behind Oakland Roots SC for the final playoff position in the Pacific Division
• Surprisingly carry a better record on the road than at home (6-6-0 vs. 3-6-5), plus three away clean sheets
• Explosive offensively with the seventh-most goals scored in the league (45), vulnerable defensively with the fifth-most goals conceded (49)

The Deets

Tonight, 7 PM PT, Cashman Field

LA Galaxy II at Las Vegas Lights FC