A Light Preview: Match #33 vs. Reno 1868 FC
Tonight, Las Vegas Lights FC and Reno 1868 FC will play the most important Silver State Cup match so far.
Cashman Field will play host to a make-or-break match for Las Vegas Lights FC tonight. The club is trying to fight their way into the playoffs and a win against their rivals up north, Reno 1868 FC, would be a big boost. We preview the crucial matchup.
Looking at the Lights (11-8-13)
Currently, the Lights sit in 12th place in the USL Championship Western Conference. This season, the top ten sides in each conference make the postseason. The difference between Las Vegas’ current position and a playoff spot is one point. New Mexico United are in 10th with 42 points from 31 matches played, a game in hand over the two clubs below them. San Antonio FC, who the Lights defeated handily last week, are 11th with the same points (41) and record (11-8-13) as Las Vegas, but they have the edge on goal-differential by ten goals.
The Lights need to win tonight. They are playing at home against their rivals with postseason implications. Last week, the crowd was pretty solid, but the club will need them to take it to another level tonight. Irvin Parra and Tabort Etaka Preston provide most of the danger at Cashman Field and they will be expected to lead the way. But, Reno has the third-most goals in the entire USL Championship, so the Vegas defense will play an even more crucial role tonight.
Previous meeting vs. Reno: L, 4-0
Who you should know: Reno 1868 FC
Corey Hertzog: With 16 goals on the season, the league’s 4th-leading scorer is a proven commodity in this league and has 20 more shots than second-most on the team.
Danny Musovski: Can you imagine if the Las Vegas native scores a goal tomorrow to stifle the Lights’ playoff chances? A product of UNLV, he has 11 goals in 22 appearances.
Danny Musovski has FIVE goals in the last THREE days.
You good, bro?#RNOvTAC | #BeChampions pic.twitter.com/KVoOeIGJgS
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) September 11, 2019
Raul Mendiola: The former star for Lights FC, Mendiola has four goals and seven assists this season. He scored in the 4-0 blowout win over LVL back in June and after Eric Wynalda’s harsh words for him before the season, he would love to essentially end the manager’s first season.
JT Marcinkowski/Matt Bersano: While some teams struggle to find a consistent goalkeeper, Reno actually has two. JT and Matt have split the goalkeeping duties and either is capable of coming up with a clean sheet on the road. Marcinkowski is the reigning Player of the Week after a nine-save shutout.
The Deets
Tonight, 7:30 PM, at Cashman Field
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Reno 1868 FC
