A Light Preview: The Lights look to upset Rising FC tonight in Vegas

After securing their first win of the season, Las Vegas Lights FC are back in action tonight in downtown Las Vegas as they host Phoenix Rising FC.

Looking at the Lights (1-3-1)

It will be the bottom of the Group B table against the top of it tonight at Cashman Field. For the Lights, they will need to be hyper-focused on defense against the highest-scoring team in the league. You obviously don’t want to completely bunker down and sit deep because that gives Phoenix too much space and too many opportunities to do damage, which they will. Instead, the club will want to be slightly less aggressive than they normally would be and lock in for the full 90 minutes.

The Lights have only allowed multiple goals in a match once this season and Ramon Martin Del Campo & Co. will need to turn in another big-time effort. In goal, I’d expect we see Thomas Olsen after he replaced Lalo Delgado in the win over Tacoma. While Delgado’s injury status isn’t known, if he needed to be subbed off on Wednesday, I doubt Frank Yallop risks him less than a week later.

Don’t be surprised if Seth Moses plays a massive role for the Lights. He will be the gatekeeper in the middle of the park and needs to cut out as many counter-attacking runs as possible.

In the attack, Blake Frischknecht could be ready to get a start up top for Las Vegas after another quality shift off the bench. He could be joined by Rashawn Dally, Yamikani Chester, Junior Burgos, and/or Raul Mendiola. Yallop has some options in his squad for tonight.

Who you should know: Phoenix Rising FC (6-1-1)

Junior Flemmings: Tied with Tyler Pasher for the Golden Boot lead, Flemmings has scored nine goals on only 25 shots. With speed, skill, and strength, add all of that to his movement off the ball, and it’s not a fun task for a defender trying to slow him down.

Solomon Asante: In Rising’s win over Los Dos midweek, the reigning league MVP became the second player in USL history to register 40 goals and 30 assists. This season, he is tied for the league lead in assists with seven, to go along with five goals. He’s the man the Lights need to slow down tonight.

Kevon Lambert: Occupying the middle of the park for Phoenix, the Jamaican midfielder leads the club in tackles and interceptions. Lambert’s key to Rising’s success because he can win the ball and quickly spin the ball out to players like Flemmings, Asante, and Santi Moar going forward.

The Details

Tonight, 7:30 PM PT, at Cashman Field

Phoenix Rising FC at Las Vegas Lights FC

Carson A Merk

Reporting live from Sin City, I have covered both RGVFC and Las Vegas Lights FC since their inceptions. I also write profiles to highlight players from the NCAA to USL to NWSL and everywhere in between.