Lights FC pounded on the road by Phoenix Rising FC

Las Vegas Lights FC could not keep the momentum going as they drop a lopsided result to Phoenix Rising FC.

A similar story continues this season for Las Vegas Lights FC. They are undefeated at home and winless on the road. After winning a league match and US Open Cup fixture at Cashman Field in the past week, the Lights were hammered by Phoenix Rising FC in Arizona last night, 4-0. We take a look at the road result.

Key Stats

🔑 Zero shots on goal. The Lights were not able to put any shots on target last night and as you know, you need to score to win. And to score, you need to put shots on target.

🔑 27 passes for Pablo Cruz. As I have continuously mentioned, when Pablo Cruz gets a lot of touches and passes, the Lights are much more potent. He finished with less than 30 passes in 90+ minutes, that is not enough action on the ball.

🔑 12 interceptions. Rising FC were able to get in the passing lanes and turn over possession quickly in the midfield. The aggressive plays on the ball led to positive chances and pressure on the Las Vegas back line.

Three Brightest Lights

💡💡💡 Tripa Hernandez: In his 45-minute appearance, the veteran midfielder created three chances and had two successful crosses. He also hit the post within the first two minutes of his shift.

💡💡 Pablo Cruz: I know I mentioned above that he didn’t get enough of the ball, but when he had it last night, he did his thing. Cruz finished with four chances created and 85% passing accuracy. Imagine if he had closer to 40-50 passes…

💡 Jonathan Levin: He completed 96% of his 28 passes and added a tackle and a blocked shot.

Quick Kicks

⚽ It’s odd to say after allowing four goals, but the Lights have to be thankful that Phoenix was not more clinical. They had some great chances, especially in the first 30 minutes of the match. Thomas Olsen did come up with a big pair of saves early on.

⚽ Unrelated to his two yellow cards, Mobi Fehr is not best utilized as a right back. The sooner Kevin Garcia-Lopez gets back, the better because that will move Fehr back to the midfield and the high energy right back will be running down the flank consistently.

⚽ It’s all fine and good to be great at home, but without points somewhat consistently on the road, you won’t be able to get where you want to get to on the table.

⚽ While he did pass the ball at a decent clip overall, Victor Rojas needed to be a bit more dangerous up top playing with Irvin Parra in the final third. He had zero chances created and had both of his shots go off target. With some rotation on the Phoenix backline, I think Sammy Ochoa’s strength or Preston Tabort Etaka’s pace would have done more to trouble Rising FC than Rojas’ all-around ability.

⚽ Solomon Asante’s burst of speed on Phoenix’s was absurd. Watch him on the right side of the GIF below turn on the boosters.

⚽ Especially tough third goal conceded for the Lights and TKO, but these things happen sometimes.

Okay, What’s Next?

Thankfully for Lights FC, they will return home for their next match as Tulsa Roughnecks FC will travel to downtown Las Vegas on May 25th. The Roughnecks started off a surprisingly hot team, but now have only one win in their last six matches.