Lights rough up RGVFC, win 2-1 at home

After a bad loss on the road, Las Vegas Lights FC secured a good win at home over RGVFC.

Las Vegas Lights FC moved past a rough Wednesday night with a solid Saturday as they defeated RGVFC Toros at Cashman Field, 2-1. Gabe Robinson and Irvin Parra scored for the Lights and Carlos Small notched the lone tally for RGV.

Key Stats

🔑38.5% possession. Despite playing at home, Las Vegas did not hold onto much of the ball. They were happy to knock the ball forward to Preston Tabort Etaka or Irvin Parra.

🔑 23 fouls conceded. After a three red card performance on Wednesday, the Lights did not play cautiously vs. RGVFC and nearly tripled their fouls conceded. They only registered two yellow cards despite the heavy edge in fouls.

🔑 Two headed goals. Early in the season, the club relied on headers for their goals, especially on set pieces. Last night, they got back to the aerial game and both scores came from headers.

Three Brightest Lights

💡💡💡 Irvin Parra: Las Vegas’ danger man scored the second goal of the night and assisted on the first. He created two chances and had three shots on the night.

💡💡 Gabe Robinson: The central defender scored for the third time this season to open last night’s scoring and added seven clearances. He did not lose an aerial duel or concede a foul.

💡 Preston Tabort Etaka: With the club willing to knock the ball forward, the pacey Cameroonian was often the target and used that speed to press the Toros’ backline. He finished with two shots and won one foul.

Quick Kicks

âš½ Listen, it was not the most attractive style of soccer, but points get you into the playoffs, not style points. Without Mobi Fehr, the club didn’t really try to build through the middle of the park. They knocked the ball forward or out to the wings and were unafraid to go in on any tackle, anywhere on the pitch.

âš½ Despite the choppy, physical soccer, both goals were beauties for Las Vegas. Both deliveries were picture-perfect and the headers matched that. If you can be clinical in the final third, playing this physical style could really suit the Lights.

âš½ Jonathan Levin would be an honorable mention for Brightest Lights. He completed 92% of his passes and did well to assert himself in the midfield.

âš½ As Jose Villarreal continues to get fully match fit, he is going to be a gamechanger for the Lights. His passing and skill in the final third will help open things up during times where there seems to be nothing available.

âš½ Five big saves for Thomas Olsen to limit RGV to one goal after allowing four less than a week ago.

âš½ We’re to the point where you can expect two things at Cashman Field: A great crowd/atmosphere and a poor playing surface. I was optimistic the grass would recover better after the long layoff, but there are still a lot of noticeable areas of brown, dead grass. Hopefully, as we move into less scorching hot temperatures in future months, it comes back to life.

Okay, What’s Next?

📅 A three-match road swing kicks off next Saturday when the Lights take on Fresno FC. The Foxes occupy third place on the Western Conference table and have one loss on the season at Chukchansi Park.

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.