Road loss #3 for Las Vegas Lights FC

For the third time in three tries away from home, Las Vegas Lights FC were defeated.

This season, Las Vegas Lights FC have four points from five matches. All those points have come at home as the club lost again on the road last night when they faced San Antonio FC in south-central Texas, 2-1. A major missed call by the officiating crew will leave a sour taste on this result.

Bradford Jamieson IV scored early for the hosts and Ever Guzman added another in the second half. Irvin Parra converted a penalty in the 7th minute of second-half stoppage time to pull one back for Vegas. Earlier in the second half, Mobi Fehr beat Matt Cardone, but the play was whistled offside, which seemed to be the wrong decision.

Key Stats

⚽22% shot accuracy. Las Vegas finished with 18 shots on the night but only four on target. If they just get a few more efforts on frame each match, they could become a dangerous attacking side.

⚽ Zero chances created. Often the best playmaker this season for the Lights, Tripa Hernandez finished with zero created chances vs. San Antonio. His passing accuracy was only 62% in the attacking half. He had one especially solid pass, but Alex Harlley couldn’t get a shot off before being dispossessed.

⚽ Nine corner kicks. Scoring on set pieces three times already this season, the Lights tallied nine corner kicks vs. San Antonio. Unfortunately, they were not able to convert any of them at Toyota Field.

Three Brightest Lights

💡💡💡 Irvin Parra: He scored the lone goal for Lights FC and was the best attacking player on the night. Parra finished with two shots on target, three successful crosses, and two chances created.

💡💡 Mobi Fehr: Completing 89% of his 55 passes, Fehr was the motor in the midfield. He also had two interceptions and three tackles. He also put the ball in the back of the net on the second-half disallowed goal.

💡 Kevin Garcia-Lopez: The blue-haired Lights right back flew up and down the right flank at Toyota Field. He created three chances and won two fouls. Defensively, he had three tackles and an interception.

Quick Kicks

Let’s talk about the missed call on the disallowed goal. They seemed to whistle Alex Harlley offside and said he attempted to touch the ball or screened the keeper. Two things, he didn’t appear offside to me at all (as you can see in the GIF below) and the assistant referee never raised his flag. No, this did not guarantee the Lights a loss, but it was a massive moment and one that took the momentum from Las Vegas.

A poor miscue from Javan Torre on the opening goal for San Antonio. That put the Lights behind early and made them chase the game on the road.

With the early deficit, Eric Wynalda’s side did well to play a high press and force San Antonio into some giveaways in their own half.

While they don’t rack up cards and fouls as they did in 2018, the Lights are still down for the action when things get physical. Any rough tackle, the Lights players are defending their teammates and bumping chests with their opponents.

I wonder if the Lights could use a true defensive midfielder. They have players in the midfield that are willing defenders that can get forward and distribute, but they could use a ball winner and someone that’s physical enough to prevent clubs from running straight through to the backline.

Okay, What’s Next?

Las Vegas Lights FC return home to take on Tacoma Defiance on Saturday. The club formerly known as Seattle Sounders FC 2 are 2-3-0 on the season and face Orange County SC midweek before arriving in Sin City. The Defiance have zero players with multiple goals or assists.

 

Top photo courtesy of Darren Abate/San Antonio 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.