Super Swirl Summary: Las Vegas 0, Seattle 3

9-man Las Vegas Lights FC gets blown out 3-0 on the road by Sounders 2.

After defeating Portland Timbers 2 last week, Las Vegas Lights FC came up well short of sweeping the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Sounders FC 2 defeated Lights FC 3-0 last night.

In my match preview, I mentioned one of the keys would be to not allow the hosts to score an early goal and build their confidence. The last place team in the USL’s Western Conference, Sounders 2 got on the board shortly after the opening whistle. Antonee Burke-Gilroy made an amazing solo run, worked past a couple Lights’ defenders on the edge of the box and chipped the ball over Ricardo Ferrino. The feisty Las Vegas keeper would come up big for the Lights just after the 20th minute. Seattle was awarded a penalty after Joel Huiqui committed a foul during an aerial duel in the area. Lamar Neagle stepped up to the spot but was denied by Ferrino.

Before the halftime whistle, Las Vegas’ presence on the field shrunk by a couple people. Marcelo Alatorre received his second yellow for a challenge in the middle of the pitch, seconds after Omar Salgado was taken down with no whistle. Then, Carlos Alvarez launched an elbow into a Seattle player and justly received an automatic red card. Already trailing in the match, the second half was not kind to the visiting team.

Up two players, Seattle came out firing after the break. They were awarded their second penalty of the match when Ferrino clipped Neagle running onto the end of a through pass. This time, the Sounders 2 target man beat the Lights’ keeper. Neagle made it a brace in the 72nd minute. Las Vegas couldn’t get on the scoreboard at Cheney Field, getting out-shot 18-6, 5-2 on target. Sounders 2 also controlled 64% of possession and completed an impressive 86% of their passes.

Now, the Lights will finally return home to Cashman Field next Saturday. They host RGVFC, who defeated them in South Texas. They will be without their star player Alvarez, potentially for multiple matches, and defensive workhorse Alatorre vs. the Toros.