Las Vegas Lights currently sit in 6th position in the USL Western Conference, with 14 points from 10 games. Rising are in 11th with the same points, but have won one less game.
The two sides have met three times in total. Rising convincingly won the first two games 4-0 and 2-0 respectively. However, a predominantly second-string Phoenix side suffered a 5-2 defeat at Cashman Field last October.
Lights’ coach is former U.S. international Eric Wynalda, whose time in the lower leagues in California has impacted on his recruitment.
Vegas’ season fits neatly into a bizarre dichotomy. The team is almost untouchable at home – winning four and drawing one. Away from home, the exact opposite is true: one draw and four losses.
The Nevada-based side are one of the most accurate passing teams in the league, at 81%. That’s marginally better than Rising, with 80% passing accuracy.
They’re also the 4th dirtiest team in USL, based on fouls conceded (155), and have collected 21 yellow cards, which is 4th highest in the Western Conference.
Vegas has only conceded two goals in their last three league games. Both of those came from within the six yard box.
Last Time Out
Las Vegas’ last game was a 3-0 home victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Sammy Ochoa scored one, while an Irvin Parra brace gave the hosts maximum points.
Thomas Olsen is Lights’ ever-present goalkeeper. He has five clean sheets in ten games, but is still averaging almost three goals per game in the other five. Unsurprisingly with Vegas’ record, those games are almost all away from home – his only road clean sheet this season came in a 0-0 draw with Los Dos. This is Olsen’s second season in Nevada, appearing four times last season. He previously played in Tucson under Rick Schantz in 2015 and 2016.
Mobi Fehr started at right back against Colorado. He’s a solid passer out from the back (88.5% accuracy; 95.1% in own half) but isn’t very strong at winning the ball back. Born in New York to Swiss and Japanese parents, he spent time in the youth setups of both Tokyo Verdy and FC Basel. Fehr had a brief spell at Portland Timbers, but left for Asia after failing to break through into the team. He signed for Vegas from Vietnamese top-tier side Hoàng Anh Gia Lai ahead of the current season.
Eric Gonzalez was on the left against the Switchbacks. At 25 years old, this is the first time Gonzalez has played in a professional league. Through three appearances, he’s impressed with his ability to win the ball in the air (83.3% aerial duel success rate) and on the ground (71.4%). He was previously a part of the U.S. U-17 national side.
In the middle last Saturday was Gabe Robinson – Lights’ only outfield player to have featured in every minute of the 2019 season. Like Gonzalez, Robinson is fairly inexperienced at this level, but he’s also a very tough one to crack at the back. His aerial ability is solid, winning around three-quarters of headers, and he’s also chipped in at the other end with two goals.
His partner was fellow Californian Javan Torre. Torre hasn’t had a poor season by any means, but is being outperformed in numerous categories by his partner. Torre joined this season from FSV Frankfurt, who compete in the Regionalliga Südwest (Germany’s fourth tier).
Lucas Scaglia pulls the strings in the heart of midfield for Vegas. He leads the team in passing accuracy (90.9%) and passes per 90 minutes (60). The Argentine midfielder doesn’t possess the scoring ability of his childhood friend and cousin-in-law Lionel Messi, though. He’s attempted just three shots in his nine appearances, none on target. Scaglia came through the youth ranks at Newell’s Old Boys, and also spent four years in Greece. More recently, he’s featured for Jacksonville Armada and UPSL side California United II.
He was replaced at half-time last Saturday by Santiago Echavarría. It was Echavarría’s second appearance of the season, with both coming off the bench. He’s scored once this season. That was Lights’ third goal in a 4-2 demolition of Sacramento Republic two weeks ago. Echavarría signed for Vegas after time in the youth setup with Colombian giant Atlético Nacional.
Junior Sandoval was also in central midfield against Colorado. He lags behind Scaglia in most passing categories, but he does have a goal to his name. Strangely, Sandoval joined Vegas in April after making just four appearances for Memphis 901. His former clubs also include Marathón in his native Honduras, and top-tier Colombian side Jaguares de Córdoba.
Ferrety Sousa replaced Sandoval last Saturday, making his fourth substitute appearance of the season. In the 83 minutes he’s played, Sousa has proven effective with the ball at his feet in his own half, and at crossing the ball. His former clubs include the Atlanta Silverbacks and Wilmington Hammerheads.
Cristhian Hernández started on the right wing against Colorado. Once considered one of the top ten high school prospects in the U.S., Hernández failed to impress early in his career with Philadelphia Union and Harrisburg City Islanders, leading to a prolonged spell in the American and Mexican lower leagues. While he boasts an impressive 25 key passes this season, not a single one of his crosses has found a Vegas head.
Pablo Cruz started last week on the opposite flank. He’s second on the team in passing accuracy (89.7%) but again lacks any end product with his crosses. Only one of his 13 crosses from open play this season has found a teammate. An experienced NASL and USL player, Cruz’s former clubs include Atlanta Silverbacks, San Antonio Scorpions, FC Edmonton and Orange County Blues. Prior to joining Vegas, he played for Armenian Premier League side Shirak.
Sammy Ochoa was up top against the Switchbacks. The 32-year-old has played in only five of Lights ten league games this season, but still has two headed goals to his name. This is Ochoa’s second season with Vegas. He scored 8 goals in 32 appearances for them last year. Ochoa’s former clubs include Sacramento, Tulsa, Wilmington, and Seattle Sounders.
Victor Rojas replaced Ochoa in the second half. The Venezuelan midfielder joined Lights in the close season, after a spell in Portugal playing for lower league sides Sampedrense and Nogueirense. His professional career began in the Major Arena Soccer League with Florida Tropics.
Alongside Rojas was captain and top goalscorer Irvin Parra. A new signing for 2019, Parra has seven goals to date, and has missed just a minute of gameplay. As a sign of his versatility, he also leads the team in successful crosses (5). Parra’s previous clubs include Orange County, Sounders 2 and Kaiserslautern II.
Rest of the Roster
Defender Christian Torres has started in eight of Vegas’ ten matches in 2019. In his second season with the club, he’s struggled when battling for the ball, winning less than 40% of duels. However, he has picked up a goal with his left foot in a 5-2 loss away to RGV. Torres previously played for Dorados de Sinaloa.
Kevin Garcia-Lopez has also started eight games. Like many others on the team, he joined Lights after playing in the lower leagues in California. The defender has struggled in the air (30%) and on the ground (42%) this season.
Matt Thomas is in his second season with the club. A Las Vegas native, Thomas has impressed defensively in his four appearances this year. He’s a former player for the Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears.
Midfielder Alex Harrlley is the nephew of former African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Adebayor. Harlley has made four appearances this season, and scored the only goal of the game against Monarchs on March 30. He joined Vegas from Georgia Revolution, and NPSL team.
The experienced Bryan Arguez could also be in contention tonight. Arguez has been on the books of no less than eight MLS, NASL and USL clubs – from DC United to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds – with an additional spell at Hertha Berlin for good measure. He most recently featured for FC Golden State Force in the PDL. Arguez was part of the U.S. side at the 2008 Toulon Tournament and the 2009 U-20 World Cup.
Forward Preston Tabortetaka is an option off the bench. On loan from Czech side MFK Vyškov, Tabortetaka has proven himself competent in the air (70.6%). He’s picked up two goals so far this year. Both goals were scored in Vegas’ 5-0 demolition of Tacoma Defiance in mid-April. Tabortetaka was previously a part of the Charlotte Independence squad.
From the Ashes Prediction: Lots of goals, but Rising to come out on top 3-2.