FSM Essential Match Recap: Lights FC vs Phoenix Rising FC – 9/5/2020

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The Las Vegas Lights FC fall 2-0 to Phoenix Rising FC. Their record for the season is 2-3-5.

Viewers were in for a slow tempo, scoreless first half in a “David vs Goliath” matchup. Phoenix Rising FC came into this game atop of the table with 20 points and coming off a 2-1 loss to Reno 1868 FC. The first half consisted of a lot of incomplete passes from both clubs, and neither club was able to generate rhythm downfield to create any chances at goal. We see this many times from the Lights’ first-half games where there are few to no shots on goal from either team.

 

Both squads were playing tight formations on defense and were not going to allow any runs or attacks through the middle of the field. Phoenix was able to control 60% of ball possession and won 70% of total duels.

Las Vegas’ strategy is an outside-in attack with a lot of crosses, and they struggled to produce any meaningful ones, resulting in no quality chances at goal.

Lights’ defender Javan Torre did an excellent job in the first half of halting Rufat Dadashov’s opportunities at goal. However, Torre ran into an unfortunate handball on a breakaway cross, which gave Junior Flemmings a penalty goal in the 52nd minute. Flemmings takes his goal total to 11 on the season, which leads the USL Championship league. 

 

The Las Vegas soccer club have fallen behind in the scoreboard in eight of ten matches this season.

 

As a club, you cannot keep giving up the first score or trail late in games. Las Vegas has never been the club to give up, but sooner or later, especially with a club like Phoenix Rising, you will pay.

The Lights FC giving up the first goal forces them to play heavy on the attack. Which then leaves the defense to be exploited by a premier front three like Phoenix. 

Rufat Dadashov took advantage of a careless and exhausted Lights defense. A ball deflected into the box gave Dadashov, who was free from traffic, an easy goal from eight yards out to take his team up 2-0.

Newly acquired midfielder Quincy Amarikwa made his season debut for the Las Vegas Lights in the 67th minute. Amarikwa joins a team where he has a lot of history with head coach Frank Yallop. Coach Yallop drafted Amarikwa back in 2009 when both were a part of the San Jose Earthquakes. The two reunited again in 2013 for the Chicago Fire. 

 

 

The Lights FC remain at the bottom of the group stage with nine points clear from playoff contention. There are six games left in the season, and Las Vegas needs to take every three points they can get and hope the top three teams can lose along the way.

 

 

For more information and news on the Las Vegas Lights FC, check out lasvegaslightsfc.com or call 702-728-4625.

 

Do not count out the Las Vegas Lights FC, as their playoff contention is still alive. They take on Phoenix Rising FC in another rematch on September 11, at 7:00 pm PT, only on ESPN+.

 

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-Justin Brooks – Franchise Sports Media

Twitter: @Ayyeju5tin

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