FSM Essential Recap: Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal - Matchweek 2

FSM Essential Recap: Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal – Matchweek 2

www.FranchiseSportsMedia.com

The Lights FC is back! After a 140 day break in the middle of the USL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Las Vegas Lights FC finally returned to action on Saturday night to start a stretch of 15 matches in just 11 weeks.

The Lights FC lost the match at San Diego Loyal SC 2-1 in front of an empty Torero Stadium in San Diego. This was a rematch of the Lights FC’s last regular season match, which was also their first home game of the 2020 season before the suspension of sports across the world, on March 7th. That match resulted in a 1-1 draw.

It was also new Lights FC manager Frank Yallop’s debut on the sidelines for Las Vegas. He faced US Men’s National Team legend Landon Donovan, who is the manager for San Diego Loyal SC. Yallop and Donovan have a long (and friendly) history with each other that began with Yallop serving as Donovan’s head coach during his early seasons in Major League Soccer. The pair combined for two MLS Cup titles with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Also, on Saturday, the Lights FC welcomed back one of their all-time leading scorers in Raul Mendiola. He rejoins the Club for the remainder of the 2020 season after playing for the San Diego Loyal most recently. Mendiola played a half-season for Lights FC in its 2018 inaugural season, scoring ten goals, which rank him tied for second all-time in Lights FC scoring history. The signing of Mendiola signals a considerable addition to the roster for the remainder of the current season.

The first goal of the night came at the 9-minute mark when Robinson Moshobane scored for the Loyal. The Lights FC tied it up at the 45’ (+6) mark with a Rashawn Dally goal, but the Loyal scored 20 minutes later (65’ minute mark) with an Irvin Parra goal, which gave them the lead and ended up being the deciding and final score.

For San Diego, it marked the first win in franchise history. San Diego put pressure on Las Vegas early, with three shots on goal, before Moshobane scored. Dally got his goal after an inadvertent handball was called on San Diego. Lights FC goalie Edward Delgado had three saves on the night while Jon Kempin ended his night with four saves for San Diego.

Lights FC News and Notes:

The Lights FC lost forward Seku Connehin, who went down three times in the game before he left for good with an undisclosed injury.

San Diego now sits atop the standings in USL’s Group B with 10 points, while the Lights FC came into Saturday’s match in last place and with just one point.

Lights FC will return home to Cashman Field in downtown Las Vegas next week Saturday, August 1st, with a match against in-state rival Reno 1868 FC. This will be the first installment of the 2020 Silver Cup Classic, but fans will not be allowed to attend the match due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, please visit LightsFC.com or call 702-728-4625.

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal      Lights FC vs San Diego      Loyal Lights FC vs San Diego      Loyal

-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media 

Follow The Franchise on social media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube