Lights FC vs San Diego

Match Preview: Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal – Matchweek 4

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The reformed USL Championship is underway, as the Lights take on a rematch against San Diego Loyal on home turf.

 

The Las Vegas Lights FC look to bounce back from 2 straight losses to start off the resumed season.

 

Photo Credit: Lights FC

Newly acquired manager Frank Yallop who is considered one of the most successful coaches of all time for American soccer, plans to avenge his squads’ latest 2-1 feat to his former companion. U.S Men’s National Team legend, Landon Donovan’s Club, the San Diego Loyal, was the Lights FC’s first game back into the revised season.

Yallop, who has been awarded MLS Coach of the Year twice, and the 2-time MLS cup champion brings his winning presence and game plan to the sidelines to try and lift a struggling team at the bottom of the table. Currently, the Club is trailing 9 points from being in contention to move onto the playoffs, but still have 13 games left ahead to recover. However, Yallop already released a statement saying that he will be relieved from manager duty after the 2020 season has come to an end.

 

The Lights FC just recently signed attacking midfielder, Raul Mendiola for the remainder of the season as they look to add offensive depth the club.

 

Mendiola is no stranger to the Vegas fan base, where he is remembered playing for the Lights FC back in the 2018 inaugural season, racking up ten goals which already put him on the 2nd all-time scoring list for the franchise. He also brings veteran experience having played for LA Galaxy, LA Galaxy II, rival club Reno 1868, and San Diego Loyal.

Photo Credit: FC Cincinnati

Being an attacking mid, Mendiola should work well with Yallop’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system, giving him endless options with two wingers out wide, and a forward upfront. Viewers could also expect to see Mendiola playing upfront with FC Cincinnati loan, Rashawn Dally, as a two-man forward rotation.

Amongst the table, the Lights FC rank last in goal conversation rate at 4.3%, and second to last in shooting accuracy. Although the Club has a good passing completion percentage, they still have yet to record an assist while other teams such as the Phoenix Rising have already produced 9.

As for the defense, they can look to tighten up against a physical team in San Diego, where they scheme to move the ball around a lot, do most of their work in the middle of the pitch, and take as many quality shots as possible. In fact, Loyal FC holds the highest shooting accuracy in the region, with over 62% of their shots being on target.

The Lights FC has yet to make its first USL playoff appearance as a franchise, but fans could see a change in the narrative this year. As part of the COVID-19 modified season, the playoff bracket will no longer consist of the top 8 teams from the Eastern and Western Conference.

Instead, the league is adopting a regional setup to reduce team travel as much as possible.

There are eight divisions (5 groups of 4 teams, three groups of 5), also known as group stages similar to the FIFA World Cup bracket, where the top 2 teams from each stage move on to the quarter-final rounds. With this type of schedule, it will make it easier for teams to study film and pick up their opponents’ tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Although these matches are no longer allowing fans in attendance for the time being, still expect to see a thrilling matchup between these teams and look forward to seeing new possible rivalries.

You can watch tonight’s match at 7:30 pm PT aired live on ESPN+. 

 

 

NEW PLAYER SIGNING 

SETH MOSES: Also, Lights FC also announced the signing of Seth Moses to the 2020 roster. Moses is a veteran player who has played professionally in multiple countries (U.S., Korea, Austria, Liechtenstein & Puerto Rico), including previously in USL Championship for Orange County, Indianapolis, and Fresno.  Specifically, at Fresno FC, Moses was part of a roster built by current Lights FC Head Coach Frank Yallop when he previously served as Fresno FC’s General Manager. Moses, a native of Baltimore, is expected to provide an immediate impact on the current squad, starting with this weekend’s home match against San Diego Loyal SC.

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal 

INJURY UPDATE 

SEKU CONNEH:  Lights FC also announced the unfortunate news that striker Seku Conneh has suffered a lower-body injury during the July 25th match against San Diego Loyal that requires surgery. He is expected to be out for approximately two months. The 24-year old Conneh, who previously played within the world-renowned youth academy of European soccer powerhouse Ajax FC, was expected to be a regular starter for the Club before the injury. “Seku is a great talent and will definitely be missed,” said Yallop. “Fortunately, this is an injury where a full recovery is expected, but obviously the timing is far from ideal considering the shortened season footprint this year.”

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal

DATE CHANGE — AT LOS ANGELES GALAXY II MATCH MOVED BACK ONE DAY:

It was also announced Thursday that the Lights FC’s initially scheduled match at Los Angeles Galaxy II for Saturday, August 29th, has been moved back to the following day. The game will now kick-off on Sunday, August 30th at 2 pm.

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal

Lights FC vs San Diego Loyal

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

 

 

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-Justin Brooks – Franchise Sports Media 

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