2020 Las Vegas Lights FC season

The 2020 Las Vegas Lights FC season was the club's third season, and their third season in the United Soccer League Championship (USLC), the second division of American soccer. This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USLC Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[1]

Las Vegas Lights FC
2020 season
General managerBrett Lashbrook
Head coachEric Wynalda (until June 17, 2020) Frank Yallop (June 29-present)
StadiumCashman Field
USLGroup B: 5th
Western Conf.: 15th
USL Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupCancelled
Silver State CupRunner-Up
Top goalscorerLeague: Yamikani Chester
All: Yamikani Chester
Biggest winLV 3–1 TAC (August 19)
LV 3–1 OC (August 25)
Biggest defeatPHX 5–1 LV (September 11)

Summary

The Las Vegas Lights played their first match of the USL Season against USL expansion side San Diego Loyal, who were making their USL debut. The Las Vegas Lights opened the scoring when Junior Burgos scored a fantastic 40-yard effort in off the crossbar, the USL Goal of the Week and a possible USL Goal of the Year contender. San Diego Loyal soon equalized in the 15th minute when a Charles Adams shot took a deflection of a Las Vegas defender and went in past Delgado.[2]

After the season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lights had poor losing performances in a 2–1 loss to San Diego Loyal and 1–0 loss to in-state rivals Reno 1868 FC. Because of positive COVID-19 cases, matches against San Diego Loyal and Tacoma Defiance were delayed. The club lost 1-0 again to Orange County SC, with both goalies making important saves. Las Vegas finally won their first match of the season against Tacoma Defiance, 3–1. Burgos opened the scoring through a far shot that deflected of Taylor Mueller in the 19th minute. The Lights then doubled their lead after a center by Yamikani Chester was tapped in by Rashawn Dally. Later in the match, Junior Sandoval scored after being assisted by Blake Frischknecht. In the 84th minute, Azriel Gonzalez got a goal back that squeezed through Lights keeper Thomas Olsen.[3]

The club continued their run of form with a 3–3 draw against first place in Group B Phoenix Rising FC. Phoenix scored early through a shot by Rufat Dadashov, assisted by Solomon Asante. Lights keeper Edward Delgado made several decisive saves against Junior Flemmings, but Flemmings scored in the 68th minute from a lob. The Las Vegas Lights got a goal back from Chester, and soon after Junior Burgos hit the crossbar from a free kick. In the 90th minute Solomon Asante converted a penalty. The Las Vegas Lights then scored in stoppage time as a header by Chester hit of A. J. Cochran for an own goal. The club then equalized after a deflected free kick came to Ramon Martin Del Campo.[4]

After the Phoenix draw, Vegas went down 1–0 to Orange County after a penalty converted by Aodhan Quinn. Las Vegas soon equalized after Del Campo scored from a corner. Substitute Frischknecht then scored a low shot assisted by Dally, before Junior Sandoval added gloss to the win in stoppage-time, making it 3–1. The Las Vegas Lights then lost a closely contested 4-3 thriller against LA Galaxy II, with lights player Raul Mendiola hitting the post in stoppage time. After a 1–1 draw with San Diego loyal (in which Blake Frischknecht scored his 4th goal or assist in 3 games) the club lost 2–0 to Phoenix Rising at home. In the away match, they lost 5–1, their worst result of their season to date. The Lights then lost a 2-goal lead against LA Galaxy II and ended up losing 3–2, with Augustine Williams netting a late penalty.[5]

Las Vegas were eliminated from the play-offs after a 1–0 loss to Orange County SC, in which Mobi Fehr and Seth Moses being sent off. After San Diego Loyal beat Phoenix Rising 3–2, the lights could not finish above fifth. Vegas then had a 2–2 draw with La Galaxy II. Sandoval scored after collecting a long ball from Jordan Murrell. LA Galaxy turned the game around with two quick goals in the 71st and 81st minute. In stoppage-time, Dally equalized after some good dribbling by José Carrera García.[6] Las Vegas then played rivals Reno 1868. The lights took the lead early through Junior Burgos but soon Reno equalized from Foster Langsdorf. The lights scored again from Yamikani Chester but Reno equalized soon after again from Kevin Partida. The score finished 2-2 and Reno won the Silver State Cup. The lights lost the final match of the season 4–2 to Orange County. Fans were permitted for the match, at limited capacity.[7]

Squad
As of September 28, 2020[8]
No. Position Player Nation
0 GK Edward Delgado  United States
1 GK Thomas Olsen  United States
2 DF Ramon Martin Del Campo  Mexico
3 DF Johnny Fenwick  England
4 DF Gabe Robinson  United States
5 DF Javan Torre  United States
6 MF Mobi Fehr  United States
7 MF Junior Sandoval  Honduras
8 MF José Carrera  Mexico
9 FW Blake Frischknecht  United States
10 MF Junior Burgos  El Salvador
11 FW Yamikani Chester  Malawi
12 DF Jordan Murrell  Canada
14 MF Bryan de la Fuente  United States
15 MF Grant Robinson  United States
17 DF Jaiden Waggoner  United States
20 DF Noah Billingsley (on loan from Minnesota United)  New Zealand
22 FW Seku Conneh  Liberia
23 MF Alex Culwell  United States
25 FW Quincy Amarikwa  United States
29 FW Santiago Echavarría  Colombia
32 MF Jonathan Levin  Mexico
36 MF Seth Moses  United States
40 FW Raúl Mendiola  Mexico
58 GK Angel Alvarez  United States
66 DF Chancel Ndaye  Burundi
81 FW Rashawn Dally (on loan from FC Cincinnati)  Jamaica

Competitions

Exhibitions
February 8 Preseason 1 Real Salt Lake v Las Vegas Lights FC Herriman, Utah
PST
Note: Result not made public.
February 19 Preseason 2 LA Galaxy II v Las Vegas Lights FC Carson, California
PM PST Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
February 28 Preseason 3 Orange County SC v Las Vegas Lights FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM PST Stadium: Orange County Great Park

USL Championship
Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Standings — Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Phoenix Rising FC 16 11 2 3 46 17 +29 35 2.19 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 LA Galaxy II 16 8 2 6 29 32 −3 26 1.63
3 Orange County SC 16 7 3 6 18 18 0 24 1.50
4 San Diego Loyal SC 16 6 5 5 17 18 −1 23 1.44
5 Las Vegas Lights FC 16 2 5 9 24 34 −10 11 0.69
Source: USL

Match results

On December 20, 2019, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule, creating the following fixture list for the early part of Las Vegas' season.[9]

March 7 1 San Diego Loyal SC 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PST Adams 15'
Stoneman Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Burgos 4'
Sandoval Yellow card 29'
Torre Yellow card 55'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 6,100
Referee: Elton Garcia

In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of Las Vegas' schedule was announced on July 2.[10]

July 25 2 San Diego Loyal SC 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PST Moshobane 9'
Adams Yellow card 54'
Parra 65'
Kempin Yellow card 81'		 Report Sandoval Yellow card 17'
Dally 45+6'
Fenwick Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Referee: Joseph Salinas
August 1 3 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–1 Reno 1868 FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Mendiola Yellow card 81' Report Richards 18' Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Michael Radchuk
August 8 4 Las Vegas Lights FC P–P San Diego Loyal SC Las Vegas, Nevada
TBA PM PDT Stadium: Cashman Field
August 12 5 Las Vegas Lights FC P–P Tacoma Defiance Las Vegas, Nevada
TBA PM PDT Stadium: Cashman Field
Note: Match postponed due to positive covid-19 test result with the Las Vegas Lights organization.[11]
August 15 6 Orange County SC 1–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM PDT Quinn 69'
Okoli Yellow card 89'		 Report Moses Yellow card 9'
Waggoner Yellow card 45'
del Campo Yellow card 74'		 Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Referee: Michael Radchuk
August 19 5 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–1 Tacoma Defiance Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Burgos 19'
Dally 30'
Sandoval 67'		 Report Cissoko Yellow card 68'
Gonzalez 84'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Karen Callado
Note: Reschedule of postponed August 12th match.[12]
August 22 7 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–3 Phoenix Rising FC Las Vegas, Nevada
8:30 PM PDT Chester 80'
Moses Yellow card 84'
Cochran 90+6' (o.g.)
del Campo 90+9'		 Report Dadashov 4'
King Yellow card 22'
Kontoh Yellow card 59'
Flemmings 68'
Stanton Yellow card 74'
Asante 90' (pen.)		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Malik Badawi
August 25 8 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–1 Orange County SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:00 PM PDT del Campo 18'
Gr. Robinson Yellow card 52'
Fenwick Yellow card 62'
Burgos soccer ball with red X 68'
Frischknecht 84'
Sandoval 90+2'		 Report Quinn 12' (pen.)
Alston Yellow card 60'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Brandon Stevis
August 30 9 LA Galaxy II 4–3 Las Vegas Lights FC Carson, California
2:00 PM PDT Cuevas 5'
Williams 53'
Gutiérrez 62'
Hernandez 74'		 Report Chester 14'
Gr. Robinson Yellow card 27'
Torre Yellow card 64'
Fenwick 73'
Frischknecht 87'		 Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
September 2 4 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–1 San Diego Loyal SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Billingsley Yellow card 69'
Frischknecht 73'
Torre Yellow card 90+5'		 Report C. Martin Yellow card 53', 57'
Stoneman Yellow card 72'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
September 5 10 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–2 Phoenix Rising FC Las Vegas, Nevada
6:30 PM PDT Fehr Yellow card 45+1'
Sandoval Yellow card 50'
de la Fuente Yellow card 52'
Amarikwa Yellow card 90'		 Report King Yellow card 14'
Olsen 53' (o.g.)
Cochran Yellow card 73'
Bakero Yellow card 74'
Dadashov 90+4'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: William Hoffman
September 11 11 Phoenix Rising FC 5–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Scottsdale, Arizona
7:30 PM PDT Dadashov 27', 44'
Flemmings 55'
Stanton 57'
Bakero 72' (pen.)
Farrell Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Moses Yellow card 41'
Fenwick Yellow card 71'
de la Fuente 82'		 Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Referee: Isaiah Vlad
September 15 12 LA Galaxy II 3–2 Las Vegas Lights FC Carson, California
7:00 PM PDT Williams 37', 84' (pen.)
Perez 62'
Nava Yellow card 65'		 Report Moses 22'
Chester 28'
Delgado Yellow card 83'		 Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Brandon Stevis
September 18 13 Orange County SC 1–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM PDT Orozco Yellow card 43'
Jones 63'
Okoli Yellow card 64'
Quinn Yellow card 69'
Smith Yellow card 81'		 Report Fehr Red card 29'
Moses Yellow card 46' Yellow-red card 59'
Torre Yellow card 54'
Burgos Yellow card 67'		 Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Referee: Omeed Azadpour
September 26 14 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–2 LA Galaxy II Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Sandoval 39'
Levin Yellow card 74'
Burgos Yellow card 88'
Dally 90+3'		 Report Cuevas Yellow card 55'
Williams 71'
Perez 81'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Brad Jensen
September 30 15 Reno 1868 FC 2–2 Las Vegas Lights FC Reno, Nevada
8:00 PM PDT Alfaro Yellow card 8'
Langsdorf 12'
Hertzog soccer ball with red X 19'
Partida 28' (pen.)
Apodaca Yellow card 81'		 Report Burgos 9'
Chester 25'
Moses Yellow card 57'
Fehr Yellow card 70'
Robertson Yellow card 74'
Fenwick Yellow card 90+5'		 Stadium: Greater Nevada Field
October 3 16 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–4 Orange County SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Mendiola 24', 66'
Fehr Yellow card 30'
Sandoval Yellow card 73'
Murrell Red card 90+3'		 Report Hoffman 17', 21', 27'
Henry Yellow card 37'
CasipleYellow card 68' Yellow-red card 76'
Quinn 90+2' (pen.)		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 250
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal

U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, Las Vegas will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[13]

April 9 2nd round Las Vegas Lights FC Nevada Cancelled California Cal FC or
California Ventura County Fusion 		Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Report Stadium: Cashman Field
Note: Match cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[14]

References
  1. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". January 9, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. "Scores".
  3. "Scores".
  4. "Scores".
  5. "Scores".
  6. "Scores".
  7. "Scores".
  8. "Lights FC 2020 Roster". Las Vegas Lights FC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  9. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  10. "2020 Schedule Announcement". lasvegaslightsfc.com. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  11. "Tacoma Defiance Match on August 12 at Las Vegas Postponed". tacomadefiance.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  12. "Tacoma Defiance Match on August 12 at Las Vegas Postponed". tacomadefiance.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  13. "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  14. "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup cancelled due to COVID-19". ussoccer.com. August 17, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
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