The Las Vegas Lights are set to make their U.S. Open Cup debut at home against USL League One side Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
Read on for the keys of the match as we head into the third round of America’s oldest and most prestigious club soccer competition.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC vs Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | U.S. Open Cup Third Round
When: Wednesday, April 16
Dónde: Cashman Field
Inicio: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: Paramount+
Entradas: Compre ya sus entradas
How We Got Here
After finishing within the top eight clubs of the Western Conference in the 2024 USL Championship season, the Las Vegas Lights earned the right to qualify directly for the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup, bypassing the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One had to start their participation in the First Round, facing NISA Nation side New Jersey Alliance FC. After a 2-2 draw in regular time, the Red Wolves won 4-2 in penalties and earned their ticket to the next round.
In the Second Round, the Red Wolves faced city rivals Chattanooga FC in an emotional derby that was witnessed by more than 12,000 fans at Finley Stadium. It was a close one, but after a 1-1 draw, the Red Wolves outdid their opponents in another intense penalty shootout to qualify for the Third Round of the competition.
On April 3rd, the Lights drew the Red Wolves for their Third Round U.S. Open Cup matchup, the first-ever duel between the two clubs.
Cómo están
The Las Vegas Lights currently sit in fifth place of the Western Conference of the USL Championship with eight points earned via two wins and two draws in five matches. The Lights possess the best defensive record in the league alongside Louisville City FC and FC Tulsa, conceding only three goals in five games and allowing their opponents few key chances per match.
The Chattanooga Red Wolves, on the other hand, stand twelfth out of fourteen clubs in USL League One, having earned three points from three draws in four matches. All of their games across USL League One and U.S. Open Cup have ended with close results, proving that they can be an uncomfortable rival for any team.
Keys to the Match:
Here are the three keys to look out for on Wednesday:
Time to Build Offensive Momentum
It’s no secret that the Lights’ offensive numbers have been below expectations given the talent up front. While four goals in five matches have been enough to keep the team in the fight for playoff positions, it might not be enough to fight for silverware later on in the season.
The stats are relatively clear: the team has the second lowest xG (expected goals) in the league after Oakland Roots, according to data from FootyStats. In order for that number to go up, the team needs to generate higher quality chances for its forwards.
This match presents a great opportunity to start turning things around in attack. A single elimination match at home against a respectable USL League One side presents an ideal scenario for the team’s offense to finally start clicking.
The Red Wolves have conceded an average of 1.5 goals per match across all competitions. The Lights need to take advantage of that and get the ball rolling (preferably inside the net) to start building some offensive momentum. After the first goal is scored and that mental barrier is broken, the floodgates will surely open.
There’s No Place Like Home
It’s very early in the season, but the Lights’ home record is looking better than last year’s. Throughout 2024, the Lights earned 49% of points disputed at Cashman Field. The team was just as good at home as it was away. This year, the Lights have earned 67% of all possible points in Vegas. Much of the credit has to go to the ever-increasing support of Lights fans, who are continuing to show up in steadily higher numbers compared to past seasons.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga Red Wolves have not been able to win away this season, accumulating four draws and one defeat in five outings.
There’s no doubt about it: Cashman Field will be a defining factor this Wednesday.
Daouda Peeters is Here!
Daouda Peeters made his Lights debut this Saturday in Kentucky against Lexington SC, and it only took him 11 minutes to show the league that he is a class player. His precise passing and overall quality set him apart as a difference maker.
While he is physically fit, his lack of playing time means that it will take a while until we see his best form. However, the first glimpses of his attributes on the pitch can give Lights fans plenty of hope for the rest of the season.
Given potential team rotations in preparation for what will be a long week full of activity, the odds of Daouda at least seeing some action against the Red Wolves are very high. And if he does play, he will be a very important element in the Lights pursuit of a ticket to the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup.