Las Vegas Lights FC is visiting Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday in their first and only meeting of the season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. PT at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN: The match will be televised locally on SSSEN and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required). Live audio match coverage will be streamed on SiriusXM FC Channel 157 (subscription required)
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 12-8-11 (47 points, 3rd West), Legion: 12-13-6 (42 points, 8th East)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: DWWDD, Birmingham: LDWLW
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Lights and Legion played to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Cashman Field on July 8, 2023. A goal in the third minute of stoppage time from Pato Botello Faz rescued a point for Vegas.
HISTORY MADE: Las Vegas Lights FC clinched a postseason berth last weekend after a draw with Orange County and an FC Tulsa loss to El Paso Locomotive. This marks the first time in franchise history that the Lights have qualified for the USL Championship playoffs.
AROZARENA ABSENCE: The Lights will be without goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena on Sunday after he was called into Cuba’s national team for its final two group stage matches of the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League A.
BENNETT KEEPS CLIMBING: Lights forward Khori Bennett scored the equalizer last weekend for his 13th tally of the season. The Jamaican is now tied for fourth in the league in goals.
TOUGH TO BEAT: Las Vegas heads into this weekend with just one loss in its last 19 matches dating back to early June, including a current seven-match unbeaten run.
POROUS DEFENSE: Birmingham has conceded 45 times this season, which is tied for the third-most in the league.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Stéfano Pinho, F
In his first season in Birmingham, the Brazilian leads the Legion with eight goals on the year.
LO QUE DICEN
Light FC defender Joe Hafferty
On clinching the club’s first postseason appearance…
It’s special. Looking back through the whole season, we had this set out as a goal from Day One. Being able to accomplish it for Las Vegas, for the Lights, it means a whole lot. Within the group, we’re ready for more.
Lights FC forward Khori Bennett
On his team-leading 13th goal of the season…
I really take pride in being a goalscorer. I take pride in getting into the right spots. I’m fortunate to have a group of guys who are capable of getting me the ball in the right spots. I always try to finish off the plays to help the team, which is the most important.
Dennis Sánchez, entrenador del Lights FC
On keys to the match this weekend in Birmingham…
Birmingham is a good side. I have a lot of respect for [Head Coach] Tom Soehn and what he’s built there with [President and General Manager] Jay Heaps. They have a good blend of some older and more experienced guys who have been around the league and performed at a high level, but at the same time some good young and up-and-coming players. They’re probably best with the ball. They have some pretty dynamic wingers, they have two No. 6s who are really comfortable on the ball in the buildup, so if we look at ourselves and how we adapt, we always feel that the best defense is having the ball. We have to make sure we’re efficient with the ball. It’s a bigger field. We want to utilize that.