Las Vegas, NV – Lights FC continues the “Summer of Soccer” delivered by Zappos with a matchup against New Mexico United. This game represents an opportunity for Las Vegas to show what they’re made of against the team that is currently in first place of USL Championship’s Western Conference.
“It means everything for us,” said Lights FC midfielder Mobi Fehr. “We’re playing at home and it’s time to prove ourselves that we can play and we can beat teams that are in the top half of the table. It’s a great opportunity for us for sure.”
Following recent results, Eric Wynalda promised changes on the team roster and it began with the inclusion of Canadian National Team veteran Dejan Jakovic, who arrived via a loan from MLS side LAFC. Jakovic made his debut last week with Las Vegas in its 1-1 draw against Orange County SC.
“Dejan has had enough time to really figure out his surroundings, he knows what’s to the right of him and to the left of him now,” stated Wynalda. “It’s difficult to come into the team on Thursday and then jump right into the starting lineup and play as well as he did on Saturday, I’m really happy with that.”
Lights FC players have a sense of urgency with the season almost being halfway through, especially with how results haven’t come as of late. Making this match against New Mexico an even more important one.
“We all want to show the whole league that we can play because we have a lot of talent here,” said Lights FC midfielder Junior Sandoval. “There are experienced guys, players with talent that are growing as pros and all we have to do is keep improving, the results will come and I think we can get the best out of New Mexico.”
RIVAL DEL SÁBADO: NEW MEXICO UNITED
New Mexico United is one of seven expansion franchises that made their debut in the 2019 USL Championship season, where they’re currently in the top of the Western Conference standings with 25 points. Their match in Las Vegas is their second of a six-game road trip, which began on Wednesday night when they upset MLS side Colorado Rapids in penalty kicks during the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup after finishing regulation and extra time tied 2-2.
United’s Troy Lesesne was voted the USL Championship’s Coach of the Month for May after leading the club to an undefeated month that saw his team win three of its four regular-season games. This is his first job as a head coach after being an assistant with USL squads Charleston Battery and Charlotte Independence.
Kevaughn Frater leads the league with 10 goals, followed closely by his teammate Santi Moar who has scored nine times this year. The 19 combined goals between Frater and Moar match or surpass the number of goals scored by 20 of the other 35 teams in USL Championship besides New Mexico, who is tied with Phoenix Rising for the highest scoring offense in the league with 31 goals.
Cody Mizell has been the starting goalkeeper for New Mexico in each of its games this year, leading the Western Conference by racking up 46 saves. He comes into Cashman Field riding the high of defeating a MLS team in penalty kicks on Wednesday night in Colorado.
NOTAS DEL LIGHTS FC DE CARA AL PARTIDO DEL SÁBADO:
DOMINIO DEL HOGAR
Lights FC didn’t get their fourth league win at home until their ninth match at Cashman Field in 2018, this year it only took them 5 games to get to that mark. Las Vegas surpassed their longest undefeated streak at Cashman Field from their inaugural year with 7 consecutive USL Championship games without losing at home in 2019.
Las Vegas is one of three Western Conference teams in USL Championship that remain undefeated at home in 2019. Lights FC has the highest efficiency in the West while playing at their stadium with a record of 4 wins, 3 draws and no losses (71.4% efficiency).
THOMAS OLSEN
The Las Vegas-born & raised goalkeeper is tied for second-best in USL Championship with six clean sheets, which is two more than the number of times Lights FC shutout their opponents in a total of 38 games in 2018. ‘TKO’ hasn’t allowed a goal in five of the seven regular-season matches that Las Vegas has hosted in the 2019 season.
Olsen has had streaks of 368 and 180 minutes without conceding a goal at Cashman Field this year.
DEJAN JAKOVIC
Having 41 caps with the Canadian National Team and more than 100 Major League Soccer appearances, Dejan Jakovic brings experience and leadership to Lights FC’s defensive line. He arrived in Las Vegas via a loan from MLS side Los Angeles FC (LAFC).
Dejan made his debut with Lights FC on June 8 against Orange County SC, 2 days after joining the team’s practice sessions. Jakovic was a starter and played the full 90 minutes.
JOSE VILLARREAL
He’s only 25 years old, but Jose Villarreal is an MLS veteran as he made his debut with L.A. Galaxy in July 2012. He signed a Homegrown Player contract with Los Angeles, winning the MLS Cup title twice in his time with them.
Villarreal was traded to Orlando City for the 2018 season and signed with Lights FC as a free agent in the final week of May. Less than 48 hours after his first practice with Las Vegas, “Chepe” made his debut with the team in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup where he was used as a substitute and he served an assist against Orange County FC. He has played in both USL Championship matches since, as a starter on the road against Reno and as a substitute at home against Orange County SC.
INFORME NO DISPONIBLE
Irvin Parra – OUT – Suspension
Sammy Ochoa – Excused Absence
Bryan de la Fuente – OUT – Lower Body Injury
HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S MATCH VS. NEW MEXICO UNITED:
** The “Summer of Soccer” delivered by Zappos continues at Cashman Field, featuring the lowest priced tickets in club history! Tickets for the next 5 home matches up to August 24 starting at only $10 courtesy of the Terrible Herbst’s Ten Buck Tixs, giving everyone in the Valley the opportunity to enjoy Lights FC pro soccer in Downtown Las Vegas.
** El partido del sábado comienza a las 7:30 p.m., hora de inicio para todos los partidos de temporada regular en casa del Lights FC en 2019. Para la compra de boletos en el lugar en Cashman Field, tanto la taquilla como will call abren a las 2:00 p.m. el día del partido. Los boletos están disponibles enLightsFC.com/Tix y en todos los Supermercados La Bonita de Las Vegas.
** La Zappos Tailgate Party comienza a las 5:30 p.m. en la plaza del Cashman Field, donde los aficionados podrán disfrutar de ofertas en cerveza, juegos para adultos y niños, música, las llamas Zappos Dottie y Dollie, mercancía del Lights FC y mucho más.
**La Pitchside Pool Party cuenta con varias "piscinas" situadas junto al terreno de juego para que los aficionados estén lo más cerca posible de la acción. El alquiler de cada piscina tiene un precio de 50 dólares y se puede reservar en LightsFC.com/PoolPartyllamando al 702-728-GOAL o visitando la cabina de servicios para invitados de Lights FC en Cashman Field los días de partido.
** Los aficionados mayores de 21 años tendrán la oportunidad de disfrutar de nuevas ofertas de bebidas durante el Verano del Fútbol. Habrá chupitos de tequila Los Altos a un precio especial de 2 $ y Waldo's a 5 $ en todos los bares del Cashman Field. Inventado por el gerente del Lights FC, Eric Wynalda, un "Waldo" contiene Jarritos de cualquier sabor (la preferencia de Wynalda es Mandarina y Toronja) y Tequila Los Altos.
** La recogida de credenciales de los medios de comunicación comenzará a las 16.30 h. Las credenciales pueden recogerse en el mostrador de atención a los medios de comunicación, situado en la Puerta Zappos. Para cualquier otra consulta relacionada con los medios de comunicación, visite nuestro Centro de Prensa.
** La fiesta no termina al final de la acción en el campo. Después de cada partido en casa del Lights FC, Two Roots Brewing y Zappos organizarán la fiesta posterior al partido "Happier Hour" en el restaurante Club Level de Cashman Field. Los jugadores del equipo y el entrenador Eric Wynalda harán una aparición en la fiesta que está abierta a los aficionados de todas las edades que asistan a Cashman Field.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN TO LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC VS. NEW MEXICO UNITED:
Los aficionados de Las Vegas Lights FC podrán seguir cada partido de la temporada 2019 de la USL Championship a través de los medios de comunicación nacionales y locales.
El partido del sábado (7:30 p.m. kickoff) será transmitido localmente en MyLVTV con los locutores Jeff Radcliffe y Tom Traxler anunciando la acción.
El partido también se retransmitirá por ESPN+mientras que la transmisión de radio en español con Álvaro Puentes y Alejandro Romo en la llamada se puede escuchar en ESPN Deportes 1460 AM y en línea en LVSportsNetwork.com.ï "¿