The Tampa Bay Rowdies defeated the Las Vegas Lights 1-0 on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., behind a late goal from Cal Jennings.
It was an inauspicious start for Vegas, as attacker Gaoussou Samaké went down injured inside of two minutes and was replaced by Solomon Asante.
The best chance of the first half fell to Valentin Noël in the 29th minute when Asante whipped a cross in that skipped across the front of goal, but Noël’s redirected effort went over the bar from a few yards out.
The Rowdies controlled much of the first half but didn’t force Vegas goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena into a save until the 32nd minute when Lewis Hilton fired a shot from outside the box.
The Rowdies nearly opened the scoring four minutes later when a one-timed shot from Blake Bodily on the left side of the box took a deflection and then ricocheted off the near post before bouncing away to safety.
Jennings got in behind in the 57th minute and dropped a pass for Pacifique Niyongabire, but his shot from the top of the box was right at Arozarena.
Asante had a decent chance in the 63rd minute when he struck a half-volley from 18 yards out, but it went over the bar.
Vegas had a great opportunity in the 77th minute when Joe Hafferty had a shot destined for the far post, but Aarón Guillén cleared it off the line.
One minute later, Gennaro Nigro chipped goalkeeper Jordan Farr, but his shot clanged off the crossbar.
Tampa Bay nearly scored in the 83rd minute when Jennings drove to the goal line and played a ball back for Damian Rivera, but his first-timed effort from six yards out missed wide of the far post.
Jennings found the breakthrough in the 85th minute when he cut inside at the top of the box then slid a shot across his body that snuck inside the near post. The goal was Jennings’s eighth of the season, which is tied for second in the USL Championship.
Rivera had another great chance in the third minute of stoppage time, but his close-range effort was saved by Arozarena.
TRES CONCLUSIONES
Tough ending
After keeping Tampa Bay off the scoresheet for 85 minutes, the dam finally broke for Vegas, which was unable to earn its fourth clean sheet of the season. The Lights will feel hard done leaving Florida without a point especially after some of the opportunities they had on the attacking end.
Injury concerns
The Lights lost Samaké and Maliek Howell to injuries on either side of halftime, exacerbated by Samaké’s exit just minutes into the match.
Phoenix awaits
The Lights will return to Las Vegas to host Phoenix Rising FC next Saturday at Cashman Field (7:30 p.m. PT | TICKETS).
SCORING SUMMARY
TB – Cal Jennings 85’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Gennaro Nigro (caution) 31’
TB – Eddie Munjoma (caution) 56’
LV – Shawn Smart (caution) 68’
LV – Edison Azcona (caution) 71’
TB – Nathan Worth (caution 81’)
ALINEACIONES Y ESTADÍSTICAS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena; Joe Hafferty, Maliek Howell (Fabien Garcia 61’), Emrah Klimenta, Gennaro Nigro; Shawn Smart, J.C. Ngando, Charlie Adams (Zander Romero 88’), Gaoussou Samaké (Solomon Asante 5’); Valentin Noël, Edison Azcona (Khori Bennett 88’)
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Ammeter, Hayden Sargis, Ali Gue
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 8
Corner kicks: 3
Offside: 2
Saves: 5
Tampa Bay Rowdies – Jordan Farr; Aarón Guillén, Jordan Doherty, Eddie Munjoma (Nick Moon 61’); Pacifique Niyongabire, Blake Bodily, Danny Crisostomo (Charlie Dennis 61’), Josh Pérez (Damian Rivera 53’), Lewis Hilton (Nathan Worth 61’); Manuel Arteaga (Leo Fernandes 76’), Cal Jennings
Substitutes not used: Phil Breno, Freddy Kleemann, Joey Dezart, Cristian Ortiz
Total shots: 20
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 12
Corner kicks: 6
Offside: 3
Saves: 1
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