Las Vegas Lights FC U.S. Open Cup journey is cut short after a penalty kick shootout loss against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
The Las Vegas Lights battled hard but ultimately fell short in a dramatic U.S. Open Cup matchup against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Wednesday night at Cashman Field.
After a back-and-forth game that ended 2-2 in regulation, the Lights were unable to find a winner in overtime despite ratcheting up the pressure. Las Vegas had clawed back from two deficits during each half of regulation, with an Edison Azcona panenka penalty equalizing in the first half and an incredible Christian Pinzon strike from distance equalizing in the second half.
In the subsequent penalty shootout, Chattanooga edged out the Lights 4-3 in the shootout. Nicholas Ammeter made one save, but Christian Pinzon missed the frame and Gennaro Nigro’s final effort was saved to seal the Lights’ fate.
The loss brings Las Vegas’ 2024 U.S. Open Cup journey to a close.
Lo que dicen
FORWARD VALENTIN NOEL
Sobre su opinión general del partido...
We really wanted to go through and have a run in this Open Cup. Unfortunately, our journey ends quickly. Congrats to Chattanooga, too – they had a good plan, a game plan, they executed it and they converted on mistakes.
On moving forward from this match…
It hasn’t been an easy start of the season – now it comes down to looking at ourselves in the mirror and having some pride. It’s us on the field who are playing, so it comes down to us to figure out ourselves.
ENTRENADOR ANTONIO NOCERINO
Sobre su opinión general del partido...
I am not happy. I am not happy with the two goals [we conceded]. They’re stupid goals. Two stupid mistakes for the individual players. We work every day for these situations, you arrive at the game, and you [make a] mistake.
On how the team moves forward from this loss…
Now, it’s important to recharge the batteries. We have two days to prepare for the game against Tulsa. That’s it. We have to now understand who physically is okay and who has a little problem. Then, on Friday, we prepare for the game.
Resumen
Lights Starting XI: Ammeter (GK), Smart, Gartig, Howell (Singer, 46′), Nigro, Noel (c), Leal (Pearson, 66′), Peeters (O’Driscoll, 66′), Azcona (Gannon, 101′), Gyau, Pickering (Pinzon, 58′)
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Starting XI: Jerez(GK) (c), Green, Jackson (Ayimbila, 66′), Watters, Kinzner, Jnohope (Ramos, 66′), Knapp (Rodrigues, 91′), Gomez (Morris 46′), Hernandez, Alhassan (Bentley, 75′), Vazquez (Hernandez, 765)
Shutler (GK),
Objetivos:
CHA – Vazquez – 19′
LVFC – Azcona – 72’
CHA – Hernandez – 46′
LVFC – Pinzon – 62’
Disciplina:
CHA – Yellow, Jnohope – 34’
CHA – Yellow, Alhassan – 36’
LVFC –Yellow, Gyau – 39’
CHA – Yellow, Gomez – 45+1′
CHA – Yellow, Ayimbila – 72’
LVFC –Yellow, Azcona – 72’
CHA – Yellow, Morris – 85′
CHA – Yellow, Hernandez – 86’
Siguiente
The Lights return to Cashman Field this Saturday, April 19, for a showdown against FC Tulsa. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. for Canines at Cashman Night — fans can bring their dogs out for a night of soccer, $1 hot dogs, and a special bandana giveaway.