Las Vegas Lights FC

2020 season
General manager	Brett Lashbrook
Head coach	Eric Wynalda (until June 17, 2020) Frank Yallop (June 29-present)
Stadium	Cashman Field
USL	Group B: 5th Western Conf.: 15th
USL Cup Playoffs	Did not qualify
U.S. Open Cup	Cancelled
Silver State Cup	Runner-Up
Top goalscorer	League: Yamikani Chester All: Yamikani Chester
Biggest win	LV 3–1 TAC (August 19) LV 3–1 OC (August 25)
Biggest defeat	PHX 5–1 LV (September 11)
Home colors Away colors
←  2019 2021 →

The 2020 Las Vegas Lights FC season was the club's third season, and their third season in the United Soccer League Championship (USLC), the second division of American soccer. This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USLC Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020. ^[1]

Summary

The Las Vegas Lights played their first match of the USL Season against USL expansion side San Diego Loyal, who were making their USL debut. The Las Vegas Lights opened the scoring when Junior Burgos scored a fantastic 40-yard effort in off the crossbar, the USL Goal of the Week and a possible USL Goal of the Year contender. San Diego Loyal soon equalized in the 15th minute when a Charles Adams shot took a deflection of a Las Vegas defender and went in past Delgado. ^[2]

After the season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lights had poor losing performances in a 2–1 loss to San Diego Loyal and 1–0 loss to in-state rivals Reno 1868 FC. Because of positive COVID-19 cases, matches against San Diego Loyal and Tacoma Defiance were delayed. The club lost 1-0 again to Orange County SC, with both goalies making important saves. Las Vegas finally won their first match of the season against Tacoma Defiance, 3–1. Burgos opened the scoring through a far shot that deflected of Taylor Mueller in the 19th minute. The Lights then doubled their lead after a center by Yamikani Chester was tapped in by Rashawn Dally. Later in the match, Junior Sandoval scored after being assisted by Blake Frischknecht. In the 84th minute, Azriel Gonzalez got a goal back that squeezed through Lights keeper Thomas Olsen. ^[3]

The club continued their run of form with a 3–3 draw against first place in Group B Phoenix Rising FC. Phoenix scored early through a shot by Rufat Dadashov, assisted by Solomon Asante. Lights keeper Edward Delgado made several decisive saves against Junior Flemmings, but Flemmings scored in the 68th minute from a lob. The Las Vegas Lights got a goal back from Chester, and soon after Junior Burgos hit the crossbar from a free kick. In the 90th minute Solomon Asante converted a penalty. The Las Vegas Lights then scored in stoppage time as a header by Chester hit of A. J. Cochran for an own goal. The club then equalized after a deflected free kick came to Ramon Martin Del Campo. ^[4]

After the Phoenix draw, Vegas went down 1–0 to Orange County after a penalty converted by Aodhan Quinn. Las Vegas soon equalized after Del Campo scored from a corner. Substitute Frischknecht then scored a low shot assisted by Dally, before Junior Sandoval added gloss to the win in stoppage-time, making it 3–1. The Las Vegas Lights then lost a closely contested 4-3 thriller against LA Galaxy II, with lights player Raul Mendiola hitting the post in stoppage time. After a 1–1 draw with San Diego loyal (in which Blake Frischknecht scored his 4th goal or assist in 3 games) the club lost 2–0 to Phoenix Rising at home. In the away match, they lost 5–1, their worst result of their season to date. The Lights then lost a 2-goal lead against LA Galaxy II and ended up losing 3–2, with Augustine Williams netting a late penalty. ^[5]

Las Vegas were eliminated from the play-offs after a 1–0 loss to Orange County SC, in which Mobi Fehr and Seth Moses being sent off. After San Diego Loyal beat Phoenix Rising 3–2, the lights could not finish above fifth. Vegas then had a 2–2 draw with La Galaxy II. Sandoval scored after collecting a long ball from Jordan Murrell. LA Galaxy turned the game around with two quick goals in the 71st and 81st minute. In stoppage-time, Dally equalized after some good dribbling by José Carrera García. ^[6] Las Vegas then played rivals Reno 1868. The lights took the lead early through Junior Burgos but soon Reno equalized from Foster Langsdorf. The lights scored again from Yamikani Chester but Reno equalized soon after again from Kevin Partida. The score finished 2-2 and Reno won the Silver State Cup. The lights lost the final match of the season 4–2 to Orange County. Fans were permitted for the match, at limited capacity. ^[7]

Squad

As of September 28, 2020 ^[8]

No.	Position	Player	Nation
0	GK	Edward Delgado	United States
1	GK	Thomas Olsen	United States
2	DF	Ramon Martin Del Campo	Mexico
3	DF	Johnny Fenwick	England
4	DF	Gabe Robinson	United States
5	DF	Javan Torre	United States
6	MF	Mobi Fehr	United States
7	MF	Junior Sandoval	Honduras
8	MF	José Carrera	Mexico
9	FW	Blake Frischknecht	United States
10	MF	Junior Burgos	El Salvador
11	FW	Yamikani Chester	Malawi
12	DF	Jordan Murrell	Canada
14	MF	Bryan de la Fuente	United States
15	MF	Grant Robinson	United States
17	DF	Jaiden Waggoner	United States
20	DF	Noah Billingsley (on loan from Minnesota United FC)	New Zealand
22	FW	Seku Conneh	Liberia
23	MF	Alex Culwell	United States
25	FW	Quincy Amarikwa	United States
29	FW	Santiago Echavarría	Colombia
32	MF	Jonathan Levin	Mexico
36	MF	Seth Moses	United States
40	FW	Raúl Mendiola	Mexico
58	GK	Angel Alvarez	United States
66	DF	Chancel Ndaye	Burundi
81	FW	Rashawn Dally (on loan from FC Cincinnati)	Jamaica

Competitions

Exhibitions

USL Championship

Standings — Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Qualification
1	Phoenix Rising FC	16	11	2	3	46	17	+29	35	2.19	Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2	LA Galaxy II	16	8	2	6	29	32	−3	26	1.63
3	Orange County SC	16	7	3	6	18	18	0	24	1.50
4	San Diego Loyal SC	16	6	5	5	17	18	−1	23	1.44
5	Las Vegas Lights FC	16	2	5	9	24	34	−10	11	0.69

Match results

On December 20, 2019, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule, creating the following fixture list for the early part of Las Vegas' season. ^[9]

In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of Las Vegas' schedule was announced on July 2. ^[10]

U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, Las Vegas will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9. ^[13]

References