Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Las Vegas Lights FC

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Chattanooga Red Wolves win historic PK shootout over Las Vegas Lights

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Players from Chattanooga Red Wolves (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights
Players from Chattanooga Red Wolves (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights

The Chattanooga Red Wolves won an instant US Open Cup Classic at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, NV Wednesday night. 

The Red Wolves were victorious 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, following a back and forth game that included two penalty kicks in regulation, eight yellow cards, and 30 minutes of extra time. It was the third straight game that saw the Red Wolves advance by penalty kicks. It marks the first time in the tournament’s Modern Era that a team has not only played in three straight shootouts, but won all three.  

The Chattanooga Red Wolves got on the board first thanks to a 19th minute goal from striker Zahir Vazquez, who was able to split the Lights defense after being teed up by Kimball Jackson. It was Jackson who received a long ball in the corner of the field and passed it back up top to an unmarked Vazquez to give the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead. 

The Lights answered back right before the halftime whistle after a hard tackle in the box on Lights winger Edison Azcona drew a call for a penalty kick, and Azcona took the shot himself, lobbing it straight down the middle and beating a diving Ricardo Jerez Jr. to tie the game at 1-1. 

The teams went into the halftime break tied, but also carried four first half yellow cards into the locker room from what was a chippy, foul-filled affair. 

The draw did not last long as just three minutes into the second half Chattanooga earned a penalty kick of their own after a foul on midfielder Pedro Hernandez. Just as Azcona did in the first half, Hernandez took the penalty himself, lasering a shot to the bottom left corner and restoring the Red Wolves’ lead 2-1. 

The Lights searched unsuccessfully for an equalizer until bringing on Christian Pinzon in the 58th minute. He wasted no time making an impact on the game, uncorking an arching shot from outside the box that screamed past the goalkeeper and tied the game 2-2. 

The game remained locked in a stalemate past the full time whistle, and with the neon signs of Las Vegas shining in the background, the teams battled for another thirty scoreless minutes of extra time before the Red Wolves emerged victorious in a penalty shootout. 

After the match, Chattanooga manager Scott Mackenzie said of his team, “We knew once we went into extra time that we were winning the game … They weren’t beating us on penalties. Because that’s about mental toughness, and no one is tougher than this group.”

Mackenzie’s Red Wolves will move on to the Fourth Round (Round of 32) for the first time in club history and will take on a Major League Soccer team for the first time. In league play, they have a quick turnaround before playing Greenville Triumph SC in Chattanooga on Saturday, their third game in eight days. 

Meanwhile the Las Vegas Lights look to regroup at home this Saturday against FC Tulsa in their next USL Championship matchup. 

 

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Kei Kamara’s first LAFC goal sparks 3-1 road win over Las Vegas Lights

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Kei Kamara celebrates his first goal with LAFC in a Fourth Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup against Las Vegas Lights FC. Photo: Los Angeles FC
Kei Kamara celebrates his first goal with LAFC in a Fourth Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup against Las Vegas Lights FC. Photo: Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles FC defeated the Las Vegas Lights 3-1 on Wednesday night to earn a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Despite a heavily defensive performance in the first half from the Las Vegas Lights which kept out LAFC, early into the second half, LAFC broke the deadlock with a header by Kei Kamara. However the Lights quickly equalized with a header by Shawn Smart. But the Light’s celebrations were short lived as in the 71st minute, Christian Olivera gave LAFC the lead again and put them 2-1 up. Finally in the closing minutes, Olivera scored a second to secure a 3-1 victory for LAFC and a spot in the Fifth Round of the US Open Cup.

LAFC’s Ilie Sanchez talked about what it was like playing the game against the Las Vegas Lights after the game.

“In a tough place to play and against good opponents, also credit to their fans that were pushing for their team for ninety plus minutes, so not an easy game that we were able to move forward,” said Sanchez.

In the 7th minute of the game, LAFC would get the first scoring opportunity as Luis Müller ran down the middle before playing Omar Campos a through ball to put him one on one. As Omar struck a low right shot, it was saved by Nicholas Ammeter with his left leg.

Three minutes later, Campos would get another chance as a cross from Denis Bouanga found Campos on the wing with a chance to score, but as he shot, Smart made an excellent slide tackle to block the shot.

In the 24th minute, as an LAFC corner was cleared by the Lights defense, the ball came to Sergi Palencia who struck a low power shot from outside the 18 yard box towards the near post however it was caught by Ammeter who dived to the rescue. 

In the 33rd minute, the Lights would get their first chance Gaoussou Samaké played a ball to Coleman Gannon who had a right footed shot from outside the box but missed it wide.

Just a minute later, Érik Duenas played Bouanga in the box for a right footed shot that was blocked by the Lights defense.

 Straight into the second half, a shot by Campos was denied by Ammeter.

A minute later, Timothy Tillman played a beautiful cross from a corner kick finding Kamara as he headed the ball into the bottom left corner, breaking the deadlock and putting LAFC 1-0 up.

In the 51st minute, Eduard Atuesta played a ball to Bouanga whose shot was denied by Ammeter.

In the 56th minute, a corner from the lights would take a deflection from Edison Azcona straight towards Smart who headed the ball into the right side of the net and equalized the game 1-1. 

Three minutes later, Kamara would get a header right in front of goal however Ammeter opened up and made a crucial save keeping the game at 1-1.

In the 71st minute, Campos would make a rapid run down the left wing before taking a left footed shot that was saved by Ammeter however the rebound went to Olivera who put the ball in the back of the net and gave LAFC the lead again at 2-1.

In the 75th, Bouanga made a great run passing multiple Lights defenders before cutting into the middle and unleashing a powerful low shot at the far right corner but Ammeter made an excellent save by diving low and parrying the ball out with his left arm extended.

In the 80th minute, Solomon Asante would smash a powerful low shot that was blocked by Aaron Long.

However in the 91st minute, LAFC would secure the win as Long headed the ball to Olivera who put the ball away and set the score 3-1.

After the game, Sanchez also talked about the difference between playing the US Open Cup and a typical MLS game.

“I think it’s kind of the same vibe for the players but a different vibe for the fans,” said Sanchez. “I think that our fans understand very well whats to be part of the LAFC organization and that we don’t take for granted games and we try to win every single game, every single trophy we fight for. Teams like Las Vegas Lights came with everything they had. It’s the kind of tournament where if an MLS team doesn’t take it seriously, can struggle and we didn’t let that happen.”

2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Las Vegas Lights overcome stunning equalizer, beat Spokane Velocity in OT, 2-1

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Photo: Las Vegas Lights FC

Las Vegas Lights defeated Spokane Velocity FC 2-1 in a thrilling matchup for a spot in the Fourth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. 

The Lights had a dominant performance at their home Cashman Field with a total of 23 shots, with six on target, in comparison to visitors Velocity who only managed nine shots with two on target. The Lights would take the lead in the 51st minute with a beautiful right footed shot from Valentin Noel who slotted the ball past Velocity goalkeeper Peter Swinkels putting the Lights 1-0 up.

Just as the game seemed to be over for Velocity, Josh Dolling struck a rocket from outside the box, which despite Vegas goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena getting a hand to it, was not enough to keep it out as Velocity equalized 1-1.

However in the 113th minute of overtime, Riki Alba caught the ball on his left foot, placing it in the bottom left corner past Swinkels to seal the victory for Las Vegas.

After the victory, Lights player Solomon Asante spoke about how he felt after the victory.

“Fantastic you know?” said Asante. “I feel good. I feel so great. The Open Cup is never easy. It’s always difficult. So no matter what happens, the qualifiers are the most important and we are going forward and we are moving forward, that’s the most important thing.”.

In the 16th minute, Las Vegas Lights defender Valentin Noel received a yellow card after taking down Pierre Reedy as he headed towards goal for a Velocity freekick.

On the freekick, Ariel Mbumba shot it just high and wide of the goal.

Spokane’s Kimarni Smith broke away on a 1-v-1 in the 36th minute and attempted to play a ball across goal to one of his teammates, but it was cleared by the Lights defender Fabien Garcia for a corner kick.

On the corner kick, Velocity’s Jack Denton played a cross to Ahmed Longmire who headed the ball on target, however Lights defender Emra Klimenta cleared it away. 

Coming into the second half, J.C Ngando played a through ball to Riki Alba who struck the ball on goal but it was caught by Velocity goalkeeper Swinkels.

In the 51st minute, Solomon Asante was running down the right side and switched the ball to Noel who caught the ball on his right foot and slotted the ball in the bottom right corner past Swinkels putting the Lights 1-0 up.

In the 67th minute, Ngando played a ball from the right side across to Shawn Smart who struck a low ball with his right foot towards the center of goal, however it was caught by Swinkels.

In the last minute of the game, Velocity’s Josh Dolling played a ball to Andre Lewis who struck a rocket shot which Lights keeper Arozarena was able to get a hand to, however was not enough to keep it out as Velocity tied the game 1-1 for overtime.

In the 91st minute in overtime, Asante played a ball to Khori Bennett who unleashed a right footed low shot into the bottom left corner of goal, but was parried away by Swinkels who dove to the save.

In the 98th minute, Kilmenta gave the ball to Alba who struck a power shot at the right center of the goal but was caught by Swinkels.

In the 112th minute, Velocity’s Dolling ran down the field with the ball catching the Lights on the wrong foot, getting a one on one with the goalkeeper as he struck a ball to the bottom left corner, however Arozarena made a great extension dive to save the ball with his right hand.

In the 113th minute, Alba caught the ball with his left foot and sunk it into the bottom left corner putting the Lights 2-1 up.

And with Velocity unable to find the net again, The Las Vegas Lights secured their spot in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

After the game, Las Vegas Lights coach Dennis Sanchez, gave his thoughts on how the team will continue to build momentum from this victory.

“We just gotta keep going.” Sanchez said. “We want to be competitive. Our objective is to make the playoffs. We ultimately want to play as many games as we can throughout the season. That means we’re making a run in the playoffs, that means we’re making a run in Open Cup. So we’re just going to continue one game at a time. Build our identity. Build the winning culture that we want.”

This victory is history in the making for the Lights as it is the first time in their history that they have made it to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup.

“I think that any time we can continue to break barriers and build upon the identity and new era we’re having here, it’s a great opportunity for the club.” said Sanchez.

2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Las Vegas Lights cruise into Round 3 with 4-0 win vs. LA Force

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Andre Zuluaga of the Las Vegas Lights makes a save against LA Force in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights
Andre Zuluaga of the Las Vegas Lights makes a save against LA Force in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights

Las Vegas Lights FC didn’t need any luck on Wednesday night, as the USL Championship club easily defeated LA Force FC (NISA) 4-0 in the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

It was the third time in the team’s four US Open Cup appearances that they have won their opening game, but the first time they had defeated a professional opponent.

The game was played at Peter Johann Soccer Field on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) and fans of the home team didn’t have to wait long for the deadlock to be broken.

In the 16th minute, Azriel González lined up for a direct kick from the middle of the 18-yard box.  With the ball nearly resting on the chalk, González unleashed an absolute rocket directly into the lower left corner of the goal.  Cooly taken and cooly celebrated, the Las Vegas Lights were only getting started with their rout.

Less than ten minutes later, it was González again with the goal production. In the 23rd minute, he was able to get in behind the LA Force defense and slot the ball home to double the lead.  González would finish the match with a brace, but continued to threaten the goal every chance he could. His brace would also prove to be his first goals for the club across all competitions.

In the 37th minute, Justin Ingram used a magnificent one-touch shot to hammer the ball into the back of the net.  Ingram received a great set-up pass from Zach Carroll and left no doubt behind the shot. The goal was Ingram’s first goal for the Lights across all competitions, as well as Carroll collecting his first assist of the calendar year. The two sides would go to halftime with the Lights leading 3-0.

The second half seemed to echo the first half, but Las Vegas would wait until the 64th minute to extend their lead by another goal. Pablo Soares was able to connect with Erick Torres, who took a shot from the center of the box and placed the ball in the center of the net, too. Torres collected his first goal for the Lights this season and Soares earned his first assist of the season.  

Aside from the goal, the only other noteworthy event that took place in the second half was in the 55th minute when the Lights made three subs. The biggest was 2018 USL MVP Emmanuel Ledesma, who had been recently been signed by the club. He won the league MVP as a member of FC Cincinnati, a year before their move to Major League Soccer. After leaving Cincinnati, he played for a club in Finland (SJK), came back stateside to play with Indy Eleven (USL Championship) in 2021 before signing with Chilean club Barnechea.

With the result in hand, the Lights would play the remaining half hour without an additional goal, but would .  The win proved to be the first time the Lights advanced to the Third Round for the first time since 2019.

Lights goalkeeper Andre Zuluaga made his debut for the club, earning a clean sheet in his first career US Open Cup game.

For the LA Force it was the club’s second loss in as many US Open Cup game in club’s professional team history (their USL League Two team qualified three times from 2017-19). Both losses came on the road against USL Championship teams (last year, they lost at Orange County SC)

In the Third Round draw for the US Open Cup, Las Vegas learned that they will be hosting MLS club Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, April 26.  Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Tucson earns first win as pro team, 3-2 over Las Vegas Lights

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Tyler Allen FC Tucson Las Vegas Lights 2022 US Open Cup
Tyler Allen scores what would prove to be the game-winning goal for FC Tucson in a 3-2 win over the Las Vegas Lights in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tucson

USL League One side FC Tucson beat USL Championship team Las Vegas Lights 3-2. All but one goal was scored in the second half in the match at Tucson’s Kino North Stadium.

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For FC Tucson, they were making their first appearance in the tournament as a professional team after previously qualifying five times (and eliminating two pro teams) as a member of USL League Two. It was the club’s first Open Cup win since 2018.

Las Vegas’ offensive trio of Daniel Trejo, Danny Musovsky and Cal Jennings were left off the starting roster. FC Tucson’s Kaelon Fox and Deri Corfe were out with injuries.

Los Tucsonenses had the lion’s share of possession, but Las Vegas kept them hemmed in. FC Tucson keeper Carlos Merancio had a couple of big saves that helped keep the teams level at zero goals until the final moments of the first half.

In minute 45, FC Tucson’s Daniel Bedoya launched a corner kick into the box that eventually found the head of Luca Mastrantonio. He settled the ball at the foot of Austrian-born winger Jacob Crull. He poked it past Lights keeper Abraham Romero to open the scoring as the first half ended.

Mohammed Traore evened it up for Las Vegas in minute 66. The lead was short lived as FC Tucson kept threatening goal and earning corner kicks with, it seemed, every sally up field. Daniel Bedoya’s 71st minute corner was a near Olimpico, as his kick ended up in the back of the net after the otherwise strong Romero bobbled the ball.

Tyler Adams extended the lead in the 77th minute with an oblique rocket that ended up at the top of the goal. It should have locked the game down right there, but with Traore on the field and a late substitution by league leading scorer Daniel Trejo, two goals wasn’t necessarily a safe lead.

An 80th minute shot from Daniel Christomo caught Merancio off guard with a bit of marksmanship from the edge of the box. Tying it up was tantalizingly close, but the Lights weren’t able to do it.

Often a lower division will score a lucky goal against an upper division team and sit on the lead to earn a “cupset.” That wasn’t the way FC Tucson chose to play.

“We never really had the mindset to sit back and absorb pressure,” said Jacob Crull after the match. “Not having that mindset allowed us to score three goals.”

FC Tucson moves on to the next round and will possibly face Phoenix Rising FC, who owned the team from 2017-2021. The draw will be announced on Friday at Noon ET.

2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Paul Caligiuri’s Orange County FC “shock the world” in 5-goal-flush upset of Las Vegas Lights

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Orange County FC celebrate in the locker room after the club's 5-3 upset win over Las Vegas Lights FC in the Third Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Orange County FC
Orange County FC celebrate in the locker room after the club’s 5-3 upset win over Las Vegas Lights FC in the Third Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Orange County FC

With the game tied 3-3 heading into the 89th minute and after seeing his team give up a two-goal lead while holding a man advantage, Blake Frischknecht put himself in the front of the net as Cody Shelton’s cross came from the right side. The ball bounced as it approached him while one of his teammates fell to the ground directly in front of him. The Las Vegas native focused and lifted his right leg just enough to redirect the ball past a diving Angel Alvarez and earned his team their second lead of the night.

After one final insurance tap-in by Oscar Flores in stoppage time, the full-time whistle blew sending National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) side Orange County FC to the Fourth Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup over the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship, 5-3.

The cherry on top is that Frischknecht had tried out for the Lights not long after the organization began fielding a team. Instead of sticking around to play under head coach Eric Wynalda he chose to return to NCAA Division I play at Utah Valley and pursue opportunities in the NPSL and USL League Two.

Including OCFC’s Second Round win over Orange County SC (no relation) two weeks ago, this is the first time any NPSL team has ever beaten two professional sides in a single Open Cup tournament and also the first time any team from the league has taken home the prize money for advancing the farthest from the Open Division. Wednesday night’s win, combined with the loss by North Carolina FC’s win over the Florida Soccer Soldiers, OCFC earned $25,000.

These two goals came after a two-goal second half comeback from the Lights who were looking to advance into the Fourth Round for the first time in its two-year history. The team, which was also eliminated by an Open Division entrant last season when it fell to USL League Two side FC Golden State Force, scored the late game equalizer when Junior Sandoval stepped up and converted a free kick attempt. Preys dove to stop the kick as it rocketed from the right side but the bullet smashed into the far post with five minutes left before stoppage time.

Players from Orange County FC (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Lucas Peltier | IG: lucaskpeltier
Players from Orange County FC (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Lucas Peltier | IG: lucaskpeltier

The game got started in the right direction for Orange County when they got on the board in the sixth minute. Shelton silenced a majority of the 2,378 in attendance when he converted Peter Gregory’s header into a goal for his second of the tournament. His header from the center of the penalty area found the top right corner before Alvarez could react.

For a team that played a very defensive strategy against its Orange County counterpart in the previous round, the team pushed up and played hard against Vegas. Multiple chances early on and pace moving across both ends of the field saw both teams stretching their legs and passes. One pass by the Light’s Mobi Fehr was critical in the 16th minute as his pass back towards Alvarez caught the keeper out of place before trickling in for an own goal, giving OCFC the two score lead.

Shelton believes their opponents didn’t take the game or them seriously which allowed his teammates to come out at full strength and take advantage.

“Las Vegas didn’t want to work,” Shelton said after the match. “ grabbed our hard hats and lunch pails and went to work and did what we knew we would.”

Paul Caligiuri Orange County FC vs. Eric Wynalda Las Vegas Lights Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

Coming into the match, OCFC head coach and former U.S. Men’s National team star Paul Caligiuri made it clear in an open declaration that his team was not the favorite in this match. But the man who helped the United States qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years back in 1994 told announcers Bobby Warshaw and David Gass his team had something of their own to do.

“We’re gonna shock the world and we’re going to win the hearts of America when we knock off Eric Wynalda and the Las Vegas Lights,” he said prior to Wednesday night’s match.

The Lights worked enough to earn themselves a penalty kick not long after the error when a throw pass to Santiago Echavarría into the OCFC box brought a challenge from Rayan Holland that resulted in a foul. Echavarría converted in the 23rd and brought his team’s deficit to one but the group couldn’t keep the pressure constant.

When they did bring a chance the young netminder David Preys, who made two saves in the penalty shootout in Round 2 that got his team to this game, came up with a stop in the first half.

Robert de Niro once said in the movie “Casino” that “In Vegas, everybody’s gotta watch everybody else.” That statement rang true in the 35th minute when a long goal kick by Preys found multiple OCFC heads before landing at the feet of Dakota Collins on the left side of the field all alone with a near clear lane to the LVL zone. He charged toward the net as the defense neared before smacking a straight shot off his left foot between Alvarez and the left goalpost.

After the match, Collins told TheCup.us that if his team kept on the offense throughout the game, the group knew what the end result would be.

Players from Orange County FC (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Lucas Peltier | IG: lucaskpeltier
Players from Orange County FC (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Lucas Peltier | IG: lucaskpeltier

“We just remained disciplined kept pushing to create chances and at the end of the day we always believed we would win,” Collins said. “We ended up scoring five goals and creating even more chances so we truly felt we also deserved the result.”

The OCFC strategy was best described as making the most of its chances even if they weren’t common. The NPSL team didn’t have the ball as much as Vegas did but realistically the amount of threatening possessions between the two wasn’t leaning towards the USL Championship side. With their team down by multiple goals, the Lights took a page from the Orange playbook and got on the board quickly when Edwin Rivas Jr. ripped a shot from beyond the 18 following a series of passes.

Echavarría sent the final set-up under pressure to the 20-year old Colombian national who tucked it into the lower right corner to once again put his team within one.

Multiple chances ensued for each side over the next 45. Echavarría headed a tying chances wide not long after his assist as the home team began to keep the ball in the opposite end for more extended periods of time.

The backline of Joshua Davis, John Holland, and Tekodah Lobsiger along with midfielder Aaron Lombardi all began to default back into the same style of play that worked against OCSC. The only difference being that their opponent this week lacked the same amount of clear chances on net.

Frischknecht nearly had a chance to seal it early as well in the 61st minute as he had a near break into the left side of the penalty area. Under pressure, his shot to the near post, not unlike the Rivasone prior, was blocked by a diving Alvarez to force an unsuccessful corner kick.

Orange County now moves on to face Zlatan Ibrahimović and the LA Galaxy, the same team Caligiuri played for in the early years of Major League Soccer, on the road as the sole remaining non-professional unit in the competition. For many players while the outcome was what they expected the chance is something they’ve only dreamed about.

“To earn the chance to play against an MLS team in this tournament is huge,” Collins said. “Every game becomes more special for our club and we are going to keep showing our work retain every game we play.”

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Las Vegas Lights shut out Cal FC in Eric Wynalda “Derby”

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Tabort Etaka Prestdon of the Las Vegas Lights dribbles the ball against the Cal FC defense in Tuesday's Second Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights
Tabort Etaka Prestdon of the Las Vegas Lights dribbles the ball against the Cal FC defense in Tuesday’s Second Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights

It was a small but rambunctious crowd on hand to see the hometown Las Vegas Lights FC defeat Cal FC 2-0 in Round 2 of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday night at Cashman Field in the Lights’ fourth home victory of the year.

Lights head coach Eric Wynalda’s former team put up a valiant fight, but an early 15th minute goal by Lights forward Sammy Ochoa, and an even quicker 50th minute goal by Victor Rojas proved too much for a scrappy Cal FC team to overcome.

Wynalda said he was happy with the Lights’ performance, and that he actually regretted having to play his former club so early in the tournament.

Las Vegas Lights Eric Wynalda
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

 

“It’s a ton of emotion, to be fair I would have rather played further along in the competition. I’m not saying it was unfair to them, we just know these guys really well … the fact that our guys have played against them in so many games, is an advantage for us,” said Wynalda, who also credited his own side’s versatility and the ability of his players to adapt and play out of position.

 

“We had guys playing for the first time for our club. We had guys playing multiple positions, multiple systems … to come out of it 2-0, our club is very proud of the work that we put into this,” he added. “The preparation, all of it, to get a result like this against a very good side, it is something to be proud of.”

The Lights controlled much of the early possession, creating chances until finally Edwin Rivas’s cross found Ochoa’s head to put the Lights up 1-0. Immediately after the goal, Cal appeared to find its footing in the game, and dominated most of the remainder of the first half.

It appeared as if Cal would equalize multiple times, but each attempt was thwarted by the Lights’ bend-but-don’t-break defense and the sure hands of goalkeeper Angel Alvarez, who earned a clean sheet in his first start of the season.

The teams went into the locker rooms at halftime with the Lights leading 1-0, but with Vegas very much on its back heel. However, halftime adjustments by Wynalda, including two substitutions (former Cal player Pablo Cruz and Junior Sandoval came on for Matt Thomas and Edwin Rivas, respectively) proved to be the boost the Lights needed to regain control of the game.

Rojas’s goal — his first as a member of the Lights — was the knockout punch that took Cal out of the game.

Tempers rose like the Vegas desert heat as the match neared its end, with each team earning a pair of second-half yellow cards. Cruz even nearly came to blows with Cal goalkeeper Kevin Marquez before things finally boiled over during stoppage time. Cal’s Victor Vasquez and Vegas’s Jonathan Levin had to be separated as well, and both were issued red cards just before the full-time whistle blew.

The Lights are now left with just two subs for their Round 3 match. The Lights bench is depleted due to players’ cup ties with previous teams, as well as injuries.

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