Wikipedia

2024 Las Vegas Lights FC season

The 2024 Las Vegas Lights FC season is the club's seventh, and current, season, and their seventh season in the United Soccer League Championship (USLC), the second division of American soccer.

Las Vegas Lights FC
2024 season
Principal OwnerJosé Bautista
Head coachDennis Sanchez
StadiumCashman Field
USLWestern Conference: 4th
USL Cup PlayoffsTBD
U.S. Open CupRound of 32
← 2023
2025 →

During the offseason, the Lights underwent some massive changes. On January 16, the Lights were bought out by an ownership group managed by former Major League Baseball player José Bautista.[1][2][3] Additionally, the Lights hired a new head coach less than two weeks later on January 29, hiring Dennis Sanchez,[4] a former assistant coach for MLS Next club Austin FC II.[5][6]

Squad

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Roster

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As of July 12, 2024[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   SUI Nicholas Ammeter
3 DF   USA Hayden Sargis (on loan from D.C. United)
6 MF   ENG Charlie Adams
7 MF   USA Joe Gyau
9 FW   DOM Riki Alba
10 FW   DOM Edison Azcona
11 MF   USA Coleman Gannon
13 MF   USA Giovanni Aguilar
14 FW   GHA Solomon Asante
20 DF   USA Shawn Smart
21 DF   MNE Emrah Klimenta
22 DF   USA Joe Hafferty
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF   JAM Maliek Howell
26 MF   CMR J.C. Ngando (on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps)
27 MF   FRA Valentin Noël
29 MF   USA Christian Pinzón
31 GK   USA Austin Wormell
33 DF   USA Gennaro Nigro
56 GK   CUB Raiko Arozarena
72 DF   CIV Gaoussou Samaké
77 MF   SLV Alexander Romero ([A])
79 MF   HAI All Gue ([A])
90 FW   JAM Khori Bennett
  1. ^
    USL Academy contract
    2.

Staff

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Title Name Nation
Owner José Bautista   Dominican Republic
Sporting director Gianleonardo Neglia   Italy[8]
Head coach Dennis Sánchez   United States
Assistant coach Gerson Echeverry   Colombia
Assistant coach Ivan Mirkovic   Serbia
Goalkeeping coach Armando Quezada   United States

Competitions

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USL Championship

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Main article: 2024 USL Championship season

Standings

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
2 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (C) 34 15 12 7 48 40 +8 52 Playoffs
3 Memphis 901 FC 34 14 11 9 52 41 +11 51
4 Las Vegas Lights FC 34 13 10 11 49 46 +3 50
5 Sacramento Republic FC 34 13 11 10 46 34 +12 49
6 Orange County SC 34 13 14 7 38 45 −7 46
Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champions

Match results

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On December 18, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.[9]

All times are in Pacific Standard Time.

March
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March 9 1 Memphis 901 FC 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Memphis, Tennessee
1:00 PM Careaga   33'
Pickering   44'
Duncan   46'
Ward   80'		 Report Noël   22'
Azcona   40'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 3,290
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
March 16 2 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–3 FC Tulsa Las Vegas, Nevada
5:00 PM Alba   60'
Smart   85'
Berumen   90'+5'		 Report Stojanovic   11'   14'
Goodrum   25'
Yosef   56'
Worth   90'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,675
Referee: Brandon Stevis
March 23 3 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–0 El Paso Locomotive FC Las Vegas, Nevada
5:00 PM Garcia   33' (o.g.)
Ngando   36'
Smart   77'
Gue   90'+7'		 Report Hinds   32'
Stauffer   65'
Akinyode   67'
Dollenmayer   72'
Alfaro   78'
Zacarias   84'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,070
Referee: Thomas Snyder
March 30 4 Oakland Roots SC 0–3 Las Vegas Lights FC Hayward, California
7:00 PM Nije   20' Report Klimenta   30'
Gannon   46'
Samake   50'
Azcona   63'
Noël   66'   69'
Smart   76'
Nigro   90'+2'		 Stadium: Pioneer Stadium
Attendance: 2,812
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
April
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April 6 5 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–0 San Antonio FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Azcona   17'
Garcia   54'
Smart   56'		 Report Haakenson   38'
Silva   50'
Lambert   55'
Agudelo   76'
Taintor   77'
Lacey   90+6'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,436
Referee: Greg Dopka
April 13 6 Monterey Bay FC 3–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Seaside, California
7:00 PM
Report Samaké   45+1' Stadium: Cardinale Stadium
Attendance: 3,524
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
April 20 7 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–2 Rhode Island FC Las Vegas, NV
8:00 PM
Report
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,943
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
April 27 8 Charleston Battery 6–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
1:00 PM Markanich   4'   30'   37' (pen.)   49'
Myers   22'
Molloy   81'		 Report Arozarena   24'
Adams   45'+5'		 Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex
Attendance: 4,520
Referee: Joe Surgan
May
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May 4 9 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–2 New Mexico United Las Vegas, Nevada
6:30 PM Adams   23'
Samake   44'   72'
Gannon   65'
Kimenta   72'		 Report Bruce   13'   30'
Herbert   39'
Astorga   82'
Tabakis   89'
Dubois   90'+4'
Bailey   90'+4'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,061
Referee: Brad Jensen
May 11 10 San Antonio FC 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Antonio, Texas
6:00 PM Burks   38'
Marcina   45'
Chol   45+2'
Hernández   47'   48'
Lambert   82'		 Report Klimenta   13'
Nigro   45'
Noël   59'		 Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 7,218
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
May 18 11 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–2 Louisville City FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Noël   16'
Adams   36'
Smart   55'		 Report Davila   7'
Harris   48'
Adams   62'
Serrano   70'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,048
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
Assistant referees: Stephen McGonagle
Assistant referees: William Aten
Fourth official: Pavel Georgiev
May 25 12 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Las Vegas Lights FC St. Petersburg, Florida
4:30 PM Munjoma   56'
Worth   81'
Jennings   85'		 Report Nigro   31'
Smart   68'
Azcona   71'		 Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,753
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
June
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June 1 13 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–0 Phoenix Rising FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM
PHX Report
LVL Result
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,720
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
June 8 14 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–1 Miami FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM
Report
  • López   25'
  • Mujeeb Murana   65'
  • Michael Lawrence   87'
 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,748
Referee:   Lorenzo Hernandez
June 14 15 Loudoun United FC 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM McCabe   24'   52'
Ryan   45'+6'		 Report Gannon   2'
Bennett   36'
Howell   43'		 Stadium: Segra Field
Attendance: 3,580
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
June 18 16 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Las Vegas, Nevada
6:30 PM
Report Huerman   6'   22'
Santos   8'
Henríquez   31'
Lacroix   53'
Damus   89'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,339
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
June 22 17 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–1 Memphis 901 FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Adams   54'
Howell   74'
Bennett   80' (pen.)
Azcona   83'
Bennett   90'		 Report Lapa   43'   90'+3'
Hyndman   62'
Paul   63'
Fernando   69'
Careaga   72'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,657
Referee: Trevor Wiseman
June 29 18 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Las Vegas, NV
7:30 PM Bennett   26'   40'  87'
Romero   90'+1'		 Report Osumanu   14' Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,893
Referee: John Griggs
July
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July 3 19 Sacramento Republic FC 0–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Sacramento, California
7:30 PM Phillips   80'
Portillo   90'+4'		 Report Pinzon   10'
Ngando   70'
Arozarena   71'
Nigro   75'		 Stadium: Heart Health Park
Attendance: 8,988
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
July 12 20 El Paso Locomotive FC 0–2 Las Vegas Lights FC El Paso, Texas
7:30 PM Craig   2'
Borelli   59'		 Report Gannon   64'
Stauffer   83' (o.g.)
Pinzón   89'		 Stadium: Southwest University Park
Attendance: 6,727
Referee: Servando Berna Rico
July 26 21 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Colorado Springs, Colorado
6:00 PM Fjeldberg   30'   45'+1'
Real   53'
Hanya   58'		 Report Smart   26'   73'
Doody   61'
Jabang   86'		 Stadium: Weidner Field
Attendance: 8,023
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
July 31 22 New Mexico United 1–2 Las Vegas Lights FC Albuquerque, New Mexico
6:00 PM Bruce   45'+5'
Houssou   85'		 Report Pinzón   4'   66'
Noël   12'
Nigro   79'
Jabang   90'		 Stadium: Isotopes Park
Attendance: 7,558
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
August
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August 10 23 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–1 Detroit City FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Bennett   56'   66' Report Morris   39'
Murphy   54'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,990
Referee: Gerald Flores
August 17 24 Hartford Athletic 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Hartford, Connecticut
4:00 PM
Report
Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium
Attendance: 4,933
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 24 25 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–2 Indy Eleven Las Vegas, NV
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 4,532
Referee: Trevor Wiseman
August 31 26 Orange County SC 2–3 Las Vegas Lights FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM Scott   6'
Zubak   11', 19'
Powers   37'
Norris   77'		 Report Bennett   39' (pen.)   63'
Shutler   87' (o.g.)
Gyau   90'+3'		 Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 3,579
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
September
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September 11 27 FC Tulsa 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Tulsa, Oklahoma
6:30 PM Diallo   31'
St. Clair   35'
Yosef   38'		 Report Doody   57'
Howell   76'
Gannon   78'		 Stadium: ONEOK Field
Attendance: 2,663
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
September 14 28 Las Vegas Lights 0-0 Monterey Bay FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Smart   15' Report Volesky   33'
Gnaulati   52'
Gonzalez   77'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
September 21 29 Las Vegas Lights FC 2-1 Sacramento Republic FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Bennett   29'
Noël   59'
Pinzon   71'
Jabang   73'		 Report Phillips   9'
Ukaegbu   76'
Portillo   81'
Viader   90'+1'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 2,240
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
September 28 30 Phoenix Rising FC 1-2 Las Vegas Lights FC Phoenix, Arizona
6:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium
Referee: Calin Radosav
October
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October 5 31 Las Vegas Lights FC 1-1 Orange County SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Bennett   26' Report Hegardt   16'
Chattha   35'
Partida   37'
Nakkim   71'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Gerald Flores
October 13 32 Birmingham Legion FC 0-3 Las Vegas Lights FC Birmingham, Alabama
2:00 PM Hernandez-Foster   5'
Rufe   45'
Tabortetaka   64'		 Report Gyau   18'
Bennett   73'
Gannon   87'
Pinzon   90'+3'		 Stadium: Protective Stadium
Attendance: 4,761
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
October 19 33 Las Vegas Lights FC 2-3 Oakland Roots SC Las Vegas, Nevada
Hackshaw   12' (o.g.)
Noël   90'+4'		 Report Rodriguez   3', 72'
Njie   36'
Diaz   89'
Donasiyano   90'+3'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 2,878
Referee: Brandon Stevis
October 26 34 North Carolina FC 2-1 Las Vegas Lights FC Cary, North Carolina
4:00 PM Craig   12'
Martin   32'
Anderson   45'   45'+1'
Perez   63'
McGuire   76'
Mentzingen   78'
Batista   90'+8'		 Report Bennett   9'
Smart   37'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Matthew Thompson

Playoffs

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November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) Western Quarterfinals Las Vegas Lights FC v Sacramento Republic FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Report Stadium: Cashman Field
Referee: Elton Garcia

U.S. Open Cup

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Main article: 2024 U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, the Las Vegas Lights entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Third Round.[10] It was announced by the U.S. Soccer Federation on April 4, 2024, that the Lights would face off against a member of the USL League One from Washington called the Spokane Velocity FC, a team in the third division of U.S. soccer.[11] After winning 2-1 against Spokane at home,[12][13] they were drawn on April 18 to play against Major League Soccer club, and eventual tournament winner, Los Angeles FC.[14][15] The Lights would end up losing 1-3 at home.[16]

April 17 Third Round Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC)   2–1 (a.e.t.)  Spokane Velocity FC (USL1) Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 1,197
Referee: Alexis Da Silva
May 8 Round of 32Las Vegas Lights FC  1–3   Los Angeles FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 3,495
Referee: James Duling

References

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  1. ^ "Ex-Jay Bautista flips to soccer; buys Vegas Lights". ESPN.com. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  2. ^ Seeman, Matthew (2024-01-16). "Las Vegas Lights FC sold to ex-baseball star Jose Bautista". KSNV. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  3. ^ "Las Vegas Lights acquired by former MLB All-Star". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  4. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (2024-01-29). "Las Vegas Lights FC appoints Dennis Sanchez as new Head Coach". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  5. ^ Seeman, Matthew (2024-01-29). "Las Vegas Lights FC name Dennis Sanchez as new head coach". KSNV. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  6. ^ Brewer, Ray (2024-01-29). "New Las Vegas Lights coach familiar with developing younger talent". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  7. ^ "Lights FC New Roster Signings". Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Las Vegas Lights FC Appoints Gianleonardo Neglia as Sporting Director". Lights FC Communications. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  9. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (2023-12-18). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  10. ^ "U.S. Soccer Sets Third Round Schedule for 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  11. ^ Producer, Alexa Teneyck SWX Local Sports Digital (2024-04-05). "Spokane Velocity FC set to face Las Vegas Lights FC in Round 3 of U.S. Open Cup". Nonstop Local SWX Sports. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  12. ^ "2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Las Vegas Lights overcome stunning equalizer, beat Spokane Velocity in OT, 2-1". thecup.us. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  13. ^ "Spokane Velocity's run in U.S. Open cup ends in loss at Las Vegas 2-1 | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  14. ^ Baxter, Kevin (2024-05-07). "Las Vegas Lights rebuild quickly and face a familiar foe in LAFC in U.S. Open Cup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  15. ^ "Lights FC ready for 'great test' against MLS powerhouse". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  16. ^ "Las Vegas Lights fall to LAFC 3-1 In U.S. Open Cup". Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
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