After a string of strong performances accompanied by mixed results, the Las Vegas Lights have their sights set on achieving their second win of the season against Orange County SC.
Read on for the keys of the match and insight as we head into the fourth game of the USL Championship season.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC vs Orange County SC
When: Saturday, April 5
Where: Cashman Field
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: SSSEN, ESPN+
Tickets: Buy your tickets now!
March, in Retrospect
The month of March presented the Lights with a mismatch between performance and results. A win and a defeat at home plus a draw at Oakland might seem like drastically different scenarios to ponder upon for Antonio Nocerino and his technical staff. But, the team has demonstrated consistency when it comes to gameplan execution and a predisposition toward continuous improvement on all fronts.
In all of March’s matches, the Lights prioritized defensive stability and organization over attacking prowess, conceding only three goals in the same amount of games. The club’s defensive system is a well-oiled machine with tactical flexibility and proper coordination, the result of long hours of hard work and focus during preseason.
Nocerino’s team also put intentionality with the ball over excessive, unproductive possession, giving up the ball in exchange for open space while counter-attacking.
There’s no doubt the team’s major deficit during the start of the season has been high-quality chance creation. However, the Lights’ attack has shown continuous improvement game by game, with build-up play, chance generation in midfield, and the connection among the team’s attacking players getting better as the season goes on. These are encouraging signs that the best is yet to come for the team’s offense.
And there would be no better moment for the club’s attack to start clicking than this Saturday while facing Orange County at home in Cashman Field.
Keys to the Match
Here are the three keys to look out for on Saturday night:
A Solid Defense for a Strong Attack
Despite their position in the Western Conference table, Orange County SC possesses a solid attack that has scored six goals in three matches. That’s two goals per match, and every single one has come from a different player. This is evidence of both the strength of their attack and their versatility as they move up front.
Meanwhile, the Lights possess the lowest xGA (Expected Goals Allowed) of the entire USL Championship this season, as per data from FootyStats. This means that the team’s defensive structure does not allow opponents to produce high quality chances that are often easier to convert to goals.
The fact that both teams have such opposing strengths and styles will make this Saturday’s match all the more interesting. If the Lights want to leave Cashman Field with three points in their pocket, they’ll also have to ‘pocket’ Orange County’s dangerous attack.
Home Field Advantage
Orange County’s visit to Las Vegas marks their first away match of the entire season. And given their record from last season, this is not good news for them. Looking back to 2024, Orange County had the third worst away record of the Western Conference, earning 17 out of a possible 51 points (33%) and possessing the worst away goal differential (-13).
The Lights have played twice at home this season, winning one game against Tampa Bay Rowdies (1-0) and narrowly losing the other against New Mexico United (2-3), for a home win percentage of 50%.
While playing at home was not a significant advantage for the Lights last season, with the club having the seventh best home record in the West, things seem to be changing this year, and for the better. With average stadium attendance increasing compared to past seasons, there is no doubt that the fans and their support will play an important part in this and in future matches.
The Johnny Rodriguez Factor
Star signing Johnny Rodriguez has hit the ground running in Vegas. In four matches (considering both friendlies and USL Championship games) he has scored three goals, but he wants to go beyond just putting the ball in the net.
When asked about what his goal was for this season on The Lights Lounge podcast, he responded: “To score more than 15 goals. And, obviously, just to help this team in whatever way [possible]. That means scoring goals, giving assists, and doing the dirty work. Whatever it is, I’ll just try to help the team win games, make the playoffs, and make the final again.”
The Lights’ attack will often run through their star striker. If he gets hot in front of goal, the attack will inevitably start clicking, so the team needs Rodriguez to continue delivering on a match-by-match basis to see success.
Defeating Orange County will not be easy. But with the squad catching Rodriguez’s contagious attitude and mentality, the Lights can dream about winning their second match of the season and celebrating with the fans at Cashman.