Saturday, February 24, 2018

Las Vegas Lights FC vs D.C. United Match Recap

Las Vegas showed a bit too much attacking intent tonight as they went down 2-4 to D.C. United in the last game of preseason.

Before the game I asked whether the team could get out there and show a bit more attacking play, as they had struggled in their first two games of preseason to get good attacking chances.

The coach set up the team to do just that, going with a 4-2-3-1.

The first half was a bit cagey from both sides. As expected, D.C. had the better chances, but Las Vegas more or less held their own. Apart from a few dodgy moments from the keeper (who has looked really unconvincing this preseason), D.C. didn't have a ton of golden opportunities.

That said, just before halftime a D.C. player got free down our right, three LV players got dragged over, and the other centre half lost the run of the only D.C. player in the box, who stroked the cross home. It was about fair, but still disappointing given the work thus far.

We started the second half brightly, and managed to create a few good chances in open play. However, this kind of played right into D.C.'s hands, as they are a team that loves to counter and do it all to well. The Lights committed a lot of men forward, and a bad giveaway from out left back created a two-on-one with the keeper, and it was a simple square ball to make it two zero.

Right afterwords, we had something to cheer, as Ochoa drew a foul in the box, and who else but Calderon stroked home a really good penalty. The keeper went the wrong way, but he wouldn't have gotten there anyways, as it was hard into the right side netting.

After that the game got pretty fun. The Lights worked the ball really well into attacking areas, while D.C. soaked up the pressure and got a lot of joy on the counter attack. They got their next goal using that route, with a quick counter down the right, cross into the box, and cool finish to make it three one.

Then the Lights really turned on the pressure. At that point, what was there to lose? After 80 minutes, the team finally broke their open-play duck, scoring a great goal. Freddy Adu, on as a sub, worked himself into a yard of space on the left hand side, and played a cross into the box, where substitute Garduno knocked it home. First goal from open play, and of course Freddy Adu is the one to make it. Who knows, maybe he just bought himself a contract with the team with that assist.

The Lights pushed for an equalizer, but D.C. took the opportunity to make it 4 in stoppage time on another counter attack.

Overall, it was a fun end to preseason. We wanted to see the Lights get out and stretch their attacking muscles, and they did just that. It left the team a little open at the back, but against an MLS team that specializes in counter attacks, I'm not going to lost any sleep over it. And we finally got that open play goal we were asking for.

And what red-blooded American's heart isn't going to be warmed by an assist from the great Freddy Adu.

Here's to more goals next week.
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Thursday, February 22, 2018

Las Vegas Lights FC - Post-Match Review - Vancouver Whitecaps

Well, in my last post (a preview of the Vancouver game), I predicted a tight scoreline. While we did get that (there was only a goal between the teams), we didn't exactly get the cagey game I was expecting. Instead, we were treated to five goals, plus a few sendings off for good measure.

It was a pretty wild game. The Whitecaps raced out to a an early lead, highlighted by a great goal from Alphosno Davies. That kid is good. He completely outpaced the entire team in a coast-to-coast effort that really left our defense, and goalkeeper, looking a bit silly. I suppose we should just be glad that we probably won't be facing many teams with Davies' raw talent in the regular season.


The Whitecaps were pretty much in control of the game, and then our captain Marcelo Alatorre got a straight red card for elbowing Davies in the head on 56 minutes. Just like last game, a real bone-headed move from a Lights player proves costly. There was absolutely no reason to have his arms up in that situation - Davies was yards from goal, and Alatorre was the clear favorite to win the ball. It's the kind of mistake that the coaching staff really needs to eliminate.

Then, to make matters more exciting, our head coach Chelis got into some handbags with the Vancouver assistant coach, and then the Vancouver head coach, which led to bout Chelis and their assistant getting sent to the stands.



Chelis watched the rest of the game - while smoking a few cigarettes - from the front row of the stands.

Weirdly enough, however, that confrontation proved to be the spark that lifted the Lights into showing some life. Though playing a man down, our No. 10 (Juan Calderon) struck back twice to erase the deficit, first with a quality free kick, and second from the spot.



That first goal was quite the opening salvo for a new team. It was about as picture perfect as a free kick can be. I think we know who is going to be the taker this season.

A few minutes later, Vancouver restored their lead through another PK, after our center-back Huiqui handled the ball in our box. 

Overall, it was a showing that inspired a bit more confidence than our last friendly. Losing by one goal to a higher-division side is nothing to be ashamed of. And we got our attack off the mark, with two goals. 

That doesn't mean the performance completely eliminated my concerns from last game, however. Actually, if anything, it may have reinforced them. We still saw a few dumb defensive mistakes that led to our team getting punished, both with the red card and the handball. And though we did actually score some goals this game, they both came from set plays. 

We play D.C. United in a few games time, let's hope we can build on this performance by a) cutting out the mistakes, and b) grabbing a goal (or two) from open play.
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Friday, February 16, 2018

Las Vegas Lights FC vs Vancouver - Match Preview

The Lights kick off at home for the second game of preseason, and for their second game ever. They'll be up against similar opposition to their last game against Montreal, where they lost 0-2. Not sure why we're playing so many Canadian teams - maybe they want to come down for the warmth.

Last time out the Lights lined up in a 4-3-3 formation (more of a 4-5-1 really, the wingers stayed pretty deep since they played against MLS opposition). I'd expect the same formation and more or less the same lineup tomorrow.

The scoreline from last game wasn't too bad. And despite the scoreline, I didn't think the team played that badly defensively. There were two or three boneheaded mistakes that led to Montreal's goals, but on the run of play it didn't seem like the team were getting ripped apart over and over. One of the center back, Huiqui, had a really good game last time around, and I expect him to put in a similar performance tomorrow.

Not least because the level of attack the Lights will be facing this time around is probably a step down from Montreal. Whereas Montreal play through Piatti, who is an elite MLS level attacker every year, Vancouver's danger man will probably be Kei Kamara. Kamara is a bit more of a traditional target man center forward, and while he's good, he's probably a few years past his prime. That, plus the fact that the Lights defenders are probably more used to seeing target man center forwards in the lower leagues, means we should improve on our defensive performance last week (provided we stop giving them the ball in our box).

At the other end, however, I am not so hopeful. One of the disappointing things from last time out was not so much that we didn't score - we were facing an MLS defense, after all - but was that we didn't even create many chances or half-chances to score. The only decent half chance I remember was a bobble in the box that someone poked wide.

And Vancouver is very much a defense-first team. So while I'll be looking to our forwards and wingers in this 4-3-3 system to show some more attacking punch than last time, I won't really be holding my breath.

I expect this one to be a low scoring, defense-first kind of game this time around, with maybe one goal between the teams. Something like 1 -0 to Vancouver or a 0-0.

Let's hope I'm wrong, and we can get a goal to celebrate this week.
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Sunday, February 11, 2018

Las Vegas Lights FC 0 - Montreal Impact 2: Post-match review

Pro soccer is officially in Las Vegas. Well, semi-officially? I mean it was a friendly game, so I'm not sure where that counts in the official-ness stakes.

In any case, it was an extremely well-attended match. About the best you could hope for actually, since it was sold completely out. Around 10,000 people showed up - which is way above the USL average.




Granted, this was the first ever game for the team. So it's still new and exciting. And it was MLS competition, which may have inflated it somewhat.

But still. You can only fill up what is there, so. Off to a great start.

The result left a little bit to be desired, but it wasn't terrible. The Lights lined up in a 4-3-3 with a decidedly mexican-flavored starting 11 (which was kind of to be expected, given the coach and the recruiting so far):


The team started well - for the first 15 minutes they kept the ball pretty well and defended pretty well too, save one great chance that Montreal saw saved by Ferrino on about 15 minutes. Piatti looked really dangerous at times, and rinsed Alatorre and Portugal a few times on our right hand side. But hey, Piatti is going to rinse plenty of right backs in MLS this year, so that's nothing to get worked up about.

At first I thought they were goingt o try to play out of the back a bit. The goalie really seemed to want to dribble the attackers more than I felt was necessary. But their best chance of the first half came from a long clearance up field to the left hand side, which was then whipped into the box and bobbled around a bit before trickling out for a goal kick. 

Overall, Montreal definitely had the better of the first half, but that was to be expected. It certainly wasn't an "all-hands-on-deck" experience, with wave after wave of Montreal attacks. A few of the Lights counterattacks broke down a little bit sooner than you would have liked, but they are still getting used to each other.

There was another good half chance on a cross from the right hand side about 10 minutes into the second half. If the forward would have gotten a good connection on it it may have gone somewhere.

There was also a great little moment of handbags here and there. Those always crack me up, especially during friendlies, but hey, everyone out there is ultra-competitive or else they wouldn't be there.

When the goal finally came, it was blindingly simple. From a dead ball, there was a simple over-the-top lob, and two Montreal players were wide open on the left hand side of the box. The Lights had kind of fallen asleep, the center back was running back trying to cover. The goalie came out quick to try to clear the ball. He kind of slapped it to one side, but it ended up going right to another Montreal player to roll into the net. 

You could blame the keeper's punch, I guess, but the real mistake was falling completely asleep and leaving one center back to mark two players from a dead ball.

The second was another brain fart. Simple throw in deep in our half, our midfielder tried to play a backpass to a defender to clear - and instead passed it straight to a Montreal attacker. He crossed, the goalie got to it - only to bounce it off a his own center back and into the net.

Again, I suppose you could blame the goalie, but the real mistake was passing it to a Montreal player in the box. You really can't get away with doing that, at any level.

Then, immediately afterwards, came the clown-car moment of the game. Montreal tried a long ball forward, and our goalie came out to meet it. He opted not to clear it upfield - which is fine. However, instead of taking a touch and passing it, he decided to try to dribble two Montreal attackers. Not the wisest move in the history of the sport. Needless to say, he got it pinched off of him, and when he pulled the guy back, he picked up his red card.

Shame, really, he really hadn't had a bad game before that, and had bailed us out a few times. But maybe this will teach him not to be so cavalier about dribbling attackers, because he was kind of asking for it all game.

The rest of the game kind of petered out without incident. Montreal already had it won, we were never going to come back when a man down.

Overall, I think the Lights were always going to lose this game. The defense was actually pretty respectable. There were three bone-headed mistakes, but ultimately they are the kind of mistakes that come from a lapse in concentration and decision-making, not anything systemic. The attack was honestly a bit more disappointing to me. I realize it was MLS opposition, but we really didn't create any chances of note at all.

Man of the Match: for me, it'd have to be Huiqui. Neither of the goals were really his fault, and ultimately he did alright for facing some high-quality MLS opposition.

At the end of the day, it was pre-season, so the important thing was that it was a chance to get familiar with each other and get some fitness. 

Same time next week?
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Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Las Vegas Lights FC Kit Reveal - Black Jerseys

The big jersey reveal was tonight.

I have to say, I had high expectations. The club has done a lot of things right so far.

This was not one of those things.

I really really really wanted to like these jerseys. First I saw the training jerseys, which are nice. Then we saw the shorts yesterday, which were ok, if uninspiring.

Then we hit the jerseys. I'll just show them to you.








w them in


First off, yes that is Freddy Adu up there. I wrote a post about it when he trialled, but I'll post something more later.

Second, I'm not going to lie, my first impression was "Tron meets Grandpa's suspenders." I get the idea - Las Vegas, neon lights, etc, etc. The execution, though, leaves a lot to be desired. There's just a lot going on. It looks like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but somehow not as cool. 

I do like the smiley face on the inside. That's a fun little feature. But still. 

Finally, black jerseys? Really? I mean, for starters, there are TONS of teams in the U.S. with black as a primary color (D.C., LAFC, even Raiders and Knights in the same town). Also, we are in the desert. In the summer. Black is going to be really, really, hot to play in. And all of the promo material was light blue and bright yellow. Which would be cool, unique, and just overall better.

Long story short on this one, I was hoping for a lot more. Oh well. Maybe the away jerseys will be better. And if not, I guess I won't be too tempted to buy a jersey this year. Maybe I'll get one of those training kits I like so much...
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Las Vegas Lights FC Kit - Part 1 - Will we have Pink Jerseys?

We may not know much about how the Lights will play this year. We may not know how well attended their games will be.

But one thing that I can tell you - their PR campaigns have been pretty good so far.

Today, all over social media, the team posted teasers that there was going to be a big announcement today at the Plaza Hotel downtown. They wouldn't say what it was. At the hotel, the Lights called up a few of their players to the stage.

Fairly normal soccer team stuff, with one little twist. The players were wearing (apparently nothing except) Plaza Hotel bathrobes.





It was a little weird. Potentially a little concerning, depending on your comfort level with that sort of thing. Then, at the big reveal, the players all took off their bathrobes (disrobed, one might say) to reveal:

Shorts.

Instead of revealing the whole uniform - jersey, shorts, and everything - all at once the club decided to reveal just the shorts. So there were the players, standing there shirtless in front of the crowd.





A bit weird - maybe. But definitely not boring, and that's the name of the game when you're trying to drum up interest.

As for the shorts themselves:


They're black, so there's that, I guess. Black isn't a crazy interesting color.

What is interesting about them is a) the sponsor logo, and b) the piping.

The sponsor logo is fine, I suppose. I didn't know that USL allowed sponsor logos on shorts. I guess I don't have a problem with the idea, provided that the jersey doesn't go crazy with the sponsorships, putting them on every square inch of real estate like some other leagues do (looking at you, scandinavia):



The problem with the execution here is that the sponsor's logo is HUGE. Like twice as big as the club crest. Which, I get it, you need the sponsorship money - but if it's going to be twice as big as the club crest, don't put it right above the club crest to emphasize the fact that it is twice as big.

The second thing is the pink piping. That is a very interesting little development for one particular reason - how often is the piping on the shorts different from the color of the shirt? It's pretty rare. There are a few examples:

Most of the time, the piping on shorts is the same color as the main (or at least, one of the primary) colors on the jersey.

Dortmund - piping is same color as jersey:


Arsenal - Piping is same color as jersey:


Middlesboro - piping is a primary color:


Atlanta away - piping is the same color

You're getting the picture? There are a few instances where the piping is not the same color as the main jersey color - but those are pretty limited. And in most of those cases, it is still a pretty prominent color - like:

Atlanta home:

And New England home:




Long story short, I think that neon pink is going to be a prominent color for the Las Vegas Lights FC jerseys. Which wouldn't be too surprising, given the promo material. But, I think there is also a good chance that either home or away jersey this year will have pink as its full-on, main color. THAT would put us in some pretty rarefied territory.

The only teams I can think of that have done that (apart from breast cancer awareness season where every team does it), have been Juventus in Italy:


And Scotland:


It would definitely be different, if that's the direction that the club went. Personally, I think I'd surprised if the club had pink home jerseys. I think they'll probably go yellow, with pick trim (like the gold on the Atlanta jersey above). But I would not be shocked if they rolled out a pick away shirt for this season.

I guess we'll find out later this evening. Should be fun.

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