And the USL schedulers have smiled on us and given us our very own in-state rivalry match to start off our lives right. The newly named "Silver State Cup" starts tomorrow here at Cashman Field.
Looks like it works more or less the same as the other rivalry-type cups you see in MLS (like the Rocky Mountain Cup between Salt Lake and Colorado, or the Cascadia Cup between Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver). Since it's two teams, it's simple, just have a better head to head record and you win the cup. Extended rules are below:
Series Rules
Point System:
- Win: 3 points
- Tie: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
- Tie breakers
- Goal Differential
- Most Goals For
- Fewest Goals Against
- Fewest amount of disciplinary points across series*
- Most shots on goal across series
- Coin Toss
* Disciplinary Points are calculated as follows:
- Foul = 1 point
- Yellow Card = 3 Points
- 2nd Yellow Card = 3 Points
- Straight Red Card = 7 Points
- Coach Dismissal = 7 Points
- Any Supplemental Discipline = 8 points
2018 Silver State Cup Series
March 24
Las Vegas Lights FC v Reno 1868 FC (inaugural match)
8 p.m. | Cashman Field
Aug. 28
Reno 1868 FC v Las Vegas Lights FC
7:15 p.m. | Greater Nevada Field
Sept. 22
Reno 1868 FC v Las Vegas Lights FC
6:45 p.m. | Greater Nevada Field
At first I thought it was sort of weird that american soccer designates these as "Cups" and gets trophies for them and everything, instead of just letting it be a derby or rivalry match.
But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Noone is mistaking these for real, meaningful trophies like the Open Cup. It's more like college or high school rivalry games, where the winner gets to take home the other school's bell or gong or whatever else.
After all, there's only like two USL teams maximum that could win silverware each year, so these extra cups make life interesting and give teams some bragging rights along the way.
In any case, to the game.
Reno lost their first match of the season last weekend, but it was against the Swope Park Rangers, who made it to last year's championship match. So while it was a home loss, it wasn't necessarily evidence that this Reno squad are pushovers.
The positives going in is that Reno gave up 4 goals at home. That is a really leaky defence, and one that Las Vegas should really be looking to put some pressure on.
Reno played their last game in a standard 4-4-2, while Las Vegas played in a 4-3-3 last game. In theory, that should give us an extra man in the middle to control the play. Add to that the fact that we will be at home, and we should see Las Vegas looking to ping the ball around a bit and have the lion's share of the possession.
The thing to watch for will be Reno's counter attacks. Our defence has not exactly been airtight, and with two men up front it will give both of our center backs a job to do. Look for our central defensive midfielder (last week it was Kobayashi sitting deep) to help out the center backs and sweep up any loose balls that either Reno forward tries to latch on to.
Let's hope we can get Cashman Field and the Silver State Cup off to a great start, and pick up all three points on Saturday.
Viva Las Lights!
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