Las Vegas Lights FC is hosting Orange County SC on Saturday in their second and final meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Cashman Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on SSSEN and streamed nationally on ESPN+ (subscription required).
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Lights: 12-8-10 (46 points, 4th West), Orange County: 10-14-5 (35 points, 8th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Las Vegas: WWDDW, Orange County: WDWLL
PREVIOUS MEETING: Las Vegas and OCSC met just five weeks ago in a 3-2 Lights win in California. The Lights erased an early 2-0 deficit to steal three crucial points on the road.
HISTORY BECKONS: Las Vegas Lights FC can clinch their first postseason berth in club history on Saturday. The Lights will secure a playoff spot with a win OR a draw AND an FC Tulsa loss to El Paso Locomotive.
CARDIAC KIDS: Las Vegas’s miraculous 2-1 win against Phoenix Rising last weekend was a club-record fourth comeback victory this season.
DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: After conceding three times against Las Vegas on Aug. 31, Orange County has posted three consecutive clean sheets and taken seven out of nine possible points in September to keep its postseason hopes alive.
NEW MAN IN CHARGE: Orange County parted ways with Head Coach Paul Hardyman on Aug. 29, just two days before its first meeting with the Lights. Assistant Danny Stone has taken over and gone 2-1-1 since with the lone loss coming at the hands of Las Vegas.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ethan Zubak, F
Zubak leads OCSC in goals with eight on the season and is coming off a brace in a 2-0 win over Phoenix Rising on Sept. 25. The former LA Galaxy and Nashville SC attacker is in his first season in Orange County.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Lights FC midfielder Ousman Jabang
On the wild ending in the 2-1 win over Phoenix last weekend…
It felt like after we scored the free kick that we were going to score the second one. The feeling was that we didn’t sit back after the first goal because we knew we were going to get the second.
Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez
On J.C. Ngando’s heads-up play to score the equalizer against Phoenix…
You saw the streets come out of him. That’s how he grew up playing in Paris. That’s just savviness at the right time. Even though the ‘keeper was cheating a little bit, he still has to execute.
Lights FC midfielder J.C. Ngando
On keys to the match against Orange County SC…
We have to start the game the right way. We have to play our game and not underestimate them because the last time we played them, they were up 2-0. We had to come back and it wasn’t easy. We need to play the way we’re supposed to play. If we play our best, we’re going to win the game.