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Las Vegas Lights FC is planning postgame fireworks for Tuesday’s July 4 home match against New Mexico United.
The visitors hope to start the show early.
United will look to stretch its winning streak to three straight against struggling Las Vegas on Tuesday night. NMU is coming off a feel-good 1-0 win over rival El Paso on Saturday while Lights FC has dropped five straight, including a tough 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay in its last outing.
New Mexico (6-7-3) and Las Vegas (1-9-6) have not featured two of the USL Championship’s most explosive offenses this season. NMU is tied for ninth in the league with 24 goals, while Lights FC ranks 23rd with just 14.
United has done more with less, ranking last in the league with 149 shots attempted but tied for first with a 22% conversion rate. Las Vegas, meanwhile, has sent 212 shots flying but most have been duds. Its 9% conversion rate is tied for last in the USLC.
Even so, New Mexico coach Eric Quill has stressed the importance of setting an early tone and wants exactly that Tuesday at Cashman Field. United used stout defense and an 89th-minute goal by Santi Moar to snap El Paso’s 12-match unbeaten streak, but Quill would rather spend more time playing with a lead against a Lights FC side that has not won at home (0-4-1).
“I think we had the right plan (against El Paso),” Quill said, “but every match is different. We need to keep the momentum from that win going in Las Vegas and set a positive tone right away.”
Here are five things to consider for Tuesday’s holiday showdown.
IT’S A SECRET: Holiday fireworks figure to boost Tuesday’s attendance, but the actual number of fans in the stands may remain a mystery. According to numerous websites that track attendance, Lights FC is the only USLC club not reporting its home crowds this season. The club averaged 5,615 per home game in 2022.
New Mexico has generally been a solid draw home and away. El Paso set a new home attendance record Saturday (8,411), bolstered by a lively group of United supporters. NMU players applauded their fans, seated in a second-deck section of Southwest University Park, after the contest.
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“Celebrating with them made it that much better,” Quill said. “I think getting that late goal validated their road trip.”
PASS AND SHOOT: New Mexico ranks in the middle of the USLC pack in terms of total passes, but its 5,377 successful passes look methodical compared to Las Vegas’ run-and-gun style. Lights FC has just 3,300 successful passes but has attempted 63 more shots than has NMU.
QUICK NICK: Midfielder Nicky Hernandez did not wait long to make an impact with United, assisting on Moar’s goal less than two minutes after he entered Saturday’s match. It was roughly 36 hours after NMU announced it had signed Hernandez to a 25-day contract. Quill was not surprised.
“Nicky’s pass to Santi showed high-level thought process,” he said. “That’s why he’s here. He’s a winner and a warrior.”
FAMILIAR FACES: Two former United players have been playing key roles for Lights FC of late. Forward Preston Tabort Etaka, who scored three goals for NMU last season, has two as a regular starter for Las Vegas. Defender Timothie Zali, who joined Lights FC on loan from New Mexico on May 4, has appeared in six games and scored his first goal Saturday against Tampa Bay.
HOT JULY? With Saturday’s result, United already has as many wins in July as it managed in June — one. NMU has an opportunity to heat up, however, facing the league’s two lowest-scoring teams in Las Vegas (14 goals) and Detroit City (12) in its next two matches.
