USL Fresno FC

Match Day | Fresno FC at Las Vegas Lights FC

Published on August 25, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Fresno FC News Release


Saturday, August 25

Cashman Field | 8 p.m. PT

TV: CW 59 | RADIO: ESPN Deportes 1600 AM | STREAM: ESPN +

Social Media: Follow @FFCFoxes on Twitter for match updates and follow along using the hashtags #LVvFRS

MATCH PREVIEW

Coming off a big win over Saint Louis FC in Week 23, the Foxes look to continue their hunt for the USL Cup Playoffs against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, August 25. The two teams kick off at 8 p.m. at Cashman Field, meeting for the first time since the expansion franchises debuted against each other in the first week of the season. The Lights came away with a 3-2 victory that night, but since then the Foxes have held the upper hand by becoming postseason contenders. Fresno FC is led by the playmaking ability of midfielders Juan Pablo Caffa and Danny Barrera, who have created a combined 98 chances this season, including seven assists. The consistent midfield production, also aided by defenders Zachary Ellis-Hayden and Alex Cooper on the wings, has made Fresno FC one of the highest shooting teams in the league with 369 so far this season.

The Foxes will aim to work a Lights side that has given up 51 goals for a minus-18 goal differential that is among the worst in the Western Conference. Las Vegas has surrendered nine goals over its last three games that includes a 2-0 loss to Phoenix Rising FC that snapped their four-match home win streak. Las Vegas is led by Carlos Alvarez & Samuel Ochoa who both lead the club with 5 goals and 4 assists each. Despite the three-match skid, Las Vegas has managed to field the same starting 11 for the first time all season in its last two outings, creating somewhat of a base for consistency under head coach Isidro Sanchez. Prior to that, the team fielded 22 combinations in their first 22 games.

THEY SAID IT

MIDFIELDER DANNY BARRERA

"Going from this point forward, it's must-win every game because right now we're on the outside looking in. It's crucial that we pick up points up every week because it could come down to one or two points at the end of the season for a playoff position. These guys beat us our first game of the season and we owe them one, basically. We're a different team now than we were then. We've learned a lot, matured, and come together as a team since then."

HEAD COACH ADAM SMITH

"I think it's a good time for us to go and play Las Vegas. We've got a confident group. We've played them before and came away unlucky with that late comeback. If we had a little bit more time, I think we all know we could've pulled it off. But now we have an extra 90 minutes against them and I think we'll be able to show them what we've got this time around."

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