USL San Diego Loyal

SD Loyal Visits Las Vegas Lights in Fourth and Final Regular Season Meeting

Published on September 24, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


On Saturday, Sept. 25, San Diego Loyal is slated to end the season four-game series against Las Vegas Lights. The Week 23 match is slated to be streamed on ESPN+.

WHO:

- SD Loyal SC

- Las Vegas Lights

WHEN:

Saturday, Sept. 25

7 p.m. PT

WHERE:

Cashman Field

850 Las Vegas Blvd N.

Las Vegas, NV 89101

MATCH PREVIEW:

You don't see it often. Not in the midst of trying to make a run at the playoffs. Not when a team is coming off a disappointing midweek loss when everything but the scoreboard was in favor. It is rare for a coach to give his squad a day off after a loss on the road, two days before another away match in a different city.

SD Loyal coach Landon Donovan did just that for his squad Thursday. He gave his players and staff the opportunity to relax and regroup after a 2-1 loss against Oakland Roots Wednesday night in a tough match that was decided by a penalty kick. Donovan and his staff had already planned to give his players some rest during a week-long road trip in which SD Loyal will have played two away matches in a span of four days. The team had already played a home match Sunday Sept. 19 before heading to the Bay Area to face Roots.

"It's really nice to have opportunities. They're very rare during the season where you can go away with a lot of guys and spend time together on the road," Donovan said about the time off while on the road. "Everyone is disappointed and frustrated about (Wednesday) but we knew this was going to be a long week with three games in six days which is very challenging. Having the vitality to go out (Thursday) as a team and walk around and maybe see San Francisco, see the city and just enjoy themselves is great."

Part of the reason for the time off was to help his team get refocused on facing Las Vegas Lights in another Week 23 USL Championship match against another Pacific Division rival. After all, there is very little margin for error as points are scarce with seven matches remaining in the regular season. SD Loyal remains in second place in the division standings despite the loss. The top four teams clinch a postseason berth and the second place team most likely earns a home playoff contest.

"This is a long process," Donovan said about the schedule and his approach. "We're not going to win every game. We know that but we know where we want to be and we feel we are doing things the right way both on and off the field. We are stepping in the right direction hopefully this week by having everyone together. Small setback (against Oakland) but we'll get back after it Saturday.

Las Vegas Lights enter Saturday's match as the last place team in the division with a 5-18-2 record with 17 points. It hasn't won a game since beating Orange County SC 3-1 July 27. It's last point came with a 2-2 draw against division leader Phoenix Rising on Aug. 7. It has nine-straight losses since then, including a 5-1 defeat against SD Loyal Aug. 18 at Torero Stadium. It's latest outing was a 4-1 loss at Phoenix Rising on Sept. 15. It has been a difficult season for Las Vegas as it made the transition to clean house and its soccer operations are now run in association with Major League Soccer's LAFC.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 24, 2021


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