Head coach: Isidro Sanchez
venue: cashman field
FiveThirtyEight.com playoff odds: 18%
FiveThirtyEight.com Title Odds: <1%
Theme song for 2023: Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
What happened this offseason?
Big reset for Las Vegas Lights FC. The partnership with Los Angeles FC dissolved, giving autonomy to the club’s roster at the time. Isidro Sanchez, who was Lights FC’s first head coach in 2018, has returned to the sidelines in search of lasting success after an almost complete overhaul of the club’s roster. Center-back Zach Carroll Some of the new faces will bring a championship pedigree and have a chance to re-establish themselves after Andrew Carlton has struggled to deliver on his early promises. After the season, it feels like an uphill battle for contention.
Main returnees – Tabort Etaka Preston, forward: Admittedly, it’s a bit of a cheat given the complete roster turnover that Lights FC has seen this offseason. However, Preston had his best season in the Las Vegas Championship, scoring eight goals and three assists in his 31 appearances during his 2019 season. Sanchez hopes for at least a similar return this season from this Cameroonian.
key arrival – Zach Carroll, Defender: After Memphis 901 FC has been the center of attention in the Eastern Conference over the past three seasons, Carroll will be a key figure in providing stability to Lights FC in the new campaign. The 2016 New York Championship-his All-His-League veteran, when he helped the Red Bulls II title win, was a regular in his season and his 170 in the playoffs during his league career. I am in the game.
key number – 1.47: Las Vegas Lights FC Cumulative Goals – The 1.47 goal average conceded in 2022 was the lowest ever as the team allowed 27 fewer goals than in the 2021 campaign.
John Morrissey’s tactical corner: The forwards were the center of attention at Leitz FC last year, but the team’s compact, all-hands-on-deck defense was the key to their success. In contrast, this team is built around pace and aggression on the flanks. I expect Las Vegas to put high pressure and never let their opponents down.
XI scheduled to start (4-2-3-1): GK – Leonardo Diaz; D – Alejandro Mitrano, Jordan Aimvira, Zach Carroll, Lucas Staffer. DM – Jacob Bush, Justin Ingram. AM – Asriel Gonzalez, Andrew Carlton, Tavort Etaka Preston. F – Pato Botello Fuzz
USLCchampionship.com Predicts: No. 12, Western Conference
