Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC defeated the USL Championship’s Las Vegas Lights 3-1 at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Wednesday in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A brace from Cristian Olivera and an opening tally from Kei Kamara paved the way for LAFC, while Shawn Smart scored for Vegas.
Making his Lights debut, goalkeeper Nicholas Ammeter made a huge stop in the seventh minute on a shot by Luis Müller to keep the visitors off the scoreboard early.
Ammeter made another strong stop on right back Sergi Palencia in the 24th minute, the second of many impressive saves on the evening.
Referee James Duling sent off LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo in the second minute of first-half stoppage time for dissent.
After going into the halftime break scoreless, LAFC took the lead in the 47th minute when Timothy Tillman’s cross found Kamara, who rose for a header and picked out the back post.
Ammeter kept the deficit at one in the 53rd minute when he dove to his right to keep a hard shot from Dénis Bouanga out of the net.
Las Vegas equalized in the 56th minute when Edison Azcona flicked on a corner kick to the back post, and Smart strongly headed it past goalkeeper Abraham Romero.
Ammeter came up huge yet again in the 60th minute when he made a kick save on another Kamara header from six yards out.
LAFC retook the lead in the 70th minute when Olivera rattled home a deflection on the goal’s doorstep after Ammeter saved Omar Campos’s initial shot.
Ammeter came up with another vital stop in the 75th minute when he dove to his left to just push a Bouanga shot wide.
Joe Hafferty had a gilt-edge chance from six yards out in the 86th minute after Romero spilled a rebound, but the Lights center back put his shot over the crossbar.
Olivera bagged a brace in the first minute of stoppage time when he won a loose ball on the left flank and then beat Ammeter high to the near post.
Olivera was denied a hat trick two minutes later when he was on the end of a cross and found the back of the net, but it was called back for offside.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Ammeter stands on his head
It was a memorable evening for Ammeter, who was making his club debut. The 23-year-old Swiss goalkeeper made seven saves and kept the Lights in the contest all evening.
Smart comes up clutch
The rookie scored in his second match of the season at a crucial time. The Clemson product has been a key attacking asset this season from his right fullback position.
Quick turnaround
Las Vegas will have little time to dwell on Wednesday’s result, as the Lights will play their third match of the week this Saturday when they visit San Antonio FC. This will be their second meeting of the year after the Vegas defeated San Antonio 1-0 at Cashman Field on April 6.
SCORING SUMMARY
LAFC – Kei Kamara 47’
LV – Shawn Smart 56’
LAFC – Cristian Olivera 70’
LAFC – Cristian Olivera 90’+1’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LV – Valentin Nöel (caution) 10’
LAFC – Eduard Atuesa (caution) 21’
LV – Edison Azcona (caution) 45’+2’
LAFC – Steve Cherundolo (ejection) 45’+2’
LAFC – Ilie (caution) 89’
LINEUPS AND STATS
Las Vegas Lights FC – Nicholas Ammeter; Gennaro Nigro, Fabien Garcia, Joe Hafferty, Shawn Smart (Emrah Klimenta 81’); Valentin Noël, J.C. Ngando; Gaoussou Samaké (Charlie Adams 82’), Coleman Gannon, Edison Azcona, Solomon Asanté (Riki Alba 81’)
Substitutes not used: Raiko Arozarena, Hayden Sargis, Maliek Howell, Alexander Romero
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 7
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 7
LAFC – Abraham Romero; Omar Campos, Eddie Segura, Aaron Long, Sergi Polencia; Erik Dueñas (Jesús Murillo 90’+2’), Eduard Atuesta (Ilie 79’), Timothy Tillman (Nathan Ordaz 79’); Luis Müller (Cristian Olivera 63’), Kei Kamara (Mateusz Bogusz 63’), Dénis Bouanga
Substitutes not used: David Ochoa, Maxime Chanot
Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 14
Corner kicks: 7
Saves: 1
