Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Offense fails Lights FC in draw
Cards issued to two, so more suspensions ahead
The spectre of suspensions hung heavy over Cashman Field on Saturday night.
The Lights FC, playing a day after technical director Jose Luis Sanchez Sola was suspended seven games by the United Soccer League for “referee assault,” kept picking up more punishment Saturday night in a 1-1 draw with Tulsa Roughnecks FC in front of an announced crowd of 7,777.
The Lights’ shot at ending their Cinco de Mayo celebration with a win was severely stunted when midfielder Matt Thomas picked up a red card in the 73rd minute, the team’s third red card in three games. Defender Joel Huiqui also picked up his fifth yellow card, which is an automatic one-game suspension.
The calls ended a night that started full of promise for the Lights (2-1-4), as the team and the crowd started the game with tons of energy. The supporters’ serenaded the suspended Sola, who was watching, cigarette in tow, from the upper deck, with chants of “Ole, ole, ole, ole, Chelis, Chelis” and “Free Chelis” before the game in honor of the technical director’s nickname.
The Lights then matched the crowd’s enthusiasm and controlled the early run of play, resulting in midfielder Carlos Alvarez scoring his third goal in the 15th minute. Midfielder Isaac Diaz, who had an impressive outing on the right wing, sent a cross from the corner and Alvarez was able to head it into the net.
The Roughnecks gathered themselves before halftime though, and Las Vegas native Joaquin Rivas equalized for Tulsa (0-3-4) in the 44th minute. The UNLV alum nearly scored a go-ahead goal moments later, but Lights goalkeeper Ricardo Ferrino was able to deflect the ball away with his fist.
The two teams then played a scoreless second half that featured the suspension-causing calls against the Lights and, bizarrely, the sprinklers going off for two minutes. The drizzle couldn’t open up the floodgates for the Lights’ offense, especially a man down, and the team scored just one goal for the fourth time in five home games.
The Lights are searching for their first win since March 31.
had a 62, one off the course record, and finished before the leaders began the third round. He remained atop the leaderboard until midday through the round.
Mickelson had a 64, his lowest score of the season, and was in a group four shots back. McIlroy settled for a 66 and is seven back.
Tiger Woods failed to take advantage of a course that was soft enough that players found pitch marks on the greens.
■ At The Colony, Texas, Sung Hyun Park and Jenny Shin finished the rain-delayed first round of the abbreviated Volunteers of America Texas Shootout with 6-under 65s to share a one-stroke lead. The tournament was cut from 72 holes to 36 because of rain Thursday and Friday.
■ At The Woodlands, Texas, Bernhard Langer plodded to an even-par 72 for a 9-under 135 total and one-shot lead over Tom Pernice Jr. (68), Miguel Angel Jimenez (69), Mark Calcavecchia (69) and Scott Dunlap (70) entering the final round of the Insperity Invitational.
LPGA: Champions: