Late-goal magic slips in club’s first loss
Through the first four games of the season San Antonio FC had always been able to find late magic. Five of San Antonio’s eight goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes of its games.
That late-goal magic didn’t make the trip to Las Vegas, where San Antonio was handed its first loss by the Las Vegas Lights in the fifth game of the season. The Lights won 1-0 thanks to a 56th-minute goal from Shawn Smart.
“We’re disappointed in the result,” San Antonio coach Alen Marcina said. “We lacked the intensity, urgency and tactical discipline. The first shot on our goal we concede. That’s disappointing.”
Las Vegas (3-2) picked up its third straight win and moved past San Antonio in the table with nine points. In just five games this season the new-look Las Vegas Lights have matched their win total from last season. All three of the Lights wins have been clean sheets.
San Antonio (2-1-2) not only lost for the first time this season but also failed to score for the first time this season. San Antonio fell from a three-way tie for first into fifth in the Western Conference table.
“It’s early in the season,” San Antonio midfielder Luke Haakenson said. “Plenty of room to grow. There were positives we can build on and negatives we can learn from. We’ll go back and watch the film and learn from it.”
For most of the night, there was not much to separate the two teams. San Antonio outshot Las Vegas 4-1 overall and 2-1 in shots on target in the first half. SAFC had 55% of possession in the first half.
San Antonio finished the game with 10 shots and five shots on target. Las Vegas finished with eight shots total and four shots on target.
“We will definitely reflect and learn,” Marcina said. “Focus on what we can control. Too many individuals had off nights. It’s got to be better. Everyone has to reflect inwards first and we will be better for it.”
San Antonio had a good chance to go in front in the 42nd minute but the cross into the box was just beyond the reach of Juan Agudelo.
Las Vegas opened the scoring in the 56th minute when Shawn Smart shot from outside the 18-yard box toward the bottom left corner of the goal. San Antonio goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega got a fingertip to the ball but not enough to redirect it from going into the goal. Jean-claude Ngando earned the assist for Las Vegas.
San Antonio nearly equalized a couple of times in the final half-hour of the game. Carter Manley had the best chance off a corner in the 71st minute but his headed effort was just wide of the goal. Haakenson missed a shot in the 78th minute and Agudelo had a shot saved in the 80th minute.
Las Vegas also had a couple of chances to add a second goal in the second half but the Lights were unable to add to their advantage.
San Antonio will be home Saturday to host Orange County at Toyota Field. Orange County is currently tied for first in the Western Conference with a 3-0-2 record.