LAS VEGAS – Cal Jennings and Bryce Duke each found the net as Las Vegas Lights FC took its first win of the season in its home opener at Cashman Field with a 2-0 result against Tacoma Defiance, ending the visitors’ undefeated start to the season.

With a festive crowd on hand, the hosts got off to a positive start and almost took the lead in the seventh minute as Duke played a clever heel-flick pass to send Jennings into the right side of the penalty area, only for Jennings’ finish to be wildly high and wide of the near post. Jennings went closer a few minutes later as he was first to a knock-down header by Duke in the right side of the penalty area but shot wide of the left post.

The breakthrough came for Jennings in the 19th minute, however, as he picked up possession 25 yards from goal after a backheeled pass by Alvaro Quezada and drove past a pair of defenders into the penalty area before unleashing a low shot into the bottom-left corner of the net. Las Vegas almost doubled its lead 10 minutes later as Jennings was again involved, this time cutting a low cross back from the right byline to Frank Daroma, who fired his shot over the crossbar. Duke also had a chance 10 minutes before halftime from 25 yards that went wide of the left post, while the Defiance’s only real chance of the half came three minutes before the break as Alec Diaz got onto a through-ball by Ray Serrano but was unable to control his finish.

Tacoma looked to build on its late momentum to start the second half, and on the hour-mark Danny Leyva ripped a shot from the left side on a free kick that Las Vegas goalkeeper Tomas Romero tipped away. Lights FC almost hit on the counterattack midway through the half, but Danny Musovski overran his opportunity as Tacoma goalkeeper Christian Herrera claimed possession before the Nevada native could get a clean shot away.

Las Vegas doubled its lead as Duke got on the scoresheet with 16 minutes to go, however, as a long clearance of a ball into the Lights FC final third was met by a big clearance upfield by Romero that was misplayed by a Tacoma defender, allowing Duke to break in on goal. The 20-year-old controlled and composed himself before shooting just inside the right post from the left channel to make it a two-goal game.

The hosts could have added to their lead late on as both Daroma and Jennings had chances in the final five minutes denied by Herrera, but there was no comeback for Tacoma from the deficit as Las Vegas took all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Cal Jennings, Las Vegas Lights FC – Jennings scored what proved to be the winning goal and had six shots overall while completing 19 of 26 passes and one key pass in the win.

Scoring Summary
LV – Cal Jennings (Alvaro Quezada) 19’
LV – Bryce Duke 74’

Full Box Score