LIVERMORE, Calif. – Las Vegas Lights FC rallied from a halftime deficit as goals by Daniel Crisostomo and Tony Leone earned the visitors a 2-1 victory against Oakland Roots SC at Las Positas College on Saturday night to move the side into fourth place in the Pacific Division standings.

Making his Roots SC debut, goalkeeper Paul Blanchette was called into action early as Crisostomo delivered a teasing free kick in just the second minute that Mohamed Traore turned on net from close range producing a big early stop from Blanchette. Lights FC’s Danny Musovski went close again from a corner kick by Crisostomo two minutes later, but Blanchette was again equal to the task for the hosts.

After riding out the opening minutes, Oakland showed greater endeavor moving forward as the first half progressed, and that was rewarded in the 24th minute as the side took the lead and broke a four-game scoreless streak. Lindo Mfeka created the play, pressing high to win possession as Las Vegas tried to pass out of its defensive end, and his quickly played pass sent Tarn Weir into the left side of the penalty area for a lifted finish past the goalkeeper into the right side of the net.

Las Vegas almost hit back four minutes later as Traore was played into the left side of the penalty area and delivered a low cross that Cal Jennings couldn’t direct on frame. Jennings went close again 10 minutes later as he created space for a shot just inside the penalty area that was tipped just over the crossbar by Blanchette.

The visitors got onto level terms 10 minutes into the second half, however, as after a cross into the penalty area came to Jennings for a shot that was blocked, the ball caromed to the top of the penalty area where Crisostomo fired a first-time shot that found the bottom-left corner of the net. Lights FC then went close to going ahead seven minutes later as Christian Torres threaded a through-ball that sent Musovski in one-on-one with Blanchette, but the goalkeeper won the showdown with a strong save before covering the ball.

Las Vegas continued to push forward in pursuit of a second goal and Blanchette was called into action again with 17 minutes to go as Alvaro Quezada moved onto an angled ball to the left by Mohamed Traore that allowed him a shooting chance from the left side of the penalty area that was turned wide. Off the ensuing corner, the delivery remained alive in the penalty area and Leone reacted quickly to stab home a finish from the top of the six-yard area into the right corner of the net.

Roots SC had a chance to level with seven minutes to go as Saalih Muhammad played a give-and-go with Memo Diaz to get into space in the right side of the penalty area, but his low shot was saved by Lights FC goalkeeper Alex Rando. The visitors then had a chance to put the game away in stoppage time as Eric Duenas released Traore in on goal, only for Blanchette to make another save. Oakland was unable to find a way through for an equalizer in the remaining minutes, however, as Lights FC picked up its second road win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Daniel Crisostomo, Las Vegas Lights FC – Crisostomo scored Lights FC’s first goal on the night and had a strong night overall, completing two key passes and 48 of 53 passes overall while making 10 recoveries in midfield.

Scoring Summary
OAK – Tarn Weir (Lindo Mfeka) 24’
LV – Daniel Crisostomo 55’
LV – Tony Leone 74’

Full Box Score