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Gameday Report: Trejo Strikes Twice as Lights FC Rallies Past Battery

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/01/22, 9:06PM EDT

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Las Vegas overcomes early deficit as Mexican forward moves to Championship-high five goals this season

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Danny Trejo scored both goals as Las Vegas Lights FC rallied from an early deficit to take a 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery on Friday night at Patriots Point, giving Trejo a league-leading five goals so far this season.

The Battery once again made a fast start and were awarded a penalty kick in the seventh minute when Aidan Apodaca was brought down in the box as he cut toward a near-post cross from the right. Augustine Williams stepped up for the hosts and shot low to the left corner, sending Lights FC goalkeeper Abraham Romero the opposite way. Charleston had a chance to double their lead four minutes later when Lights FC didn’t properly clear a corner kick, but Brett St. Martin’s half-volleyed effort went wide from 12 yards.

Las Vegas gradually came further into the game and in the 33rd minute created a good chance off a shot corner on the left that came to Frank Daroma at the top-left edge of the penalty area for a shot that Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky had to parry behind. The visitors leveled in first-half stoppage time, though as Cal Jennings split the Battery defense to find the run of Trejo, who cut past Kuzminsky and finished shortly before the halftime whistle.

Charleston almost regained the lead seven minutes into the second half when Williams seized on a short backpass by Dekel Keinan only to be denied at the top of the penalty area by Romero. The ball caromed to Apodaca, but Lights FC defender Alex Lara cleared off the goal line as he covered for his goalkeeper. That proved key as Trejo struck again in the 56th minute as he created space in the left side of the penalty area and drove home a near-post finish to put Lights FC ahead.

Trejo had a chance to complete his hat trick with 10 minutes to go after a similar set-up to his second goal, but Kuzminsky made a good one-handed save to turn his shot from the left side of the box over the crossbar. It proved academic, however, as the Battery were unable to rally and suffered their third consecutive defeat.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Danny Trejo, Las Vegas Lights FC – Trejo continued his outstanding start to the season with his second two-goal performance on four shots overall while also completing 25 of 30 passes.

Scoring Summary
CHS
– Augustine Williams (Penalty Kick) 8’
LV – Danny Trejo (Cal Jennings) 45+2’
LV – Danny Trejo (Frank Daroma) 56’

Full Box Score

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