LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC will make its debut in the USL Championship Playoffs when it hosts Sacramento Republic FC, which enters its 10th postseason aiming to make a run at its second league title, in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix. Kickoff at Cashman Field is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Las Vegas Lights FC (13-10-11, 50pts) – The Lights earned their first trip to the postseason in their seventh season in the USL Championship as the offseason acquisition of the club by six-time MLB All-Star José Bautista changed the direction of the club on and off the field. Featuring an entirely new squad led by Head Coach Dennis Sanchez, Las Vegas achieved a 31-point increase from the 2023 campaign, tied for the second-largest such year-on-year rise. The side was led in attack by Khori Bennett, who notched a career-best 14 goals, while Noël Valentin recorded 10 goals and seven assists as the Lights set single-season club records for points and victories over the regular season, at one point suffering only one defeat in 20 contests as they moved into the top four in the Western Conference standings.

Sacramento Republic FC (13-11-10, 49pts) – Republic FC booked its return to the postseason comfortably after ending May as the last undefeated side in the USL Championship but enters the postseason on a downturn that saw it drop out of the top four in the West on the final day of the regular season after finishing top of the conference a season ago. Sacramento is winless in its last five games, the first such streak the side has endured since 2021 – the lone season in club history in which it missed the postseason – but there have been bright spots including another sterling season from goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, who tied for the league-lead with 14 shutouts, and forward Kieran Phillips, who notched 12 goals and three assists to lead the club’s attack.

All-Time Series

Sacramento Republic FC holds the series lead with seven wins to the Lights’ four and three drawn contests all-time in the USL Championship, but Las Vegas took victories in both meetings between the sides this season including a 2-1 win on September 21 at Cashman Field that saw Khori Bennett and Christian Pinzon find the net.

Opta Says

15 – Las Vegas allowed only seven goals from set pieces in the regular season, which stands as only 15 percent of the goals conceded by the Lights, the lowest percentage of goals allowed in that category by any club.

44 – Sacramento Republic FC recorded shutouts in 44 percent of its contests in the regular season, the second-highest shutout rate in the USL Championship.

Players to Watch

Las Vegas Lights FC – J.C. Ngando: The Cameroonian provided a two-way engine in the Lights’ midfield, averaging 54.8 passes per 90 minutes while recording five assists, a league-leading 17 big chances created, 32 interceptions and 31 tackles won to earn a +8.43 Goals Added rating, the best among Defensive Midfielders in American Soccer Analysis’ model.

Sacramento Republic FC – Kieran Phillips: The English forward recorded 12 goals and three assists to lead Republic FC’s attack. He had strung together a run of eight consecutive games with a goal contribution that came to an end in the final game of the regular season to find a positive run of form late in the season.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Las Vegas Lights FC – No suspensions

Sacramento Republic FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Elton Garcia
AR1: Darren Bandy
AR2: Brian Marshall
4TH: Brandon Stevis