ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Khori Bennett scored in the 86th minute as Las Vegas Lights FC took a 1-0 victory against New Mexico United before a crowd of more than 10,000 fans at Isotopes Park in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night.

Playing in their first postseason, the Lights will face either Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC or Orange County SC in the Western Conference Final next weekend.

After an even start, New Mexico created the first good look on goal in the 16th minute when Marco Micaletto took advantage of a turnover in midfield but curled his effort wide of the right post. Mukwelle Akale and Will Seymore both then tested Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena with efforts before the Cuban international made an outstanding kick-save to deny Marlon Vargas’ first-time effort to the bottom-right corner to keep the game scoreless at the break.

United continued to press in attack early in the second half as Zico Bailey forced another low save by Arozarena before the Lights got their first good sight of goal through Solomon Asante, whose effort from 25 yards went just wide of the top-right corner. Seymore again went close for the hosts, meanwhile, off a short corner kick on the left that saw Micaletto curl a back-post cross the defender headed just wide.

After struggling to create chances throughout the game, however, the Lights struck with four minutes to go. A turnover in midfield gave possession to Las Vegas’ Christian Pinzon, and he quickly released Bennett through the center on a counterattack from where the Canadian forward calmly finished under pressure from 16 yards for his 15th goal of the season.  

New Mexico threw numbers forward in pursuit of an equalizer, and went close in stoppage time when Avionne Flanagan’s free kick from 25 yards went just wide of the top-left corner. That would be the final chance for the hosts, however, as the Lights earned a second consecutive postseason shutout to hold on.

Three Things That Mattered

1. AROZARENA HOLDS IT DOWN: If you’ve watched some of Raiko Arozarena’s performances for Cuba in the last two years, then what he’s done over the first two weeks of this postseason might not come as a surprise. While New Mexico had the upper hand in terms of chances on Saturday night, they were unable to find a way past the Lights’ shot-stopper, who shone again with a second consecutive shutout. The pick of Arozarena’s saves was likely his kick-save on Marlon Vargas in the first half, but each proved crucial as Las Vegas’ postseason run continued.

2. BENNETT MAKES HIS CHANCE COUNT: Officially, Khori Bennett was credited with a shot for the jammed effort between himself and a defender early in the game that resulted in the ball being easily cleared by the defense. When the Canadian got a clear look on goal with the chance to decide the contest, however, he took it smartly for the Lights’ first official postseason goal in club history. As much possession as the Lights had – holding almost two-thirds of the ball – Bennett wasn’t involved regularly, registering only 24 touches, but he did what all good forwards typically do and was clinical when he needed to be.

3. ONE MISTAKE COSTS NEW MEXICO: On one hand, New Mexico United played this game almost to perfection. Figuring the Lights would want to possess, the hosts let them and effectively suffocated them when they entered the final third before springing forward and looking far more dangerous in the attacking half. Las Vegas had 74 final third entries to United’s 36, but New Mexico had 30 touches in the Lights’ penalty area to 12 for the visitors and held an 8-2 advantage in shots inside the box. All of that was unfortunately undone by Zico Bailey’s intercepted pass the Lights seized on to score the only goal. It’s a sour way for a great season to end, especially when United had the plan and almost the execution to earn victory themselves.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Game

Raiko Arozarena, Las Vegas Lights FC – For a second consecutive postseason outing, Arozarena came up with key saves for the Lights as he notched a seven-save shutout to earn his second postseason shutout.

Scoring Summary
LV – Khori Bennett (Christian Pinzón) 86’

Full Box Score