Photo courtesy Gerard Richardson / Toronto FC
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC got its new era under Head Coach Eric Wynalda underway in impressive style as it posted a 5-1 victory against Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC in front of a crowd of 5,232 at Cashman Field on Saturday afternoon.
Lights FC took the lead seven minutes before halftime when Alex Harlley read a backpass by Toronto defender Laurent Ciman to goalkeeper Alex Bono and won a 50-50 challenge for the ball, allowing him to finish into an open net. Four minutes later off a quick counterattack a long ball upfield sent Irvin Parra into space, and the former Orange County SC forward did enough to get past a trailing defender before finishing past Bono.
Toronto pulled a goal back in the 64th minute through Ryan Telfer, but three minutes later Edwin Rivas scored the first of two goals on the game as a clever flick played him into the left channel for a low finish from 12 yards into the bottom-right corner. Las Vegas again took advantage of a defensive error with four minutes to go as Bryan Arguez placed home a finish from 15 yards into the bottom-left corner, and Rivas capped the display with a diving header in stoppage time for his second of the contest.
“Some really good soccer,” said Wynalda. “Once they got the first couple of minutes and got the nerves out, they realized what kind of game they were in, and they really showed us what their potential is.”
5,232 of you watched this LIVE at Cashman Field .... everyone else, well you guys missed out!!
— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) February 3, 2019
But @FindlayToyota has you covered with the MATCH HIGHLIGHTS of our VICTORY 5-1 over @torontofc. #VivaLights pic.twitter.com/l7oqIJRDS7
- @EricWynalda: "A lot of people will see this on @Twitter and say 'WHAT? 5-1?'. We'll see what the reaction is, but I wouldn't miss that game against @ColoradoRapids"
— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) February 3, 2019
Our insider @harryruiz caught up with Coach E after our 5-1 victory over Toronto FC. #VivaLights pic.twitter.com/zDmstePpl5