Las Vegas Lights FC showed real bite Saturday afternoon at Weidner Field, erasing a two-goal deficit in four frantic minutes before a late own goal flipped the points back to Colorado Springs in a 3-2 loss. The Lights got a brace from Abraham Okyere, but they left Colorado with nothing after Benjamin Ofeimu’s own goal in the 85th minute decided it.
Colorado Springs controlled most of the match, and the numbers back it up. The Switchbacks finished with 62.9% possession, a 21-9 edge in shots and an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, forcing Lights goalkeeper Jared Mazzola into six saves. Las Vegas absorbed pressure for long stretches, then turned the match into a track meet when it finally found its moments in the final third.
A scoreless hour, then the match opens up
The first half and much of the second played like a slow squeeze, with Colorado Springs circulating the ball and Las Vegas defending in a compact 4-2-3-1. Even so, the Lights stayed alive because they limited clean looks early and Mazzola handled what did get through. However, the dam broke after the hour mark when Levonte Johnson put the Switchbacks ahead in the 60th minute.
Colorado Springs doubled the lead in the 70th minute through Jonas Fjellberg, and at 2-0 it looked like Las Vegas was headed for a long day. Instead, the Lights finally started to attack with more vertical intent, and the game flipped quickly once they got runners into the box and played with urgency.
Okyere flips the momentum
Okyere sparked the comeback with a goal in the 75th minute, then struck again in the 79th to make it 2-2, a brace in four minutes that changed the entire feel of the match. Las Vegas had energy, Colorado Springs looked rattled, and the Lights suddenly had a point in their hands after spending most of the afternoon chasing.
Still, the Switchbacks kept pushing, and Las Vegas could not quite settle the match back down. With Colorado Springs winning territory and second balls, the deciding play arrived in the 85th minute, credited as an own goal to Ofeimu, a harsh finish to a comeback that deserved at least a draw.
What it means
For Las Vegas, the takeaway is clear. The Lights can score in bursts when they play direct and commit numbers, and Okyere proved he can punish a defense when the chances finally come. At the same time, it is tough to live on that edge when you spend most of the match without the ball, especially on the road against a team that can generate volume, as Colorado Springs did with seven corners and constant pressure.
The Lights are 0-1-1 through two matches, with one point after the opening-night draw at Orange County and this loss in Colorado Springs. The results are not there yet, but the response down 2-0 showed a pulse that can travel if Las Vegas cleans up the closing minutes.
Up next
The Lights stay on the road for one more match, visiting FC Tulsa at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at ONEOK Field. Then Las Vegas returns for the home opener against Monterey Bay FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
Related stories
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
