Las Vegas Lights FC opened USL Cup group play Saturday night with a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club Boise at Cashman Field, then lost the extra point in a penalty shootout. Boise won the shootout 4-2 after 90 minutes ended level, leaving the Lights with 1 point and Boise with 2 in the group stage opener.
Las Vegas struck first through Nighte Pickering in the 61st minute. However, Boise answered quickly when Keegan Oyler scored in the 64th, and the match stayed locked from there.
Chances were there, finish was not
Even without a second goal, the Lights generated enough pressure to test Boise. Las Vegas finished with 18 shots and five on goal, while Boise had nine shots and four on target. The Lights also won the set-piece battle, earning eight corners to Boise’s one, but the deciding touch never arrived.
Boise carried more possession at 57.6%, yet Las Vegas consistently created danger when it turned play forward. Charlie Lanphier started in goal for the Lights and finished with three saves.
Shootout swings Boise
The shootout opened with Boise’s Robinson Moshobane missing. Pickering converted first for Las Vegas, and the Lights stayed level through makes from Giorgio Probo, Themi Antonoglou and Marc Ybarra.
Boise was perfect after the opening miss. Jake Dengler, Jake Crull, Moussa Ndiaye and Dominic Gasso all converted, and Boise claimed the shootout 4-2.
Cup mindset stays simple
Before the double-match week, forward Ben Mines said the approach does not change just because it’s a cup match. “I think the goal of any competition is to win it,” Mines said. “We got to take it one step at a time.”
Up next
Las Vegas returns to USL Championship play next, hosting Lexington at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Cashman Field.
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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.
