Las Vegas Lights FC and FC Tulsa spent Saturday night feeling each other out, then spent the second half trying to steal it, settling for a 0-0 draw at Cashman Field that kept the Lights steady at home and Tulsa near the top of the West.
Las Vegas moved to 3-3-5 with 12 points. Tulsa is 4-4-2 with 16 points. Attendance was 2,939.
Tulsa sits deep, Lights take the ball
Tulsa arrived in a 5-4-1 and played like a road team protecting a point. The Lights took the invitation, finishing with 63% possession and an 11-9 edge in shots. Las Vegas also held a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal, but Tulsa’s block stayed compact and forced most attempts into traffic.
The match stayed controlled. Tulsa picked up the only yellow card, with Alonzo Clarke booked in the 68th minute. The Lights finished without a booking.
Second half brings the push
Both benches started moving at the hour. Tulsa made a double change in the 60th minute, bringing on Giordano Colli and Rémi Cabral, then added Raheem Somersall in the 82nd and Harvey St Clair in the 88th.
Las Vegas responded with its own changes as it hunted a late winner. Abraham Okyere came off in the 66th minute. Then the Lights added Giorgio Probo and Carson Locker together in the 78th, and Ben Mines entered in the 88th as the home side tried to add one more wave.
One big look that never drops
The closest moment came late. In remarks released by Lights communications, coach Devin Rensing said the group had to show more urgency earlier, but he also praised the clean sheet.
“It’s good to get another clean sheet and be undefeated at home; I’m proud of that,” Rensing said.
The final push nearly paid off. Lights communications noted a stoppage-time chance where Probo delivered a cross that found Okyere at the back post, but the header sailed over, and Cashman never got the release it wanted.
Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, making his third straight start, said through Lights communications that the group felt closer to turning control into goals.
“Disappointed we couldn’t pull out a win there,” Stajduhar said. “I feel like there was goals in that game for us.”
Up next
The Lights shift back to USL Cup play next, hosting Oakland Roots SC on Saturday, June 6, at Cashman Field for Donate Life Night.
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.
