Las Vegas Lights FC finally took a road result and made it count Saturday night. Oalex Anderson scored early, Johnny Rodriguez added the winner after halftime and the Lights held off Birmingham Legion FC 2-1 at Protective Stadium.
It was Las Vegas’ first road victory of the 2026 USL Championship season. The Lights improved to 4-3-5 with 15 points.
Anderson opens it with a flash
Las Vegas struck first in the 15th minute, and Anderson supplied the finish. Manuel Arteaga served the ball in from a wide area, according to the club recap, and Anderson turned it into a diving header to put the Lights up 1-0.
Birmingham had more of the ball, finishing with 54% possession, but Las Vegas was sharper in the moments that mattered. The Lights put four shots on goal to Birmingham’s two and forced Jassem Koleilat into two saves.
Rodriguez misses, then answers
The Lights had a chance to double the lead before halftime when Rodriguez stepped to the spot in stoppage time. His penalty was saved at 45+3, leaving Las Vegas with only a one-goal cushion at the break.
However, Rodriguez did not waste his next big look. He scored in the 60th minute to make it 2-0, with Christian Pinzon credited by the club recap on the setup. Rodriguez finished with five shots and two on goal, giving Las Vegas the attacking edge it needed on the road.
Late pressure, big hold
Birmingham made it tense late when Sebastian Saucedo scored in the 89th minute. Saucedo was later booked at 90+5 as the match stretched into a frantic finish.
Mason Stajduhar only needed one save, but it mattered. Las Vegas also finished with 17 clearances, showing the amount of defending required to protect the lead.
Road points hit different
Defender Aaron Guillen, in remarks posted on the Lights’ team page, called the road win important because of how tight the table is.
“It was important to get the three points on the road,” Guillen said.
Coach Devin Rensing also praised the effort through the team page, calling it “a great performance” and “a really, really gutsy performance.”
For a team still trying to find rhythm away from Cashman, this one mattered. It was not perfect, but it was tough, efficient and finally enough on the road.
Up next
Las Vegas returns to Cashman Field at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, to face Orange County SC on World Soccer Night. The Lights enter at 4-3-5 with 15 points, while Orange County comes in at 5-5-2 with 20 points.
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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.
