Lights FC lose preseason debut in front of sellout crowd
Updated February 11, 2018 - 2:46 am

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Gerardo Lugo (23) attempts a kick to the goal against Montreal Impact during an exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC fans cheer on their team in the exhibition match against Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact players get into a scuffle during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montreal Impact’s Michael Salazar (19) celebrates his goal against the Las Vegas Lights FC during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC head coach Jose Luis Sa´nchez Sola´ during the exhibition match against Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Oscar Hernandez (11) goes for the ball against Montreal Impact’s Cle´ment Diop (23) and Zakaria Diallo (5) during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montreal Impact’s Saphir Taider (8) pushes Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Julian Portugal (26) during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Thomas Matt (21) kicks the ball with pressure from Montreal Impact’s Chris Duvall (18) during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Alatorre (16) makes a pass against Montreal Impact during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montreal Impact's Cle´ment Bayiha (92) fights for the ball against and Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Julian Portugal (26) during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Montreal won 2-0. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights' goalkeeper Ricardo Ferrino grabs the ball while playing against Montreal Impact during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Fans in line outside of Cashman Field for the exhibition match between the Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Sofia Mancilla, 4, and her father Luis, attend the exhibition match between the Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

A fan waves a flag during the exhibition match between the Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman gets ready to take the field for the exhibition match between the Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman gets ready to take the field for the exhibition match between the Las Vegas Lights FC and Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Gerardo Lugo (23) takes the field for the exhibition match against the Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC fans cheer on their team in the exhibition match against Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Alex Mendoza (14) and Marcelo Carlos Alvarez (12) fights for the ball against Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti (10) during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montreal Impact’s Matteo Mancosu (21) receives a yellow card in the exhibition match against the Las Vegas Light FC at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montreal Impact’s Jeisson Vargas (16) and Las Vegas Lights FC Marcelo Alex Mendoza (14) fight for the ball during the exhibition match at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Damian Gomez has his photo taken by his father Alvaro Gomez before the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Fans cheer and wave flags before the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Fans cheer and wave flags before the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Fans cheer and wave flags before the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Montreal's Jeisson Vargas tries to keep the ball away from the Las Vegas Light's Marcelo Alatorre and Alex Mendoza tries to interject from the left side during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Las Vegas Lights' Joel Huiqui chests the ball while being chased by Montreal Impact players Matteo Mancosu, left, and Ken Krolicki, right, during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Las Vegas Lights' Joel Huiqui head butts the ball while playing against Montreal Impact during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

An excited fan catches a stray ball during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game playing against the Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Las Vegas Lights' goalkeeper Ricardo Ferrino grabs the ball while Montreal's Raheem Edwards tries to intercept during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Players compete for a head butt during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game playing against the Montreal Impact at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Las Vegas Lights fans cheer while playing against Montreal Impact during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Las Vegas Lights' Carlos Alvarez tries to keep ahead of Montreal's Ken Krolicki during the first Las Vegas Lights FC game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
The Lights FC preseason debut was nearly flawless except for the outcome.
The United Soccer League club brought out fans early for its pregame tailgate party, had a sellout crowd of 10,387 at its first match at Cashman Field and got its supporters’ section chanting early and often throughout the game. The team ended up selling standing-room only tickets and delayed kickoff to get its big crowd into its stadium, but once the match started Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact proved to be the better side.
The Impact scored in the 64th and 66th minute to win 2-0, even though their starting group failed to score against the Lights. Goalkeeper Ricardo Ferrino kept Montreal out of the net even though the MLS controlled possession in the first half, but his mistakes in the second half ultimately led to the loss.
“The first half was very organized. The second half was just certain mistakes at certain times,” Lights midfielder Julian Portugal said. “Just little minor tweaks that we need to fix.”
The Lights offense managed to match the Impact in shots with six, though none of the former’s were on goal. Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola said the team was just a little off in the final third, something the Lights can work on before they return to Cashman Field to play another MLS team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, on Saturday.
“I want all the fans to give us a (another) chance next Saturday,” Sola, who played 17 of the 27 members of the team’s preseason roster, said.
Both Impact goals were earned, even though nine of Montreal’s 11 starters were subbed out before it scored. One minute after the team took out seven starters, forward Michael Salazar was able to get around Ferrino, who came way out of the box, and score the game’s first goal.
Two minutes later, the Impact brought pressure again, and the Lights recorded an own goal when Ferrino bounced a ball off a defender and into the net. The goalkeeper’s night ended in the 68th minute when he attempted to dribble around an attacker, lost the ball and took down the attacker to avoid giving up an easy goal.
Ferrino was given a red card, ejected from the game, and Rancho high school alumnus Angel Alvarez replaced him.
The mistakes came after Ferrino dazzled the crowd in the first half, leaping out of the box in the 17th minute to make a save with his head. He also turned around to apologize to the crowd after firing a poor kick four minutes later, and gave a finger wag to an opponent after making a save in the 23rd minute.
The team needs to make sure its goalkeepers’ antics aren’t its only on-field highlights, but its turnout still should offer plenty of hope heading into its inaugural season.
“I’m very excited to see the enthusiasm of all the fans,” Lights defender Marcelo Alatorre said through a translator. “I wasn’t expecting that, so it’s been a great surprise.”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.