Roots fans it is game day already again! Roots host Las Vegas lights at 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Coliseum on March 29, 2025. The match will be broadcast on KTVU Plus and ESPN Plus. Roots are in difficult form, without a win in their first three. Vegas have only played two, with an odd, early season bye, but are 1-0-1 with a win over Tampa Bay Rowdies and a loss to New Mexico United.
Lights’ Form
Mixed! A win over Tampa Bay Rowdies usually seems like it means something, but through three Tampa has losses to Lights and Tulsa and a win over pathetic Miami F.C. Lights’ only other match was this incredible match against New Mexico United. I cannot recommend highly enough that you watch these highlights. Every goal is either excellent or the worst defense you have ever seen.
The available stats (and to the extent those mean anything through two games) say that Lights’ offense is terrible, despite the off-season addition of Roots legend Johnny Rodriguez. While their defense does not rate terribly in terms of xG, I think if you watch the highlights above you will see why they might concede a lot without conceding a lot of xG. Just insane giveaways under pressure. I think Glinton has said that this is the kind of thing he has built the Roots to try to create, so I think it’s a good match-up for the Roots if they can execute it. If they can’t execute it against the Lights, then I think it’s worth asking when they will be able to.
Roots’ Form
It’s too early in the season to be mad, so I’m just going to not be mad.
The highlights don’t really do it justice, but Roots went toe-to-toe with San Antonio for long stretches of that game. Justin Rasmussen’s bicycle kick goal to equalize was clutch for ensuring that San Antonio could not just sit back the whole match. When San Antonio ultimately went ahead for good, you could see that if San Antonio did not need to attack, Roots would struggle to make much headway. Glinton’s substitions did not seem to make much happen. Sinisterra was not as lively off the bench and Damm had ten great minutes and then disappeared entirely. I think that is likely San Antonio’s stifling defense. It is worth considering that Roots are the only team to score against San Antonio through three matches.
Lineup and Score Predictions
Bloom
I agree with Jon that I would like to see Cam in midfield, but given when he came off last week, I am not sure we will be seeing him. I am curious when Byaruhanga and Spiegel will be available, but neither was on the bench last week, so I am skeptical they could start.
I am making a lot of hay about Vegas’s defensive mistakes based on one game, but we have to hope for something, right? It starts clicking this week. 3-1 Roots.
Jon
I’m going with the same exact lineup I listed last week. Sure, Camden Riley could get his fourth straight start at RB, but I still think he’s a better midfielder and provides a more effective pivot alongside Tyler Gibson than Danny Gomez. With that, I have Jurgen Damm at RB to provide a boost going forward.
Roots win, 2-1.
Aaron
Roots 4-2. I agree with what Peter said on the Pod: we need to see as much of the A1 lineup out there as is possible. I’m itching to see a lineup that includes Rasmussen, Damm, Wilson, Sinisterra, Armenakas, and Byaruhanga. To me, every other position on the pitch is already up for debate every week, although I don’t anticipate a lot of rotation yet. I predicted a 2-1 scoreline on the Pod, but, on reflection, I’ve doubled everything because (1) I would like to see a bunch of goals, and (2) Roots matches are averaging nearly 5 goals per at the moment, so I guess I would like to see more of the same, but with a scoreline in the Roots’ favor.