With vengeance on their minds, Tacoma Defiance are in action at Cashman Field facing the Las Vegas Lights. Lights won the previous match this season 2-0 with Cal Jennings and Bryce Duke scoring. Neither player is available for Vegas tonight.

No team is more dependent on loandowns to get wins than Las Vegas - only two of their 12 goals and none of their assists come from non-MLS talents.

Defiance will be without most of their own loandowns as the Sounders play Sunday night and the roster is stretched thin at this time. That means that Wade Webber will have to count on his signed talent to perform in their quest for a first road win of 2021.

Why You Should Watch

1. Forward Battle: Brian Schmetzer absolutely needs a 4th forward. There’s an opportunity for one of Alec Diaz or Samuel Adeniran to earn that MLS contract, if they perform consistently. Over the past four matches both have two starts and two sub appearances. Both have scored a single goal. The opportunity is there. Who will grab it?
2. Backup right wingback: The Seattle Sounders backup right back is a guy with a single start there (Rowe). He’s also the backup DM and 10. The opportunity for Issa Rayyan, Alex Villaneuva, Randy Mendoza, or someone else to take the step up is there. Rayyan is the natural for that spot, but Seattle may decide to go with an HGP or more defensive answer instead.
3. Sounders v LAFC rivalry, reducto: Now that Vegas are basically the Defiance of LAFC these two sides play with a bit more bite than they did back when they collected red cards like poker chips. Lights versus Defiance was already a funky rivalry and now that song added another instrument.

Lineups

Looks like a 3-4-3 for Tacoma.

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, July 3, 7:30 PM PT

Venue: Cashman Field I Las Vegas

Online Streaming: ESPN+ (affiliate link)

Defiance Injuries: None reported

Lights Injuries: Philip Ejimad is out