The 2019 USL Championship could hardly have started better for Energy FC. In Week 1, the Greens went down to El Paso and spoiled the party for expansion side El Paso Locomotive FC, coming away 3-1 winners and bringing three points back to Oklahoma City.

Deshorn Brown looked every bit the part of a Golden Boot candidate, as he picked up a brace, including the second-fastest goal in league history, when he found the back of the net after just 12 seconds.

While winning away was the perfect start to the campaign, focus quickly shifted to the home opener, as Las Vegas Lights FC come to Taft Stadium Saturday night. Energy FC did the double over Vegas in 2018, with a 6-4 win in July at home in the USL Championship Game of the Week on ESPNews and a 1-0 victory in September at Cashman Field, where Brown scored his first goal in an Energy FC shirt.

The Opposition

Lights FC are a bit of an unknown at this stage with new manager, and US Soccer legend, Eric Wynalda at the helm and only five returning players from 2018. They did, however, go 7-0-1 in preseason, including a couple of impressive results: a 5-1 win and 2-2 draw against MLS clubs Toronto FC and Colorado Rapids, respectively.

Vegas opened up league play at home last weekend and drew 0-0 with expansion club Austin Bold FC, despite outshooting the visitors 18-8. Goalkeeper Thomas Olsen kept his first clean sheet in the USL Championship, after making his professional debut last season when the Greens visited Vegas.

Against Austin, Lights FC were definitely the aggressor. They are a young, quick team that likes to play a high press and try to force their opponents into mistakes, as evidenced by Austin’s 59% passing accuracy in Week 1.

Ones to Watch

Forward Irvin Parra is the main goal-scoring threat after impressing throughout preseason which included a brace against Orange County SC.

Javan Torre leads the backline. The 2016 MLS SuperDraft pick by Colorado Rapids most recently featured for Germany club FSV Frankfurt before returning to the United States.

Brown and his teammates want nothing more than to win in front of the home fans in the opener.

“We know it’s going to be a tough one, but we have to be ready and give the fans what they deserve. It’s a very exciting time of the season, so we are going to prepare ourselves and get ready for Saturday.”

Rafael Garcia isn’t taking anything for granted against his former club either.

“It’s a brand new team from the one they had last year. We know they are a good team with a lot of quality, and they are going to make it hard for us. We’re not taking it lightly by any means, so we’re going to prepare and are excited to play in front of our own fans.”

With a much improved OKC backline, don’t expect the Greens to give up another four goals at home. Scoring six might be unlikely as well, but with the Energy FC attack as strong as it is, it’s never impossible.

There are still some tickets available for Saturday night’s home opener. Visit energyfc.com/march16 or call 235-KICK to see this team in action for the first time at Historic Taft Stadium!