Freddy Adu scored his first goal for the Las Vegas Lights on his 29th birthday on Saturday. And despite helping his team to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Adu was upstaged by some crazy antics by goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño Treviño.
The Las Vegas Lights, perhaps the most entertaining team in soccer, won for just the third time all season on Saturday but they did it in some style. Carlos Alvarez scored on a long-range bomb in the first half before goals from Adu, Samuel Ochoa Oregel and Matthew Thomas sealed the win.
Freddy Adu debuted with the Lights back in February, supplying an assist in his first appearance with the USL side, the 13th club of his career. But he had yet to score this season, until Saturday.
HERE IT IS @FreddyAdu’s first goal with Lights FC, a beautiful lefty finish to put is up 2-0 in a must-win match. #LVvCOS | @PlazaLasVegas pic.twitter.com/JGjrzeihVY
— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) June 3, 2018
It was an awkward ball to deal with but Adu did well to put it in the back of the net.
Normally a goal from the man who will surely lead the U.S. to a World Cup championship before his career is over would be the most exciting moment of a match. But Las Vegas Lights keeper Ferriño has no time for that narrative.
Moments after Adu’s goal made it 2-0, Ferriño caught a ball lobbed into his box and took off like a bat out of hell or a goalie who got bored during an indoor match. Ferriño dribbled all the way to midfield before being dispossessed.
Not surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time Ferriño has attempted this sort of madness. In a preseason friendly against the Montreal Impact in February, he attempted to dribble out of his own box and was subsequently given a red card when he took down the player who dispossessed him.
Ricardo Ferriño singlehandedly lost the game for #LightsFC vs #IMFC, but he also provided all the entertainment! A goalkeeper that takes risks, tries to dribble up the field, and tackles players is just a perfect fit for #LasVegas! Chelís must love him. #LVvMTL #USL #Legend pic.twitter.com/nMvLftdbXz
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) February 11, 2018
Honestly, we’d like to see more of this. Sure it’s risky, but we have a feeling Las Vegas coach Chelís would completely support this strategy.
The Las Vegas Lights also added to their reputation as being the craziest club in soccer with some other weird promotions for the 5,000-plus in attendance. There was a sumo halftime penalty kick shootout, an appearance from former NBA star Rick Fox, all fans received free pancakes at Denny’s because the Lights scored two goals and every player received $100 in chips to gamble away at a nearby casino for scoring three-plus goals and winning.
Tonight’s halftime=
A sumo penalty shootout.ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED????! pic.twitter.com/JNywv7Jvgn— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) June 3, 2018
YOU KNOW THE DRILL
3+ goals and a win at home means $100 in @PlazaLasVegas chips for EVERY PLAYER Vegas, baby. pic.twitter.com/2lHbJhRnqe— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) June 3, 2018
What a country we live in.