Phoenix Rising FC held off a spirited Las Vegas Lights FC comeback to win 3–2 at home on Saturday night in USL Championship action. Ihsan Sacko scored twice and Gunnar Studenthofft added another as Phoenix built a commanding first-half lead, only for Patrick Leal and Oalex Anderson to pull Las Vegas within a goal in the second half.

Phoenix took control early. Sacko opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finishing off a ball from Jean Eric Moursou to make it 1–0. Six minutes later, Studenthofft doubled the advantage, converting from a Daniel Flores feed. The hosts weren't done before the break — Sacko grabbed his second deep into first-half stoppage time to send Phoenix into halftime with a 3–0 cushion.

The second half was a different story. Las Vegas came out with urgency, and Leal cut the deficit in the 77th minute after a pass from Anderson. The same two combined again eight minutes later, this time with Anderson on the finishing end and Leal providing the assist, making it 3–2 with five minutes of regulation remaining.

The final stretch turned scrappy. Phoenix picked up a pair of yellow cards in second-half stoppage time — Pape Boye and Dominique Badji both cautioned — as the hosts did what they needed to protect the lead. Las Vegas pressed but couldn't find a third.

The result keeps Phoenix Rising FC's push in the Western Conference standings alive heading into the final stretch of the regular season, while Las Vegas will rue a first half that left them with too much ground to make up.