Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

Welcome to Episode 337, the final episode about Vancouver for 2024! Yaaaay!

In a nail-biter of a match, LAFC dispatches the Whitecaps from the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row, taking out the Canucks 1-0 on home ice at BMO Stadium. A bit of Matty Magic was all it took, with Aaron Long starting the party for him. 

LAFC moves on to face the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Semis after the totally normal international break in between playoff rounds. Enjoy 337!

LAFC takes on Vancouver. Now tell us, when was the last time you heard that?

It's Episode 336, and, yes, for the 11th time in two seasons, it's about Vancouver. This one, however, stung, as LAFC put up their worst performance on the road in quite some time in a 3-0 loss to Vancouver in the second match of the best-of-three First Round Playoff affair. 

In a goal eerily resembling the stoppage-timer from last match, Ryan Gauld got the home side off to a dream start just 10 minutes in. Three minutes later, the Ryan-to-Ryan connection was made for the first time this season, as Ryn Gauld found a streaking... Ryan Hollingshead... with a deft cross, and the home side was up 2-0. Though LAFC put up a solid effort for the first 20 minutes of the second half, the nail was provided by one of our own, as Eddie Segura put away another beautiful ball by Ryan Gauld to make it 3-0. Yikes. 

Also on this episode... not much else. Yes, we talk about the first IG post in LAFC history, and Mario expecting a baby boy, but at the end of the day... it's the Whitecaps. Again. But don't worry, the boys will be ready to do it one more time in 2024, as LAFC takes on Vancouver on Friday to settle the series, with the season on the line. Enjoy!

It's Scarf. It's the 11th time LAFC plays Vancouver in 2 seasons. And it's absolutely vital that the Black and Gold put the Whitecaps away on the road to advance to the Western Semis!

The King has returned! For the first time since 2023, Carlos Vela is back on the pitch for LAFC! For the 10th time in two years, LAFC takes on Vancouver. One of those things we love, the other not so much, but we talk about it all on Episode 335!

LAFC, as they have done for much of the last two seasons, dominated a lesser-talented Vancouver side over the course of 90+ minutes. A penalty goal by Denis after great combination play from Bogusz and Giroud set the tone for the first half, putting LAFC up 1-0. Just before the hour mark, excellent build-up and ball movement allowed Cristian Olivera to double the leads. LAFC looked to be cruising when, in the 86', Carlos Vela jogged over to the bench after warming up in front of the North End, signaling the return of El Rey!

Neither Mateusz Bogusz hitting the woodwork twice nor a late, stoppage-time goal for Vancouver could damper the mood at BMO. Our #10 was back, LAFC takes the first playoff match of 2024, and now... we play Vancouver again. Oy.

Also on the pod, CWM Woodwork is a thing. Not really sure how to explain it, but you'll understand after listening to Episode 335. Enjoy! 

This One More Sleep does it's best werewolf impression, morphing into a Playoff Preview MegaPod! Erik Hultstrom and Luke Klipp join Scarf to talk a bit about the regular season, our upcoming matchup with Vancouver, and even a bit of the craziness happening in Chavez Ravine!

On Episode 334, Filly and Scarf recap an absolutely unbelievable Decision Day, both at BMO and in Houston! The subs save the day in LA while a former Carsonite sinks their ship at the death! It was a roller coaster of emotions for about 15 minutes, but LAFC comes out on top in the West as we get set to kick off the Western Conference Playoffs!

Things looked bleak for the first 45' for LAFC, as an early goal by Jackson Yueill, off an ill-advised pass from Eddie Segura, gave the road side a lead and meant that LAFC would need at least three on the day. Another offside goal from Giroud and an anemic first half attack (0 shots on target) sent the club into the halftime break down a goal. But in Houston, an Ezequiel Ponce goal just before the halftime whistle saw the home side take the lead, and left everything to play for at BMO!

LAFC opened the second half a little better, but it was just after the hour mark that LAFC truly woke up. A Denis Bouanga banger off a great Tillman cross leveled things at home, and the reinforcements came on soon after. Kei Kamara, Eduard Atuesta, and, later, Marlon, would all factor in the win. 

Atuesta's first few touches were magic, as he took a great 1-2 ball from Kei and rocketed it home past Daniel to give LAFC the 2-1 lead! With Aaron Long cramping in the 80', the Carlos Vela homecoming was put on hold, as LAFC used their 5th sub to bring on Marlon for Long. Serendipity doesn't always announce itself right away, but it would take Marlon just 10 minutes to become an LAFC hero! 

Off a great Atuesta free kick, Marlon, running in the same channel as Chanot, got his head to the cross and flicked it past Daniel and into the back of the net to give LAFC the 2-goal advantage it needed to move into 1st in the West! With our result secure, everyone turned to their phones, and turned into Dynamo fans! 

Alas, hopes were dashed in the 6th minute of stoppage time, as a Puig penalty call turned into a Pec rocket, and the score was leveled at 1. With the top spot seemingly gone, LAFC had to hope for a miracle, and we got one in the form of Burbank's own Daniel Steres! An 11th-minute stoppage-time header gave Houston an improbable 2-1 win, and handed LAFC the top spot in the West. It was an unreal scene at BMO!

Also on this episode, we remember jewelry made from a plane and wish our LAFC2 boys well in their first playoff match. What a night at BMO! Now, as Ilie said, "the best is yet to come!" 

We made it to Decision Day and to the final regular season episode of One More Sleep. Filly and Scarf preview LAFC's final home game of the season against the Earthquakes. 

It's Episode 333, the number of the beast as far as Vancouver is concerned. LAFC travels up to the PNW and steals 3 points from a much-deserving Whitecaps side! Matty gets an early one, Ilie seals it late, and the boys still have Western Conference crown hopes as we meet Decision Day head-on. 

It took all of 32 seconds for LAFC to get on the board, the second-fastest goal in club history. David Martinez supplies a perfect pass to a streaking Mateusz Bogusz, whose deft chip eludes both defender and keeper and puts the good guys up 1. After the break, a Sergi Palencia yellow and a Sergi Palencia own goal in short succession put the West in peril, and Vancouver had plenty of other bites at the cherry. 

Timothy Tillman makes the save of the match, denying Damir Kreilach on the line, and LAFC headed to stoppage needed a miracle. Enter Ilie Sanchez, with some massive help from The Wunderkid, Nathan Ordaz! Nate splits 2 defenders with a sick move, finds Kei Kamara, who quickly slots it to a wide-open Ilie. Just like Aaron Long last match, the unlikely hero Ilie plays the role of savior, and LAFC is up 2-1. Thank goodness the soccer gods blinked for a second, as Brian White's header at the death struck all post and no netting, and it's LAFC with everything to play for on Decision Day.

Also on this episode, Scarf does all the math and permutations for Decision Day, Filly enjoys Dodger Stadium for Game 2, and the boys wish both a former and current player happy birthday! Enjoy 333!

Its the 20th meeting all time between LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Filly and Scarf preview LAFC's trip back to BC Place.