It's almost time for the CONCACAF Champions League Final, with a berth in the Club World Cup at stake! With LAFC on the precipice of writing yet another incredible chapter in their short but already storied history, it's time for the LAFC #PodFam to unite and record our CCL Final Preview SUPERPOD!

On this very, very special episode, "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert hosts as the voices on many of your favorite LAFC podcasts chat about all things LAFC, Leon, CCL, and much more! Josef Zacher and Araceli Villanueva (Heart of LAFC), Jonathan Reimer (Shoulder 2 Shoulder), Erik Hultstrom (Voices of the Black and Gold), Luke Klipp (LGBT FC), Travis Helwig (Happy Foot Sad Foot), and Christian "Filly" Filimon (Defenders of the Banc) form a round table not seen since the days of King Arthur!

Watch and listen as the panel dreams of a date with Manchester City (or Inter Milan), breaks down Leon's performance over the last calendar year, and regales the tales of Away Days spent in exotic locales like Costa Rica or... Vancouver. We even go around the panel debating who should play in our new game: Start or Sit! 

Which player outside the XI will have the most impact in the final? How many goals will Denis Bouanga have? Will either Jesus Murillo or Giorgio Chiellini be healthy enough to play? And how many Hello Kittys will make an appearance on the Superpod?!? 

You'll have your answers to all these questions and more as we await the two-legged final vs. Leon! Enjoy the Superpod!

Welcome to Episode 252 of Defenders of the Banc! Normally, this space is reserved for some witty commentary and a recap of the episode. But today, in its place, we choose to use this as an appreciation post to the young kids who put forth such a valiant effort against Carson in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Yes, they fell, 2-0. But there would be nothing to hang their heads about! So, instead of a write-up, here are the names and ages of many of the players who took the pitch for LAFC tonight: 

Javen Romero and Diego Rosales, 17. Erik Duenas and Matheus Maia, 18. Nathan Ordaz, Christian Torres, Armando Avila, Christopher Jaime, and Yekeson Subah, all 19. Stipe Biuk and Julian Gaines, 20. Mahala and Mati Bogusz, 21.

The future is almost here, and it's looking very, very bright indeed! 

Our next episode will certainly be a treat! We are helping to gather the heads of the LAFC #PodFam Families for a CCL Final Superpod, to be recorded Sunday, May 28. No decision on whether it will be LIVE or not, but it will most certainly be fun! Enjoy 252!

Fresh off the milestone of hitting 250 episodes, the boys are right back at it. On Episode 251, we relive recent history, but we switch roles! Two weeks ago, a late penalty doomed LAFC, 2-1, against San Jose. Tonight, a late penalty doomed San Jose, 2-1! It's revenge szn!

The match could not have started any better, but Stipe Biuk opening his account with LAFC just 2:17 into the match. That goal would hold up through the first half, as LAFC carried the lead into the locker room. Just 6 minutes into half number two, however, Miguel Trauco caught everyone napping with a combination shot-cross that knuckled its way into the back of the net and leveled the match at 1. 

Fast forward to deep within second-half stoppage: LAFC gets the benefit of VAR, and a handball by Tanner Beason at the top of the box gifts our captain, Carlos Vela, a chance at the spot. He drives home the winner, and just like that, LAFC is at the top of the table in the West. 

Also on this episode, we celebrate the birth of The 3252! It seems like only yesterday. An old friend becomes a frienemy in San Diego, Cifuentes transfer rumors heat up, and, apparently, our Pride hat is just too much for someone to handle. Enjoy 251, because 252 is coming hot on it's heels!

It's a milestone episode here at Defenders, as Filly, Scarf, and the MILLIONS celebrate making it one-quarter of the way to 1000 episodes! So why aren't the boys more jovial for Episode 250? When you play one of the worst clubs in all the league to a draw, at home, after you had the lead... You'll have to excuse us for not breaking out the party hats. 

All the scoring was done in the first 20 minutes, as Denis Bouanga hits double digits just mere moments before Johnny Russell pulls one right back. From there on out, the game vacillated between boring, frustrating, and the occasional exciting moment for the Black and Gold. LAFC had a late goal by Ryan Hollingshead called back on a questionable offside while Eldin Jakupovic saves our bacon in stoppage time. All in all, a frustrating draw, 1-1, but... still not a loss. 

Also on this episode, we take a moment to honor and thank Brandon Tsay, Nathan Ordaz makes his MLS debut, and the Defenders take a quick look back on the over 260 hours of content they've created thus far. Enjoy 250, because 251 is coming right around the corner!

Just one episode away from a nice milestone, Filly and Scarf chat about one of our better performances of the season, a 3-0 pummeling of RSL in Sandy, Utah. It's Episode 249, and on this episode, we break down the match, and touch on all the LAFC news and notes of the past week. 

LAFC started out hot, with an early goal, as Filly predicted. Mahala's 9th minute banger gave the Black and Gold a lead they would never relinquish. In the 15', however, some consternation for LAFC, as Kellyn goes down hurt and has to come off. Both LAFC's defense and Carlos Vela's ankle bent a bit over the next 30 minutes, but nothing too severe on either side. And in the 35', a rocket from Bouanga off the easiest assist Carlos will ever have doubles the lead and puts the boys up 2-0 at the half, just as Scarf predicted!

The second half was... boring. With LAFC content to possess and RSL doing little to counter or press for the first 15-20 minutes, the match slogged through syrup. A goal-saving clearance by Timothy Tillman on an Olimpico attempt was about all there was to talk about other than the insertion of Anderson Julio. But Julio would make his presence felt, literally and figuratively, colliding cleanly with John McCarthy in the 68'. McCarthy would stay down for a bit, holding his shoulder, but the stalwart keeper would remain in the match. 

LAFC closed things out late, as Denis earned a penalty and allowed Mateusz Bogusz to open his account with a boomer of a kick low and hard to the right and past Zac MacMath. LAFC would lead, 3-0, and, albeit slightly battered, would come away with a comfortable win amidst a dominating second half. 

We'll have to see how Kellyn, McCarthy, Hollingshead, and Carlos are feeling, as a match with lowly-but-finding form SKC looms in just 4 days, but for now, it's three tough points on the road! Episode 250 is also looming, but, for now, enjoy the win, and the new episode!

The band "The Who" has a song called “The Kids Are Alright” and they certainly were. With Scarf being shipped off to Boston, this episode of Defenders of The Banc features a different set of hosts. LAFC utilized different players and so did DOTB, well at least one face wasn’t different. The DOTB crew recaps LAFC’s spirited win over USL opponent Monterey Bay FC in the US Open Cup. Hear your usual banter, and passionate recap of another LAFC victory but done with a different set of eyes and ears. We hope you enjoy Episode 248 as much as we enjoyed recording it. Oh, and Filly realized he was wrong about something at the end of this podcast. The Black and Gold DO await their opponent in the round of 16 draw on Thursday, May 11th at 11am pst

It was bound to happen sometime. LAFC suffers its first loss of the 2023 MLS campaign, falling to San Jose at Levi's Stadium, 2-1, behind a brace from Cristian Espinoza. Hear all about it on Episode 247.

With Filly (and Panda) in the stands, LAFC traveled up to Santa Clara, CA to the home of Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers to face the San Jose Earthquakes. LAFC was behind the eight-ball early, as an 8' goal from Espinoza gave the home crowd something to froth over. LAFC would respond behind, who else, Denis Bouanga, who pounced on a rebound to slot his 8th of the year past the San Jose keeper. 

In what was a relatively tame effort from San Jose, a moment was all they needed, and they found it in the 81'. Denil Maldonado committed a clear foul on a streaking Jeremy Ebobisse in the box, gifting a PK to Espinoza and the lead to San Jose. LAFC couldn't find an equalizer, and just like that, the unbeaten run to start the year was over. LAFC falls, 2-1. 

Also on this episode, Filly is staying in the Cabin in the Woods, Scarf bemoans the coverage on Apple TV, and a player on San Jose does his best Christian Ramirez impression. Enjoy Episode 247!

It's Episode 246, and this is a special one. This episode kicks off our "Getting to Know" series, where you can learn all about the history, roster, stadium, and more of the opponents we play that are outside the usual 28 other MLS squads. 

For our maiden "Getting to Know" voyage, take a listen and learn all about Monterey Bay FC, the USL Championship club that is LAFC's 2023 US Open Cup Round of 32 opponent!

On this episode, you'll learn everything about the thrilling 2-year (sort of) life of Monterey Bay FC and their home grounds of Cardinale Stadium, including the historical military ties to the area. We take a look at their Owner and Chairman, Ray Beshoff, and a rather decorated coaching staff of Frank Yallop, Ramiro Corrales, and Joe Cannon. And of course, we cover all the players to watch on the pitch, as we get set to face the likes of keeper Antony Siaha, centerback Hugh Roberts II, midfielder Sam Gleadle, and forwards Christian Volesky and Alex Dixon. 

Which 2018 LAFC inaugural team member is now playing for Monterey Bay FC? What do the now-defunct Fresno Foxes (Somos Zorros!) have to do with this USL Championship club? Which Los-Angeles based club has won the US Open Cup a record 5 times? And what the heck did Filly call the USOC? 

We hope you enjoy this very special episode and the first in what we hope is a long "Getting to Know" series! May the Fourth be with you all, especially the Black and Gold faithful!

LAFC has made history. Again. With a 3-0 pummeling of the Union at BMO Stadium on Tuesday, May 2, the Black and Gold punch their ticket to their second CCL final in four years. On Episode 245, relive the historic win as Filly and Scarf take you through all of the heart-pounding moments! 

It took LAFC a mere 13 minutes to announce their presence with authority, as Timothy Tillman jumped on a rebound from a beautifully executed corner kick to give the home side a 1-0 lead. A very tense first half saw LAFC take that one goal lead into the locker room, but the fireworks had just begun. 

Just before the hour mark, Union defender Olivier Mbaizo earns his second yellow of the match, and the entire tenor of the night changed. LAFC went on the attack, and, gradually, the Union wore down. Mahala's hammer in the 82nd minute preceded another Bouanga banger in the 90th, and that was all she wrote for the Union. LAFC dominate the visitors, 3-0, to set a date with either Leon or Tigres in the CCL Final! 

Also on 245, LAFC is headed to beautiful Seaside, CA, Scarf buys a new license plate, Filly coins the word "ethersphere", and the MLS has a major scheduling problem on their hands! What are we talking about? Give us a listen! In the meantime, we're going to dig out our passports!

It's Episode 244, and it's the first half of the rematch everyone has been waiting for: Leg 1 of the Semifinals of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League tilt between LAFC and the Philadelphia Union. 

Thanks to a pair of superb saves by John McCarthy, LAFC and Philly left the first half level. A Kellyn Acosta handball gifted a PK to the Union with just 4 minutes left in regulation, and Daniel Gazdag hammered it home to give the hosts a late lead. However, Kellyn would go from goat to hero, getting on the end of a Timothy Tillman cross even as the ball dipped behind him. Despite a touch from Andre Blake, the visitors leveled the match and broke the hearts of the Philly fans. 

LAFC heads home to BMO with all kinds of options available to them as they look to advance to the CCL Finals for the second time. Also on this episode, Filly offends the good people of Pigs Knuckle, Arkansas, rendering Scarf utterly speechless. Enjoy Episode 244!