Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

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Here on Episode 344, LAFC advances to face Columbus Crew in the CCC, and you'd think that would be the headline. However, controversy shrouds the win, as Sergi Palencia is alleged to have used hate speech towards Colorado defender Chidozie Awaziem towards the end of the game, prompting an investigation from CONCACAF. 

Also on this episode, an LAFC player debuts in the 18, two of our favorite nicknames resurface, and Mo gets a mural at BMO! Enjoy 344!

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The Colorado Rapids come to BMO Stadium holding a 2-1 aggregate lead for our First Round matchup in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Will LAFC continue to dominate the Rapids at home? Find out who Scarf's Players to Watch are, his Keys to the Match, and how badly he thinks the Black and Gold will beat Colorado!

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It's Episode 3-4-3, and LAFC keeps the streak alive! 8 season openers, 8 wins, this one coming at the expense of the Loons, as LAFC defeated Minnesota United, 1-0. Jeremy Ebobisse nets the winner on Denis Bouanga's bobblehead match!

Also on this episode, Cinnamon Toast Crunch joins the Black and Gold, we profile Kenny Nielsen, and Filly 3:16 crashes through the episode! Enjoy 343!

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LAFC kicks off MLS Season 8 at BMO with the first match of the year on the MLS calendar! The Loons fly in from Minnesota with real expectations for the 2025 season, and it's up to LAFC to quiet the noise. It's Denis Bobblehead Night at BMO!

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It's Episode 342 and Lafferty's back for more as he and Scarf break down the 2-1 loss to Colorado on the road in the first leg of the First Round of the CCC. It's not all doom and gloom, however, as a late header by captain Aaron Long gave LAFC plenty of life as the boys thaw out and head back to BMO for two matches in four days!

Djordje Mihailovic was clearly the player of the match (and Scarf's Player To Watch on One More Sleep), as his brace helped the Rapids take a commanding 2-0 lead. But with just minutes until the final whistle, Denis Bouanga's cross found a flat-footed Long. His header kissed the inside of the post before finding the back of the net. 

The goal from long changes all the math (find out how on this episode!) as LAFC looks to advance out of the First Round of the CCC. 

Also on 342, we discuss our new fullback, Artem Smolyakov, a potential Turkish signing and the baggage he comes with, and we wish a happy birthday to our very own head man, Steve Cherundolo. Enjoy!

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LAFC kicks off Season 8, The Ocho, in Commerce City, Colorado as they take on the Rapids in the first leg of the First Round! Hear the Players to Watch, Keys to the Match, and Score Predictions straight from Scarf and Lafferty! And don't worry, Filly will be back soon!

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LAFC kicks off Season 8, The Ocho, in style, debuting our gleaming new road whites at... home... against Liga MX giant Club America during an international friendly. Filly and Scarf delve into all the details and more here on Episode 341!

It was a raucous and slightly Las Aguilas-partisan crowd at BMO as LAFC's public preseason came to a close on Tuesday. A rather drab first half gave way to an exciting second 45', as LAFC scored twice within the first 15 minutes. Denis Bouanga's non-stop pressure led to goal number one, and Olivier Giroud leaving the ball alone led to goal number two! La Monumental had something to cheer for just minutes later, as Igor Jesus's Carmelo Anthony impression allowed the lead to be cut in half, but LAFC saw out the remaining half hour and took the friendly, 2-1. Nathan Ordaz, Nkosi Tafari, and some excellent backline defending were the stars of the night. 

Also on this episode, the boys give you their thoughts on the new kit, the Kike Olivera saga, and what the heck happened to Scarf's face! It's Season 8!  

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Welcome to our first episode of 2025, a solo Scarf endeavor entailing everything that's happened (so far) and everything that hasn't happened (yet) in January. The preseason is underway and we are here for it!

Odin Thiago Holm, Igor Jesus, Nkosi Tafari, Erik Duenas, Omar Campos, Mark Delgado, Todd Saldaña, Yaw Yeboah, Mateusz Bogusz, Cristian Olivera, Carlos Vela, and more are discussed here on 340, as well as our preseason schedule, which includes everything from a Canadian Premier League club to Club America!

Join Scarf for this fun breakdown of everything so far in 2025, and we'll be back soon for 341!

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And just like that, 2024 comes to a close with... wait, what?! Jesus Murillo gone? Ilie Sanchez gone? Kei Kamara gone? Strange things are definitely afoot in the land of Black and Gold. 

Here on Episode 339, Filly and Scarf take a look at all the happenings since the end of the season: every transaction, every award, every schedule update, and even a rumor or two are covered in this episode. 

Aaron Long is back! Jude Terry is one of our own! But man-oh-man is it going to be hard to replace the veteran presence, the leadership, the class, and the quality of Ilie, Kei, and Muri. 

Sit down, put your feet up, and close out your 2024, or start your 2025, with your favorite LAFC-podcasting duo, and enjoy Episode 339!

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It's Episode 338. Somewhat surprisingly and certainly prematurely, this will be the last episode that contains an LAFC game recap in 2024, as the Black and Gold fall to the Rave Green, 2-1, at BMO in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

It was a heartbreaking loss, especially because LAFC had played well enough to win and created enough chances to score. The soccer gods, however, are a fickle bunch, and, in this year's playoffs, aging goalkeepers seem to have curried their favor. Stefan Frei stood on his head, making three incredible saves on would-be sure goals, Maxime Chanot found the back of our net, and Jordan Morris found one late to eliminate LAFC. 

Yes, questions abound. And yes, we ask many of them here on 338. However, this isn't a full post-mortem, as that will come later in the offseason. This episode truly was a venting session, a stage in the grieving process. You want Dolo out? Pissed at JT and the FO? Do you feel the same way Scarf does about Olivier Giroud? All of that was fair game on this one, as this can be your safe space, too. Like we said, we will attempt to ask and answer many of the larger questions at a later date this year. 

Also on this episode, Filly talks like a parrot, Scarf answers the door, and we search for Carlos Vela. This isn't goodbye for 2024 yet, but it's at least goodbye for Episode 338!

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