Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

Send us a text

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!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

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!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Here on Episode 243, the Black and Gold travel to Nash Vegas to take on Walker ZImmerman and Nashville SC. LAFC would start a heavily rotated lineup while leaving Timothy Tillman, Aaron Long, and Giorgio Chiellini off the roster completely, searching for a point in Music City. 

The home side would strike first, as LAFC struggled to clear the ball out of their own box. Reigning MVP Hany Muhktar pounced on it and slotted it past the defense for a first half lead. With Walker Zimmerman coming out after 55' due to groin tightness, the entire tenor of the match changed, and it was time for LAFC to do the pouncing.

Just 4 minutes after Walker's departure, Stipe Biuk's steal set Denis Bouanga free, and the star striker blasted it past a diving Joe Willis to level the match after about an hour. Despite both sides having ample opportunities over the course of 90' to find another, the match, perhaps fairly, ended in a draw. 

Also on the episode, the boys get off the rails. Several times. We also congratulate Dax McCarty and Noah Dollenmayer, on the very opposite ends of their respective professional journeys. Filly dislikes Ted Unkel. A lot. Scarf introduces Filly to Ted's wife. And video! We have video! Enjoy Episode 243!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

The Clasico Angelino, Round 18, and for the first time, LAFC defeats Carson at the DIGS. It may have taken too long, but finally, LAFC gets the monkey off their backs and takes three points from Carson, needing a brace and an assist from Carlos Vela to do it!

Despite the lack of home support from Carson, LAFC took the Galaxy's best shot. Going into the half level, 1-1, the Black and Gold responded well with two goals in 4 minutes. A Vela PK, earned by Cifu, and then a birthday goal for Ryan Hollingshead put LAFC in the catbird seat, 3-1. A late rally by Carson made it 3-2, but after thwarting several corners and enduring almost 9 minutes of stoppage, the whistle finally blew, both on the match and on the Galaxy's stranglehold of Carson. For the first time, LAFC Annexes Carson!

Also on the episode, we take a moment to remember Tommy Mark, to highlight a solid comeback from ACFC, and to check on our boys in LAFC2. Enjoy Episode 242, and enjoy these three points from Carson!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Here on Episode 241, the boys recap both legs of their second round CCL matchup with the Whitecaps. Denis Bouanga, Carlos Vela, and the back line of LAFC absolutely have their way with Vancouver, both at home and north of the border.

In the first leg, Denis Bouanga's brace and a little dose of Mahala magic overcome the bad carpet of BC Place to sink Vancouver 3-0. Back at home, a brace from Vela with his wife and child pitchside was more than enough in another 3-0 effort, capping off over 180 minutes of sheer dominance. 

Also on this episode, technical difficulties. Filly and Scarf are doing their best to figure out some of the technological aspects of producing shows, and you get a first-hand view into some of the challenges! Scarf drives to and from Vancouver (but not while wearing a bucket hat), Filly threatens even more Hello Kitty action, and Paul deal with a pitch invader! Enjoy Episode 241, and let's Black Out Los Angeles as the Carson match approaches!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

LAFC welcomes FC Broccoli back to BMO for the first time since last year's historic Western Conference Final, and the boys break down another broccoli beatdown here on Episode 240!

Denis Bouanga is simply magical, becoming the 5th member of the Black and Gold to record a hat trick, Elden Jakupovic makes his debut and, along with Giorgio, some history, and Coach Steve gets to the 25-win mark fast!

Also on this episode, Filly makes his way to every nook and cranny of BMO while Hello Kitty says hi... again. Enjoy 240 as we prep to host Vancouver in the second leg of the CCL. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

It's Episode 239, and we travel to Commerce City, Colorado, to take on the Rapids in a place where we haven't won since 2018. Spoiler alert: We still haven't, but at least we didn't lose! A 0-0 draw for the Black and Gold starts this next gauntlet of 5 matches in 16 days. 

Also on this podcast, apparently it was Opposite Day, as Filly gets his research on when discussing 0-0 draws while Scarf rants on the NWSL haters. The boys welcome Bogusz while giving you a recap of how our four internationals did their duty. 

Oh, and a major announcement from Filly and the Scarf: THEY ARE STARTING ANOTHER PODCAST! That's right, the soon-to-be-recorded first episode of "2 Black and Gold", covering all things LAFC2, will be hitting the airwaves and YouTube shortly after their second match of the season. Get ready, and enjoy episode 239!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

LAFC definitely didn't make it easy against Dallas, but three points is three points, and the Black and Gold collected all three in their 2-1 win against a 10-man Dallas squad. 

LAFC almost had two goals in the first three minutes, but had to settle for being up 1-0 courtesy of Timothy Tillman in the 3rd minute. After a Dallas goal was ruled offside and Giorgio lost his shin guard for the first time, LAFC gained a man advantage courtesy of an Emmanuel Twumasi blow to the neck of Sergi Palencia. 

After a relatively improbable turn of events that led to Denis Bouanga's availability despite beginning the day in Turkey, Bouanga checked into the match just after the hour mark. The Black and Gold couldn't capitalize on their advantages however, and a poorly defended set piece led to a level match in the 73rd.

However, Superman took off his glasses and tie and changed into his Black and Gold kit. Despite attempting a cross through the box from an impossible angle, Bouanga gives LAFC the lead in the 84'. Despite Carlos Vela's attempt to give Dallas one last opportunity, LAFC sees it out for an ugly three points. We'll take it!

Also on this episode, Filly literally wears many hats, Scarf shows off his new shirt, and the boys continue to figure out StreamYard and YouTube. Check it out, give us a watch, and enjoy Episode 238!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

It was hard to tell who was more tired, LAFC after playing their 5th match in 15 days, or the Defenders, fresh from celebrating Scarf's 40th birthday. But the show must go on, both for our beloved Black and Gold, and for THE most LAFC podcast on Earth, Defenders of the Banc! 

Episode 237 relives the riveting 0-0 draw in Seattle, complete with yellow cards, substitutions, and one nice save from Stefan Frei. We looked tired, but keeping a high-powered Seattle squad off the scoresheet is no small feat. The defense looked great, and the offense was almost good enough to steal all 3 at Lumen. 

Also on this episode, Filly apologies to an entire city while Scarf gets some birthday love from Giorgio Chiellini! A huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of Scarf's 40th. It really does feel like millions! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

After a masterful showing in Costa Rica, and fresh off another master class against New England, the boys in Black and Gold take on Alajuelense yet again for their 4th match in 12 days, this time at the friendly confines of BMO. We cover both CCL matches here on Episode 236!

Winning the first leg comfortably, 3-0, and on the road, no less, meant that all LAFC had to do was avoid an epic collapse at home to move on to the quarterfinals of the 2023 CCL tournament. So what does LAFC decide to do? Make all of the millions (and millions!) sweat, of course. 

After giving up early goals in both halves, LAFC waited until the 83rd minute to put things on ice. Carlos Vela, El Rey himself, found himself 1v1 with the incredibly capable Costa Rican keeper Leonel Moreira. Unlike most of this match, there was nothing Moreira could do to keep the sheet clean, and Carlos's goal propels LAFC to a date (actually, two!) with the Tristan Blackmon and the Vancouver Whitecaps in April. We've got (at least) two more CCL games on the docket this season!

We know this one is a little long, but also on this episode, Filly details his German ancestry as LAFC inks a deal with German giants Bayern Munich, Scarf regales us with tales of his trip down river in Costa Rica, and the boys get set for their 4th podcast in a week and a half! There's nothing like March Madness, in both the NCAA and MLS!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.