Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

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It's Episode 199 and OMG GARETH BALE IS COMING TO LAFC!!! It's not a rumor, it's not a wish, it's not a hope... it's a reality. Gareth Bale, the Gareth Bale of the bicycle kick in the Champions League, the Gareth Bale of 5 Champions League titles, 4 Club World Cup titles, 3 UEFA Super League titles, and 3 La Liga titles, the Gareth Bale who almost singlehandedly willed Wales to the World Cup, is coming to LAFC. And not like Kylian Mbappe came to watch an LAFC. He's going to play for the Black and Gold!

Aaaaaaand... Carlos Vela has re-signed for LAFC through 2023. The Captain is Black and gold for at least another full year!

Oh, and we also beat the New York Red Bulls at the Banc. After a so-so first half where NYRB actually outplayed LAFC a bit, LAFC's depth and talent outlasted the club from Harrison. Just past the hour mark, 'Dolo subbed on Chicho Arango and Kellyn Acosta, and almost immediately (3 minutes later), Chicho and Carlos connect for Chicho's 5th goal of the season. Just three more minutes later, after 68 matches in Black and Gold, Chiqui Palacios gets his first goal in Black and Gold, off a solid run and pass from Brian Rodriguez. LAFC celebrated their Pride Match in the best way possible, 3 points against a solid but undermanned Red Bulls club. 

Before the match, an incredible tifo and a beautiful proposal kicked off the festivities. During the match, Kylian Mbappe was shown to be in attendance. And all throughout the match, visions of Bale, Chiellini, and the DP still to come (who could it be?!) danced through everyone's heads. What a time to be part of the Black and Gold!

Our next episode will be 200! 200!!! We are hoping to have some great things for the episode, and we definitely have some fun planned for the next few as well. It's going to be a fun ride this week, just like the first 199 episodes have been!

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After a bit of a break, MLS, LAFC, and the Defenders are back at it, and boy does it feel good to be back. Sitting just 2 episodes away from 200, Filly and the Scarf recap all the goings-on in the Emerald City. It's Episode 198 of "The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth!", Defenders of the Banc. 

In what we hope will be a preview of the eventual Western Conference Final, LAFC travels to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Sounders, the recent CCL Champions and very familiar foe of the Black and Gold. Scarf, Nina, and Panda all traveled to Lumen Field for the match, while Filly held it down at the official watch party near USC. LAFC looked to remain at the top of the table while MLS celebrated Juneteenth league-wide. 

One storyline going into the match would be who would NOT be playing. For Seattle, Joao Paulo is out for the season while Yeimar and Ruidiaz would be out for the match. On our side of things, while we still await the debut of Eddie Segura, we were missing Brian Rodriguez due to travel issues (he's getting his green card) while Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Vela, Mamadou Fall, and Franco Escobar all would begin the match on the bench. 

After a beautiful rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing", the match played out a bit like a heavyweight fight, with both prizefighters feeling each other out for the first half. Seattle had more opportunities of quality, but both sides would enter the half without a goal. It was Seattle's major offseason acquisition, Albert Rusnak, who would score first, off a perfect pass from... Maxime Crepeau. It was a gaffe that Maxime immediately copped to, and one that looked like it would doom LAFC on the road. 

However, just 6 minutes after making his LAFC debut, Danny Trejo, the kid from Mendota, battled for a header that found Chicho in the box. With Stefan Frei badly out of position, Arango's header goes over Frei but under the bar for a 79th minute equalizer, and LAFC would take a point home with them from the Emerald City. Quite the debut for Trejo, LAFC's first round pick of a year ago. 

Also on this episode, much like Bo Jackson in the 90's, Filly gives himself a new nickname, Scarf has his greatest moment at a pool table (with witnesses!), and both The Ghost and Three Umlauts get a mention! Just two episodes away from another huge milestone, so stay tuned for all the fun, but in the meantime, enjoy Episode 198!

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It would be one thing to play 8 matches in 28 days. That, in itself, is tough. But LAFC made it much, much tougher. Injuries. Yellow card suspensions. New signings and rumors of more on the way. Good form and bad form mixed almost equally. And one soul-crushing loss. Put it all together, and what a year these last 28 days have been. LAFC closes out the run with a match against a familiar and beatable foe, the San Jose Earthquakes.

Like the entire month, LAFC couldn’t make it easy. But they did at least get off to a hot start! An 8th minute PK from Chicho (earned by Ryan Hollingshead) and a beautiful assist by Brian Rodriguez for a second goal (scored by Ryan Hollingshead) had LAFC off and running just 13 minutes in. However, “thorn” in LAFC’s side, Jeremy Ebobisse, made it all about him for the remainder of the half. Several near misses spaced between goals in the 16th and 31st minute saw both clubs heading to the locker room knotted at two after one half of play. 

Thankfully, LAFC has one healthy DP, and today, he played like it. Brian Rodriguez nets his second of the season just two minutes into the second half, and a much-improved defensive effort salts away the 3-2 win for LAFC. 3 goals. 3 points. 3 weeks without a match for the Black and Gold, as MLS takes their international break. LAFC heads into the break at the top of the table, best in the West and best in MLS. 

Also on this episode, we are joined in studio by @lafcluke, Luke Klipp of Pride Republic. We get to know Luke as he talks all things Pride, including some great ways to celebrate Pride Month (June) with all your LAFC friends. He even helps us break down the match! We hope you enjoy episode 197, and we are really looking forward to the next verses of Brian’s Song, coming in Episode 198!

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The night started with such promise. So many possibilities danced in the air: The ability to move to the final 8 of the U.S. Open Cup. The potential of playing a USL team in that round. The chance to dispatch our rival in another elimination match. And, most importantly, a second chance, a second bite at the cherry, as Max Bretos would say, to shake King Kong off our backs and finally, finally beat Carson in Carson. 

Nope. Nope to all of it. 

From the first whistle, LAFC played second fiddle to the Galaxy. They were more physical. They were more clinical. They were more desperate to earn a result. And they were just better, up and down the pitch, than the Black and Gold were for all 100 minutes of this Open Cup tilt. 

LAFC would go down 3-0, all scored in the second half, before we would muster a response with 5 minutes to play. A Ryan Hollingshead header would be a small band-aid on a gaping wound, and LAFC was bounced from the Open Cup, 3-1. What's worse is that Carlos Vela came off with a quad injury and Chiqui Palacios, our most impactful player in 2022, had to be helped straight to the locker room after a scary foul by Chicharito saw him land on his head and neck during an aerial challenge. We hope Diego is OK.

Also on this episode, Scarf makes an obscure WWF reference, Filly breaks out his thesaurus, and the boys discuss the potential of life without Carlos. This is a tough one, Defenders, but, as always, we are here to go through it with you!

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The Black and Gold train rolls through Columbus, Ohio on our way to 8 matches in the month of May. Some called it a trap game. Some were concerned about our injuries, or our lack of depth. Some lamented the impacted schedule. And some who were there to see it likely doubted it would even happen in the first place. But the path to greatness is often littered with tiny but important steps, and LAFC took many in Ohio on the way to three points and our 8th win of the season. The Black and Gold dispatch the Black and Yellow, 2-0, after a lengthy lightning delay and a restart. 

On this episode we are joined by Jonathan Reimer, one-third of the Shoulder to Shoulder team. As part of a fundraiser to raise money for the Mauricio “Mo” Fascio Futsal Court in SELA, Jonathan is here to educate us on the three incredible expressions of tequila that are being sold as part of the fundraising effort. Check out flaskfinewines.com, or hit up Jonathan directly at @boozeology on the socials for more info!

Columbus controlled much of the first half (and the game, for that matter), but several quality attempts were thwarted by The Wall, Maxime Crepeau. LAFC had a quality opportunity as well, but the Mamadou Fall header fell right to Eloy Room. The first half ended nil-nil. 

Coming off the bench at half, putting on their capes and tights, were Carlos Vela and Brian Rodriguez. After also inserting Cifu at the hour mark, all the major players were set for LAFC to get to doing what they do best, score. Because of the incredible pressure applied by Chicho Arango, Darlington Nagbe and the Crew coughed up the ball not once, but twice, leading to both Carlos Vela and Jose Cifuentes finding the back of the soggy net for LAFC. LAFC steals three points on the road and takes down the Crew, 2-0. 

Also on this episode, you’re going to learn an awful lot about tequila. Jonathan really knows his craft, and it’s definitely a fun learning process. We lament missing the match live while Scarf has trouble with the calendar and Filly’s ADHD is in full effect. This one is a bit of a longer episode, but like the match in Columbus, we hope you’ll agree, it’s worth the wait! Enjoy Episode 195!

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The gauntlet continues for LAFC, as match number 5 in May is a midweek affair against another solid Western Conference foe, Austin FC.  What we hoped would be home-cooking turned out to be nothing more than a plate of stale broccoli, as LAFC falls to Austin, 2-1. 

The start of the match was more of what we have come to expect this season, as LAFC fell behind early. In the 13th minute, after a bad pass by wing back, that's right, wing back Kellyn Acosta led to a corner, Chiqui was unable to clear the ball and gave it right back to Austin. Jhojan Valencia found a wide open Ruben Gabrielsen for the opening salvo. 

It would remain 1-0 until a spot of brilliance from Diego Fagundez and a spot of bother from Mamadou Fall combined to allow Austin to double their lead. Just 5 minutes later, however, Carlos Vela would strike from the spot, notching his 100th point in MLS play. Unfortunately, it would turn out to be too little, too late for LAFC, and the clock struck midnight on the comeback. LAFC falls 2-1, and falls from 1 to 2 in the standings. 

Also on this episode, Vegas travels to lovely Birmingham, Carlos has richer friends, and Latif earns a boot none of us want. We will be right back to do this in just a few days, as the boys head to Columbus and look to reclaim their spot at the top of the table. Until then, enjoy 194!

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For the fourth time in 14 days, LAFC is set to play. (Don't worry, we will do this all over again in the next 14 days) Tired, injured, and traveling a mile high to Commerce City, LAFC looked the part in their 2-0 loss to the Rapids, and you'll hear all about it here on Episode 193 of Defenders of the Banc.

It all fell apart in the first half-hour for LAFC, as Sebastian Ibeagha and Pancho Ginella were both whistled for fouls in the box. Colorado buried both the penalties, though not without a solid effort on both by John McCarthy, the backup-turned-starter for the Black and Gold. 

Truth be told, McCarthy was pretty much the only bright spot for LAFC on the day. His four saves and several other great plays kept LAFC in the match. There simply weren't many opportunities for an obviously-tired club. LAFC forced just two saves by Yarbrough, both of the garden variety, and LAFC head home for their second 2-week-4-match set. 

Also on this episode, find out which dwarf Filly would be from Snow White, how many different words Scarf makes up, and what the heck the Defenders were doing during the match. We'll be back very soon for 194!

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The 2022 US Open Cup roars on at Band of California Stadium, and for the third time, we take on the Portland Timbers. We beat them in 2018. They returned the favor in 2019. In 2022, it's the rubber match, and LAFC brought their axes to the Banc!

On a beautiful Tuesday night, Steve Cherundolo rolled out a lineup worthy of most MLS contests. Gone were the ideas of going conservative, with 7 matches in May and three more in just 11 days. It was clear from the outset that LAFC was going for it tonight, and go for it they did!

The Black and Gold would FINALLY get off to the strong start they needed, with Chicho Arango scoring off a beautiful backheel after a fantastic one-two from Mamadou and Mahala. After heading into the half up 1-0, LAFC added to it just 9 minutes later off a beautiful one-timer at the top of the box by the 19-year-old wunderkind, Fall. 

Down 2-0, Portland attempted to push all their chips in the middle, bringing stars Yimmi, Niezgoda, and Blanco off the bench to make one more run. LAFC would counter with Pancho Ginella and Franco Escobar, and after a few more great saves from Maxime Crepeau, LAFC booked their ticket to the Round of 16 with a convincing 2-goal win.

Also on this episode, the boys get back to their singing ways, the Field Club gets a Lexus, and the "Wait, What?" moment makes its triumphant return! We'll be back in just a few short days to bring you all the fun from Colorado, but, until then, enjoy Episode 192 of "The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth!"

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LAFC begin their biggest and longest test of the season, with 5 matches in just 15 days. The first of the five is a showdown with the best club in the East, the Philadelphia Union, the last team LAFC played pre-pandemic. Their last match was a 3-3 knockdown heavyweight draw. This one begs for a trilogy to settle it, as the two combatants play to another draw, this time 2-2. 

Despite controlling much of the run of play, LAFC would give up an early goal yet again. In the 9th minute, Daniel Gazdag puts Philly on top after a beautiful set of passes in and around the box. LAFC would mount attack after attack in the first half, mostly off of their seven first-half corners. The Union, however, would make it to the half up 1-0.

As LAFC does, they would come out swinging in the second half. Just 12 minutes in, Mahala would find the equalizer with a laser beam over the right shoulder of Andre Blake. The sheer joy in a Mahala goal celebration seems like it would power the entire stadium. In the 67th minute, however, LAFC would surrender their first second-half regular-season goal of 2022, as Julian Carranza bends one around the outstretched arms of Maxime Crepeau to once again give the Union the lead. 

But in this fight, no lead was safe, as LAFC proved in the 82nd minute. It comes off a corner (of course) from Carlos Vela (of course), which finds its way to Cifu. CIfu’s shot is saved by a diving Blake, but the rebound comes off to a wide open Franco Escobar, who may have salted away the starting RB spot with his performance in this match. After an absolutely insane bicycle attempt by Mamadou Fall and plenty of Sharks vs. Jets posturing on both sides after the match, the great refs at PRO blow it dead for a 2-2 draw. What a match!

Also in this episode, we check in on Adama Diomande, we welcome Nathan Ordaz to the family, and try to let our moms know exactly how much we love them. To ALL of the other moms out there in Defenders Nation, we hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and healthy Mother’s Day as well! See you all real, real soon for Episode 192!

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Week 9 of the MLS season is upon us, and a familiar face pays a visit to the Banc. Tyler Miller, no longer the starter, and his Minnesota United FC join us for Sunday services at the Cathedral of the Black and Gold. As the Loons would soon find out, good things come to those who sub in late! LAFC win an exciting affair, 2-0, behind two more goals from substitutes and staunch back line play. 

Looking to continue the weekend-long party that ACFC kicked off on Friday, LAFC forced several tough saves from the former Forward Madison 'Mingo, Dayne St. Clair in the first half, but the best chance of the first 45' came from Finnish forward Robin Lod. Crepeau made his only save of the half (and the match), and we head to the locker 0-0. 

Just past the hour mark, Dolo called on his bench to provide the heroics, as he inserted Moose and Cifu into the drama for Latif and Mahala. Ten minutes later, Ryan Hollingshead came on, and the chess match was almost complete. In the 82nd minute, Hollingshead gets on the end of a cross and a deflection for his third of the season to put LAFC up one. In the 90th, Cifu clips the Loons' wings, as Chiqui receives an unreal pass from Pancho before finding his fellow countryman to put LAFC up, up, and away, 2-0. 

Also on this episode, Filly has the hiccups. And heartburn. And a little indigestion. But really, you could barely tell. The boys cross off a huge bucket list item as well as another 14+ hour day at the Banc, LAFC kicks off AAPI Heritage Month, and Kevin Baxter remains silent. We're just 10 episodes away from our second century, and we couldn't have gotten this close without all the support from the millions who are a part of Defenders Nation! Thank you, and see you in just a week or so for Episode 191!

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