5 matches in 19 days. But for some reason, it has seemed like an eternity. LAFC, mired in their worst stretch of play in their young history, travel to Sandy, Utah. Rio Tinto Stadium has been a welcome sight for LAFC, as the Black and Gold have taken all three prior matches by an aggregate of 10-1. However, much like this season as a whole… heck, much like 2020 as a whole, today’s result would be very, very different. 

Bob shook some things up against RSL, giving four players their first career starts for LAFC: Danny Musovski, Andy Najar, Bryce Duke, and Mohamed Traore. The latter two, just teenagers, 19 and 18 years old, respectively. You could argue that the 18 (23, actually, with the COVID rules) was more familiar to LAFC supporters than the starting squad: Eddie Segura, Latif Blessing, Tristan Blackmon, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Diego Palacios. We catch a glimpse of the future as well, perhaps, with Erik Duenas and Tony Leone making their first-ever MLS active rosters.

The ball just isn’t bouncing LAFC’s way during the past handful of matches, and nowhere else was that more evident than in two plays during this match, one to begin the first half, and the other to begin the second. Identical plays, balls pinballing around the box, with completely different outcomes. In the first half, the ball barely eludes Danny Musovski and RSL is able to clear. In the second half, the ball finds Justin Meram, and RSL has a backbreaker. A rough one for Jordan Harvey, to be sure, conceding a penalty to Albert Rusnak, and the rout was on. LAFC fall, 3-0, and limp home to take on Portland in just 4 days.

Also on this episode, Filly and the Scarf show some love to a new sponsor and a new kit. This Day In LAFC History taps into a history-clinching match that LAFC didn’t even play in, a member of Black and Gold past changes addresses. Find out the difference between a fan and a supporter, and you won’t believe who Scarf thinks was the player of the match against Real. Here come the haters! But don’t worry, the boys will give you more reasons to “at” them in just 4 days, on Episode 117.