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The MLS All Star Week landed at the Banc, and your boys, the Defenders of the Banc, Filly and the Scarf were there to take it all in. What a cool weekend it was! As has become a tradition here on Defenders, we recap all of the All Star festivities with our good buddy and fellow #podfam member Jonathan Reimer. 

From the All Star Kickoff at the 1923 Club on Monday, to the Skills Challenge on Tuesday, to the FanFest on Christmas Tree Lane on Wednesday, all the activities leading up to the showdown between two leagues were a blast. Soccer Skee Ball? Free scarves? Meeting the Soccer Don? A truck trying to charge us $9 for a slice of pizza? Only at MLS All Star Week. But that was only the amuse-bouche, as Ted Lasso would say. 

The game itself lived up to all the hype and billing, despite missing the three biggest stars, Carlos Vela, Chicharito, and Gignac. The national anthems were so cool and well done, as was the MLS “jingle”, as Filly called it. The flyover got the juices flowing, and a last-minute sub into the starting XI by Bob Bradley, moving Diego Rossi into the lineup, was all the pro-LAFC crowd at the Banc needed. 

Liga MX struck first, with Jonathan Rodriguez capitalizing on his first chance, something Diego Rossi, unfortunately, couldn’t do minutes earlier. But just like the 3252, the MLS All Stars really found their footing after the first 40 minutes. In a dream scenario for LAFC supporters, a corner kick by Eduard Atuesta found the streaking, soaring head of Jesus Murillo, and just like that, we are level at one goal apiece! 

The match would stay that way through 90’, and PK’s would decide the winner of this amazing showdown. Matt Turner did Matt Turner things, saving two shots, and a third was pushed well over the bar by Liga MX. Despite Eduard Atuesta having his shot saved and a bad miss by Nani, it was the 18-year old kid from FC Dallas, Ricardo Pepi, who stepped up with ice in his veins and called game. MLS takes the first-ever matchup between these two leagues by winning the PK battle 3-2. 

Also on the episode, Jonathan, Filly and Scarf discuss fast food, the appearance of drums in the North End, and an ugly jacket. All Star Week may be over, but you can relive all its glory, or at least hear three knuckleheads talk about it, her eon Episode 163.