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!