Derby Day is upon us once again, this time in the heart of Los Angeles. The Clasico Angelino comes to the Banc for the first time in 2022, and LAFC gets set to take on Carson. It’s Episode 202 of Defenders of the Banc, and Gareth Bale is in the building!

Both sides started out a little tense, with the North End and the entire 22,000 at the Banc in rare form. This was definitely the loudest the Banc has been since at least 2019, if not ever. 

Just 17 minutes into the match, Kellyn Acosta shows why he is so incredibly valuable to LAFC, and to the USMNT, as he places a corner kick perfectly on the head of Cifu for the first goal of the match! LAFC is up 1-0, and hangs on for what can best be described as a nervy 1-0 lead into the half

The second half was a very different story. Both sides opening up a bit, and it’s Carson to take the first advantage. Efrain Alvarez spots Raveloson who plays it through to Samuel Grandsir for his first goal of the season, and just like that, all the hard work is laid to waste. It’s level again. 

But LAFC would respond in kind, with two lightning strikes in the span of three minutes. In the 70th, Carlos Vela puts all kinds of pace on a shot from just outside the box, and Cifu is there to redirect it with his head for a good old-fashioned brace! Two minutes later, Chicho takes a wonderful pass from the Captain, Carlos Vela, and slots it to the left of Jonathan Bond for a quick 3-1 lead. What a recovery!

Though Carson would pull one more back after the 81st, and wouldn’t really relent their pressure over the final 15-20 minutes or so, these are the games that forge potential champions. These are the games that you build on to prove that it’s your time to be on top of the mountain. And in this particular game, it was LAFC going home with all three points!