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The season started with such optimism: Trophies to play for, history to make, and records to break. Yet here we sit, nearing the end of September and the end of trophy-winning opportunities, and we have absolutely nothing to show for it. In what has been a frustratingly familiar refrain in 2023, LAFC loses to another Liga MX club with a trophy on the line. This time, it's the Campeones Cup at the hands of Tigres, and in the worst way possible: on penalties. 

LAFC was pummeled out of the gate, as Tigres brought their aggressive style to all parts of the pitch over the first 18 minutes of the match. But as the match wore on, LAFC wore their bruises like badges of honor and began to stem the time and punch back. Coming out of the locker room at the half with a renewed sense of hope, LAFC began taking it to Tigres, until the 63rd minute.

In that fateful minute, Chiqui Palacios would earn his second yellow of the match, resulting in a red and LAFC going down to 10 men. But from that moment, LAFC actually played... better! Stiffening their resolve, LAFC continued to take the fight to Tigres. If not for a second touch off a restart by Giorgio Chiellini, LAFC would have walked away with Campeones Cup after a 78th-minute goal. But alas, though the soccer gods did even the sides at 10 men a piece, they were unkind in PK's. LAFC would have two of their chances saved from the first four while Tigres would net all of theirs, and for the third time this season, we see a trophy slip out of our grasp.

Also on this episode, we check in on Cifu, playing in three different competitions in Scotland, Scarf reveals his mafia ties and Oreo eating habits, and Filly makes up new words and phrases while reminding the world that Drew Fisher sucks. Come share in our frustration here on Episode 278 of Defenders of the Banc!