Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast - Episode 164 - Brian Weaves Through Trafico As Carson Celebrates A Draw!

Episode 164 - Brian Weaves Through Trafico As Carson Celebrates A Draw!

08/29/21 • 80 min

Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

For the first and only time in the 2021 MLS regular season, Derby Days comes to the Banc! Fresh off All Star Weekend, LAFC faces their near-town rivals, the Carson Galaxy, in the most important match of the season. The LA Derby never disappoints, and this edition certainly would not. Hear all about it here on Episode 164 of The Most LAFC Podcast in all of Los Angeles County.

It’s been quite the week in world football as Cristiano Ronaldo lands in Manchester and Messi gets set to debut in Paris, but MLS’s dream matchup of Vela vs. Chicharito would only occur on the injury list. The Black and Gold would lean on the front line of Diego Rossi, Chicho Arango, and Brian Rodriguez, and the front line would deliver. However, and stop me if you’ve heard us talk about this before, the defense would leave points on the pitch at home.

A first-minute no-call on Diego Rossi, which certainly should have resulted in a penalty for LAFC, could have taken the wind out of our sails early, but LAFC kept fighting. Unfortunately, another bad bounce involving Muri leads to a goal for Carson, and LAFC falls behind early. RIght before the halftime whistle, it’s Chicho with a moment of brilliance, both earning a PK after being fouled in the box AND burying it home a minute later. We are deadlocked at one after the first half of play.

The second half would be a back and forth affair, with one moment of show-stopping brilliance by Brian Rodriguez. Weaving through three defenders in the box and shooting it over a fourth and the keeper, Rayito delivered a definite GOTY candidate. After another equalizer for Carson, it’s Brian, again, this time slotting home a rebound off Jonathan Bond to give LAFC the lead for the second time. In what has unfortunately become a theme this season, LAFC could not salt the game away. Awful back line defending leaves Kevin Cabral wide open and, with just four minutes remaining in regulation, we are again level, and that’s the end result.

Also on this episode, Filly meets his “hall pass”, Scarf misses his Little League days, The 3252 unveils another inspiring tifo, and Niko Hämäläinen helps out his old club. We also talk a little Messi, CR7, and even a dash of Laurent Ciman. For LAFC, the fight has just begun, and warriors never stop fighting. Enjoy all the sights and sounds of Derby Day here on Episode 164.

Previous Episode

Episode 163 - MLS Bancs A Win!

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.

Next Episode

Episode 165 - Where’s the Pumpkin Spice? It's Fall at the Banc!

In Los Angeles, it’s not the leaves changing color, or a crispness in the air, or even the smell of pumpkin spice in every Starbucks and Trader Joe’s that signal the coming of fall in 2021. This year, it’s the sound of the 3252 roaring as our own Defender of the Banc, Mamadou Fall, scores a brace at the Banc to give LAFC its biggest win of 2021! It’s Episode 165, the first of the post-Diego Rossi era, and it’s Fall!

The first 17 minutes-plus gave no indication of the season change that was coming. SKC dominated long stretches of the early part of the match, but LAFC’s defense played well. In the 18th minute, LAFC earns a corner, taken by Eduard Atuesta. A perfect corner finds Mamadou Fall, the 18-year old Senegalese defender who has been a beacon of light on the rough seas of the 2021 season. Rising above the defense, Fall heads it cleanly into the back of the net to give LAFC a bit of a shock lead, 1-0. LAFC would hold serve through the first half and head to the locker room up a goal.

In the second half, Red Card Roger reared his head once again, as Roger Espinoza is shown red for an unintentional-but-awful looking on Chicho Arango, and SKC was shook. Latif earns LAFC a free kick at the hour mark, and the pair of Atuesta and Fall were back at it! Off the set piece, Mamadou gets on the end of another perfect ball, heading it across goal for a brace and a two-goal lead for LAFC! 10 minutes later, Duke, Moose, and Chicho link up for LAFC’s third, and it looked like the lead was finally safe from our 80th minute curse. Just to be sure, Eduard Atuesta buried a Musovski-earned PK in the 85th minute to put the Black and Gold up 4, and the party was on at the Banc!

Also on this episode, Jordan Harvey gets some burn, Filly rants about the haters, and Scarf remembers Tommy Mark on the 3rd anniversary of his sudden passing. Of course, there’s This Day In LAFC History, a rundown of our boys on international duty, and a short prayer to prevent injuries during kickball. We hope you enjoy Episode 165 almost as much as our incredible victory over Sporting!