Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast - Episode 198 - Maxime and Frei Battle To A Draw

Episode 198 - Maxime and Frei Battle To A Draw

06/20/22 • 84 min

Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

After a bit of a break, MLS, LAFC, and the Defenders are back at it, and boy does it feel good to be back. Sitting just 2 episodes away from 200, Filly and the Scarf recap all the goings-on in the Emerald City. It's Episode 198 of "The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth!", Defenders of the Banc.
In what we hope will be a preview of the eventual Western Conference Final, LAFC travels to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Sounders, the recent CCL Champions and very familiar foe of the Black and Gold. Scarf, Nina, and Panda all traveled to Lumen Field for the match, while Filly held it down at the official watch party near USC. LAFC looked to remain at the top of the table while MLS celebrated Juneteenth league-wide.
One storyline going into the match would be who would NOT be playing. For Seattle, Joao Paulo is out for the season while Yeimar and Ruidiaz would be out for the match. On our side of things, while we still await the debut of Eddie Segura, we were missing Brian Rodriguez due to travel issues (he's getting his green card) while Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Vela, Mamadou Fall, and Franco Escobar all would begin the match on the bench.
After a beautiful rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing", the match played out a bit like a heavyweight fight, with both prizefighters feeling each other out for the first half. Seattle had more opportunities of quality, but both sides would enter the half without a goal. It was Seattle's major offseason acquisition, Albert Rusnak, who would score first, off a perfect pass from... Maxime Crepeau. It was a gaffe that Maxime immediately copped to, and one that looked like it would doom LAFC on the road.
However, just 6 minutes after making his LAFC debut, Danny Trejo, the kid from Mendota, battled for a header that found Chicho in the box. With Stefan Frei badly out of position, Arango's header goes over Frei but under the bar for a 79th minute equalizer, and LAFC would take a point home with them from the Emerald City. Quite the debut for Trejo, LAFC's first round pick of a year ago.
Also on this episode, much like Bo Jackson in the 90's, Filly gives himself a new nickname, Scarf has his greatest moment at a pool table (with witnesses!), and both The Ghost and Three Umlauts get a mention! Just two episodes away from another huge milestone, so stay tuned for all the fun, but in the meantime, enjoy Episode 198!

Previous Episode

Episode 197 - A Much Needed Win... A Much Needed Break

It would be one thing to play 8 matches in 28 days. That, in itself, is tough. But LAFC made it much, much tougher. Injuries. Yellow card suspensions. New signings and rumors of more on the way. Good form and bad form mixed almost equally. And one soul-crushing loss. Put it all together, and what a year these last 28 days have been. LAFC closes out the run with a match against a familiar and beatable foe, the San Jose Earthquakes.

Like the entire month, LAFC couldn’t make it easy. But they did at least get off to a hot start! An 8th minute PK from Chicho (earned by Ryan Hollingshead) and a beautiful assist by Brian Rodriguez for a second goal (scored by Ryan Hollingshead) had LAFC off and running just 13 minutes in. However, “thorn” in LAFC’s side, Jeremy Ebobisse, made it all about him for the remainder of the half. Several near misses spaced between goals in the 16th and 31st minute saw both clubs heading to the locker room knotted at two after one half of play.

Thankfully, LAFC has one healthy DP, and today, he played like it. Brian Rodriguez nets his second of the season just two minutes into the second half, and a much-improved defensive effort salts away the 3-2 win for LAFC. 3 goals. 3 points. 3 weeks without a match for the Black and Gold, as MLS takes their international break. LAFC heads into the break at the top of the table, best in the West and best in MLS.

Also on this episode, we are joined in studio by @lafcluke, Luke Klipp of Pride Republic. We get to know Luke as he talks all things Pride, including some great ways to celebrate Pride Month (June) with all your LAFC friends. He even helps us break down the match! We hope you enjoy episode 197, and we are really looking forward to the next verses of Brian’s Song, coming in Episode 198!

Next Episode

Episode 199 - Gareth Bale Is Coming!!! Vela Re-Signs! (Oh, And We Beat The Red Bulls)

It's Episode 199 and OMG GARETH BALE IS COMING TO LAFC!!! It's not a rumor, it's not a wish, it's not a hope... it's a reality. Gareth Bale, the Gareth Bale of the bicycle kick in the Champions League, the Gareth Bale of 5 Champions League titles, 4 Club World Cup titles, 3 UEFA Super League titles, and 3 La Liga titles, the Gareth Bale who almost singlehandedly willed Wales to the World Cup, is coming to LAFC. And not like Kylian Mbappe came to watch an LAFC. He's going to play for the Black and Gold!
Aaaaaaand... Carlos Vela has re-signed for LAFC through 2023. The Captain is Black and gold for at least another full year!
Oh, and we also beat the New York Red Bulls at the Banc. After a so-so first half where NYRB actually outplayed LAFC a bit, LAFC's depth and talent outlasted the club from Harrison. Just past the hour mark, 'Dolo subbed on Chicho Arango and Kellyn Acosta, and almost immediately (3 minutes later), Chicho and Carlos connect for Chicho's 5th goal of the season. Just three more minutes later, after 68 matches in Black and Gold, Chiqui Palacios gets his first goal in Black and Gold, off a solid run and pass from Brian Rodriguez. LAFC celebrated their Pride Match in the best way possible, 3 points against a solid but undermanned Red Bulls club.
Before the match, an incredible tifo and a beautiful proposal kicked off the festivities. During the match, Kylian Mbappe was shown to be in attendance. And all throughout the match, visions of Bale, Chiellini, and the DP still to come (who could it be?!) danced through everyone's heads. What a time to be part of the Black and Gold!
Our next episode will be 200! 200!!! We are hoping to have some great things for the episode, and we definitely have some fun planned for the next few as well. It's going to be a fun ride this week, just like the first 199 episodes have been!