Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast - Episode 55 - Smurf Stew With a Side of Left Shoe!

Episode 55 - Smurf Stew With a Side of Left Shoe!

08/22/19 • 64 min

Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

As the season winds down, the excitement at the Banc is heating up! It's time for Episode 55 of Defenders of the Banc!
LAFC hosted in-state "rivals" San Jose, and things did NOT go well for the Smurfs. The Black and Gold emerged victorious, to the tune of a 4-0 home beatdown, behind two goals from the future MVP, Carlos Vela, including one that will certainly be up for Goal of the Year awards at the end of the season.
It wasn't just Carlitos, however, as Diego Rossi continued his climb up the MLS scoring charts. Jordan Harvey and Tristan Blackmon both saved goals with clearances from the back line to preserve Tyler Miller's clean sheet. In a game full of "Wait, What?!" moments, two from the second half stole the show. The first was the return of Mohamed El-Munir, taking the pitch about 6 weeks after the horrific injury suffered at the hands of Zlatan. The Banc was electric when El-Mo checked in. And the redemption story is complete, as Josh Perez, after a series of near misses and heartbreaks, finally finds the back of the net for the first time in his MLS career.
Also on this episode, joining us for an impromptu visit in the third chair is Black Army's own "Apple Juice", Vincent Ford. This Day in LAFC History recalls the first bit of hardware won by the Academy. Finally, the Supporters Shield update gets a whole lot shorter, as there seems to be just one other team (NYCFC) worth tracking. LAFC is poised for history this season, but before we can claim shields or titles, there is that little matter awaiting the Black and Gold on Sunday: the clash with Carson at the Banc.
A special thank you to our military servicemen and women, as LAFC held Military Appreciation Night during this game, and another shoutout to the incomparable Alina Beruff of the LAFC Foundation. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did putting it together for you, and we look forward to recapping our first W against Carson in just 4 days. Defend the Banc!

Previous Episode

Episode 54 - Records Drown in Salt Lake

LAFC takes it's talents to sunny Sandy, Utah, and you'll hear all about it on Episode 54 of Defenders of the Banc!

If you weren't able to attend the game, The 3252 did it's best to make you feel right at home while watching the TV broadcast. As always, from the opening kick, all you could hear was the Black and Gold faithful for the full 90'. LAFC had it's chances in the first half, especially off the foot of Adama Diomande, but it was scoreless as the teams went to their locker rooms.
Walker Zimmerman wasted no time injecting drama into the second half, picking up his second yellow just 3 minutes into the frame. LAFC would go down a man, but, seemingly inspired by the odds, they would also respond in kind. A PK by the MVP, Charlie Candle, would knot the score at 1 and the men on the pitch at 10. That goal would also solidify Vela's place in the MLS record books as having amassed more points in one season than any player in league history. (He still has 9 games to play!) Dio finally broke through about 10 minutes later with a goal of his own, and the party was on!
LAFC, behind a largely untested back line, clinches a berth in the playoffs (it's only August 17th!) and moves ever closer to the Supporters Shield with the win. Great games were had by Vela, Dio, Nguyen, Blessing, and many others as LAFC put together another signature win on the road. LAFC also moved ahead of the all time goal differential mark with a video game-esque +42 on the season. Who knows how high they can push that number by season's end!
It will be a tough week ahead for LAFC, and a quick turnaround. The Black and Gold have a home match in just 4 days, against in-state rival San Jose, followed up by another match 4 days later at the Banc against hated Carson. The boys passed their first of three tests, and look to all-but-wrap-up the shield, and taste victory for the first time against the Galaxy, by the end of next week.
Enjoy our look at This Day in LAFC History and our "Wait, What?!" moment of the podcast, and we hope to have all of you back for our next episode recapping the home tussle against San Jose.

Next Episode

Episode 56 - Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing

It's Derby Days at Banc of California Stadium, and all eyes of the MLS world descend on downtown Los Angeles for the showdown between LAFC and Carson. The most anticipated game of the year is finally upon us, and you can hear all about it here on Episode 56 of Defenders of the Banc!
Vela vs. Zlatan. Bob vs. Schelotto. Olly vs. Gizmo. This isn't the undercard to Wrestlemania; this is the Battle for Los Angeles, the ultimate test for the Black and Gold.
Unfortunately, a mere 2 minutes in, LAFC already finds itself down a goal off the foot of the hated Lion of Carson. In what would be his best performance of the season, Latif would score his first goal of the night just 10 minutes later to knot it at 1. Two stunning goals by Carson just 4 minutes later would throw the Banc into disarray, but instead of folding, staying down, and calling it quits, LAFC responded in a huge way. A brace for Latif right before the half would be just the bit of fresh air that we would need, and right after the halftime speech from Bob, the future MVP, Carlitos Vela, found the equalizer!
Though the game would end in a tie, Filly and the Scarf choose to look at the many positives that can be taken both from this match and from the history to soon be made. We inch a little closer to our first Western Conference crown, to the Supporters Shield, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
We also move ever closer to our match against Minnesota on September 1, kicking off Kick Childhood Cancer Month in the MLS. Hear all about the Defenders' plans to help raise as much money as possible in the fight against this awful disease.
Filly quotes John Lennon while Scarf quotes Shakespeare! There is a Natalie Portman sighting in Founders Club! And both The Captain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Guns 'N Roses make appearances before the match! It was a long and winding road that led us through this episode, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it for all of you. Until September, Defend the Banc!