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Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 253: CCL SuperPod w/ LAFC PodFam.It's almost time for the CONCACAF Champions League Final, with a berth in the Club World Cup at stake! With LAFC on the precipice of writing yet another incredible chapter in their short but already storied history, it's time for the LAFC #PodFam to unite and record our CCL Final Preview SUPERPOD!On this very, very special episode, "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert hosts as the voices on many of your favorite LAFC podcasts chat about all things LAFC, Leon, CCL, and much more! Josef Zacher and Araceli Villanueva (Heart of LAFC), Jonathan Reimer (Shoulder 2 Shoulder), Erik...2023-05-292h 24Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 252 - The Kids Play An Inspired Half vs. CarsonWelcome to Episode 252 of Defenders of the Banc! Normally, this space is reserved for some witty commentary and a recap of the episode. But today, in its place, we choose to use this as an appreciation post to the young kids who put forth such a valiant effort against Carson in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Yes, they fell, 2-0. But there would be nothing to hang their heads about! So, instead of a write-up, here are the names and ages of many of the players who took the pitch for LAFC tonight: Javen Romero a...2023-05-241h 16Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 247 - The Bay Area Still Unkind As LAFC Falls 2-1It was bound to happen sometime. LAFC suffers its first loss of the 2023 MLS campaign, falling to San Jose at Levi's Stadium, 2-1, behind a brace from Cristian Espinoza. Hear all about it on Episode 247.With Filly (and Panda) in the stands, LAFC traveled up to Santa Clara, CA to the home of Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers to face the San Jose Earthquakes. LAFC was behind the eight-ball early, as an 8' goal from Espinoza gave the home crowd something to froth over. LAFC would respond behind, who else, Denis Bouanga, who pounced on...2023-05-071h 15Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 246 - Getting to Know: Monterey Bay FCIt's Episode 246, and this is a special one. This episode kicks off our "Getting to Know" series, where you can learn all about the history, roster, stadium, and more of the opponents we play that are outside the usual 28 other MLS squads. For our maiden "Getting to Know" voyage, take a listen and learn all about Monterey Bay FC, the USL Championship club that is LAFC's 2023 US Open Cup Round of 32 opponent!On this episode, you'll learn everything about the thrilling 2-year (sort of) life of Monterey Bay FC and their home grounds of Cardinale S...2023-05-051h 00Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 208 - No Bale? No Chiellini? No Problem! LAFC Hangs 5 on CharlotteBack at the Banc for the final time on a Saturday night until playoffs, LAFC looked to make a statement. It's safe to say that they did, hanging a 5-spot on Charlotte as they embark on 3 matches in 8 days! Here on Episode 208, we cover all 5 goals, the birth of Filly, and so much more!While the first half was a little sluggish, LAFC had quality set pieces while looking for a way through Charlotte's block of 9 in the back. Brian Rodriguez played well, Eddie Segura got the start, and both Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini got some...2022-08-1448 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 178 - Weeeeeeee’re Baaaaaaaack! (Goodbye 2021)For the final time in 2021, the boys are at World Famous Filimonster Studios to record an episode of “The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth”, Defenders of the Banc! There is SO much news to discuss since our pasting at the hands of the Commerce City Rapids, and Filly and Scarf try to get to ALL of it! This offseason saw, without a doubt, the most significant player movement of any of our first four seasons. El Profe, Eduard Atuesta, is gone, and not to a club that many could have predicted. Eduard gets to try to make it a...2021-12-271h 43Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 173 - Chicho Saves Our SeasonEpisode 173 - Chicho Saves Our SeasonLAFC still has a pulse, thanks to the incredible efforts of our newest talisman, Mr. Automatic from the spot, Christian “Chicho” Arango! It’s Episode 173, and we are breaking down all the Fun in Frisco, as LAFC took out FC Dallas, 3-2, behind a hat trick from Chicho!Make no mistake about it, LAFC came out looking lethargic and lost. Despite an early chance from Rayito, the first 25 minutes were all FC Dallas. The team owning the second-worst record in the conference found themselves down 1...2021-10-211h 07Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 170 - The Trilogy Ends the Way It StartedBanc of California Stadium welcomes back the Black and Gold for the first time in over 2 weeks, as LAFC takes on familiar and hated foe Portland for the third time in 2021. Unfortunately for LAFC, this one would end exactly as the others did, as LAFC falls 2-1. It’s not deja vu, it’s forest green Groundhog Day. Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Portland scores. LAFC equalizes. Portland scores again. LAFC loses. It’s incredible to think that all 3 matches between the Timbers and LAFC followed the same script, but like an unoriginal...2021-09-301h 15Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 161 - The South Does Us DIRTY!!!Gone are the days of LAFC yore, where we would score goals upon goals and rack up points both at home and on the road. Like the apothecary table in friends, this season is definitely not from yore. It’s from the Twilight Zone, with a little bit of the Upside Down sprinkled in. On Episode 161, LAFC makes its only appearance in an Eastern Conference home, as the Black and Gold travel to Atlanta to take on Josef Martinez and friends. In what was a microcosm of both teams’ seasons thus far, it was a fun-to-watch but ultim...2021-08-1647 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 157 - Carlos and Cifu Make A PointFor the third time in a week-and-a-half, the boys in Black and Gold take the pitch, this time against usual punching bags, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Despite an awful start, LAFC salvages a point, and you can hear all about it here on Episode 157 of Defenders of the Banc!LAFC came out sluggish and sloppy, and it showed almost immediately. Forced to defend cross after cross in the first 25 minutes, Vancouver finally broke through on a Caicedo goal after some confusion between Moon-Hwan and Romero. Thirteen minutes later, the diminutive Dajome somehow rises above the rest to head...2021-07-261h 01Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 138 - Emperor Newsom Relaxes RestrictionsSeason 4 is almost upon us, and, with the preseason about to begin, Filly and the Scarf are here to catch you up on all the Black and Gold news from the past few weeks!The biggest news of the last 11 months or so MUST be the potential return of at least some supporters to the Cathedral of the Black and Gold, Banc of California Stadium, starting on April 1. As long as numbers continue to progress in a positive direction, we can expect at least some of us to be there for our boys!LAFC announced...2021-03-0759 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 131 - One Pod To Rule Them All (Part 2, Feat. FCFC Podcast)*Disclaimer: This episode contains some swears. Please be warned, colorful language abounds.Here on Episode 131, Defenders Nation, you're in for something very, very different. Don't worry, we will still have our CCL Preview episode. And we will still have our 2020 MLS Season Recap episode. And we will still have a very special Holidays with the Defenders episode. But... this is not any of those. For the next hour and a half-plus, come with the Defenders and our good friends over at FCFC Podcast, Slim, Spice, and Dweez, as we take a journey to pl...2020-12-061h 42Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 129 – A Pair of Boots and a Chance at Revenge!It’s the final match of the season, and potentially, the final match at Banc of California Stadium in 2020. A familiar foe awaits, as for the fourth time this year, LAFC takes on Portland. On Episode 129, Filly and the Scarf break down all the good and the bad from our tussle with the Timbers! Things got off to a beautiful start, as just 5 minutes in, Carlos Vela, back in the starting lineup, slots one home off a rebound to put the home squad up 1-0. The connections between Diego Rossi, Carlos Vela, and the 16-ye...2020-11-0955 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 125 - 16 and Life to Go!It’s Episode 125, and we are doing something we don’t normally do here on Defenders of the Banc: We are celebrating a tie! It’s been a long and tumultuous road both on and off the pitch in 2020, so when little victories come, we need to take time to celebrate them. Tonight’s match against Portland certainly gave us another moment to celebrate, and we recap the entire 102-minute match in Portland here on 125. LAFC got off to an inauspicious start, with an early yellow on Jordan Harvey opening the bookings in just the 5th minute. T...2020-10-1945 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 124 – Two Steps Forward, One Step BackEpisode 124 is up, and on this episode, we recap LAFC’s trip up the coast to Portland. To take on Vancouver. How 2020 is that? And unlike our previous match, a 6-0 shellacking of the Whitecaps, this match did not end well for the Black and Gold. It was not without its moments of history for the “Next 5 Years” LAFC hardcover book, however. Christian Torres became the first Academy player to start a match and 15-year old Erik Duenas took the pitch for the first time for LAFC. During a first half that will live on only in...2020-10-151h 02Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 116 – For Kreilach-ing Out Loud5 matches in 19 days. But for some reason, it has seemed like an eternity. LAFC, mired in their worst stretch of play in their young history, travel to Sandy, Utah. Rio Tinto Stadium has been a welcome sight for LAFC, as the Black and Gold have taken all three prior matches by an aggregate of 10-1. However, much like this season as a whole… heck, much like 2020 as a whole, today’s result would be very, very different. Bob shook some things up against RSL, giving four players their first career starts for LAFC: Danny Musovski, Andy N...2020-09-101h 13Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 115 - Searching For Answers In CarsonFor the third time in 2020, despite COVID, despite quarantine, despite all of the challenges that this year has brought the Black and Gold faithful, it’s Derby Day. First in Orlando, then Los Angeles, now the scene shifts to a tiny suburb on the outskirts of L.A. County, Carson. Unfortunately, for LAFC, it would be more of the same from the last matchup: no goals, more questions. Whereas the first matchup produced electrifying goals, six in total, the last 180 minutes have given us nothing but pain. This wasn’t the listless, rundown performance from a few weeks...2020-09-071h 05Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 114 - I Got 5 On ItHistory has a way of repeating itself. Coming into this matchup LAFC has dominated the series vs San Jose and today was no different. LAFC was back at the Banc in search of their winning ways and boy did they win today. LAFC, without Carlos Vela and Eduard Atuesta, managed to once again dine on Smurf Stew. How does Smurf Stew taste, it’s good enough for 5 servings. Diego Rossi and Bradley Wright-Phillips continued to add goals to their stat lines with some beautiful plays. We had two newcomers make their presence felt in the goal col...2020-09-031h 14Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 113 - The Slide Continues In SeattleLAFC. Seattle. It's taken just two-plus seasons for MLS to have a new must-see matchup. Last year's Supporters Shield winners taking on last year's MLS Cup champions. A game made all the more important considering LAFC's previous result against Carson, our current unfamiliar place in the standings, and our holes in the lineup created by injuries to our captain Carlos Vela and midfielder extraordinaire Eduard Atuesta. Could LAFC stop the slide of recent losses and poor play at the site of our first win in club history? In a word, no.Episode 113 sees Filly in Las Vegas...2020-08-3159 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 112 – It’s Gotta Be the ShoesLAFC has had several Hollywood endings inside Banc of California Stadium over the course of our first two and a half seasons. Our first match against Seattle. Our first win over Carson. The win over Leon. Capturing the Supporters Shield. So many reasons to celebrate. We entered Derby Day with the expectations that this match against Carson would share the same fate: spectacular play, big moments, great goals. However, this was an entirely different kind of script that played out in front of a fanless-stadium. It was a horror movie in every sense of the w...2020-08-231h 02Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 111 - Filly Makes It To 40!It’s Episode 111, and, more importantly, Filly survived his 40th birthday! FillyFest 2020 was a resounding, socially distant success, complete with videos from loved ones, small tokens of affection, and shots! Back behind the mic at world famous Filimonster Studios, the lads of Defenders of the Banc are ready for the restart of the 2020 MLS season.After Episode 110 meandered like the actual 110 Freeway, it was time to get back to the business of the Black and Gold, with a side dish of plenty of other MLS news and notes and a few Champions League thoughts as well. Ju...2020-08-171h 01Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 110 - 2 Charas, 1 Cup (feat. Connor and Jerry of 110 Football)Episode 110 is here, and, like the actual 110 Freeway, this one meanders a bit. With no LAFC game to chat about, and with the Filly birthday episode on the horizon, Filly and Scarf go down the rabbit hole of topics. Our athlete of the podcast is a goalie, but he plays hockey. We talk college football, Syracuse basketball, our sad, sad Metropolitans, and so much more. But don't worry, we talk LAFC and other soccer (but no Patriots!). For Episode 110, we also bring on Connor Kalopsis and Jerry Reynoso, the lads over at 110 Football, a budding media conglomerate w...2020-08-121h 27Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 109 - Mouse House MishapThe House of the Mouse became a house of horrors for LAFC, as the pre-tournament favorites were bounced by, of all teams, the cinderella story of the COVID Cup, Orlando City SC, led by, of all players, Joao Moutinho. LAFC loses on PK’s 5-4 after ending regulation locked at 1. This week should have been a celebration of epic proportions at Banc of California Stadium. The All Star Game was set to pit a team of Liga MX foes against a likely LAFC-laden MLS All Star squad at the Cathedral of the Black and Gol...2020-08-011h 04Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 108 – Tonight’s Special: Seared FlounderIt’s Episode 108, and what a way to spend a Monday! The Black and Gold continue to soldier on in the COVID Cup. This time, the road runs right through the Emerald City, by way of Orlando, of course. LAFC takes down Seattle, 4-1, in what might be their best performance of the young season. First, it’s a This Day in LAFC History that includes a “Wait, What?!” moment for possibly the very first time, as we harken back to the days of yore and the hiring of the best manager in MLS, Bob Bradley. I...2020-07-2850 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 107 - Benny and The... Defenders! (feat. Benny Feilhaber)Benny Feilhaber.Open Cup. Confederations Cup. Gold Cup. MLS Cup. World Cup. The Olympics.MLS. Superligaen. Bundesliga. Premiership. Champions League.New England Revolution. Sporting Kansas City. Colorado Rapids. LAFC.All Star. Best XI. MVP Finalist. Champion.And now, finally, a guest on Defenders of the Banc! Filly and The Scarf sit down with the USMNT legend to discuss everything about his storied football career.Get ready for previously untold and often re-told stories alike: His humble beginnings from Brazil to Scarsdale, New York and his mean rivalry...2020-07-251h 11Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 106 - Drawing on WoodLAFC. Portland. No love lost between these two teams who have fast become rivals. The group stage of the (Most Of) MLS Is Back tournament comes to a close with a hotly contested match between the two, ending in a draw, 2-2. Here on Episode 106, we break down the draw to end Group F and look ahead to a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final, as LAFC’s Round of 16 matchup pits them against another Cascadia rival, last year’s MLS Cup winners, the Seattle Sounders. This Day In LAFC Histo...2020-07-2452 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 105 - Diego Dazzles on Derby DayEpisode 105 – Diego Dazzles on Derby Day Oh, Diego Rossi! The man who scored the first goal against the Sounders etched his name once again into the MLS history books, and he picked Derby Day in the Covid Cup to do it! Episode 105 of Defenders of the Banc is upon us, and, for the first time in months, the boys are together in world famous Filimonster Studios, recording together! The episode kicks off with a soliloquy of epic proportions by Filly, fresh out of the hospital where he clearly had a ton of ti...2020-07-191h 15Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 104 – (Most Of) MLS Is Back!It’s been several months, but it looks like the MLS Is Back tournament is FINALLY set to kick off in less than 24 hours. Unless you play for FC Dallas. Or maybe Nashville SC. Or one-fifth of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Or 2019 MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara. Or, as we learned this week, reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela of LAFC. But other than those players (and a handful of others…), MLS Is Back! Before the breakdown of the beginning of the tournament, it’s time to introduce the Defenders world to our brand-new member! Scarf l...2020-07-081h 14Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 103 - Executive Privilege (feat. Larry Freedman, 2019 MLS Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year)With an intro befitting the man, Filly and The Scarf welcome 2019 MLS Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year and LAFC's EVP and Chief Business Officer Larry Freedman to the show.Larry dishes on all things LAFC, including the work LAFC has done and still needs to do for social change, incredible moments throughout the first two seasons, the upcoming MLS is Back tournament, and what HIS favorite moment in LAFC history is, so far. It will not surprise you. From lawyering it up to running the business side of the only MLS club in Los A...2020-06-271h 21Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 102 - Reunited, And It Feels So Good!15 episodes and 101 days. That’s how long it’s been since we were in the same room recording together. Much in the world has changed. Much in the world still needs to change. But as the song goes, “Reunited, and it feels so good!” Filly and the Scarf invade Culver City to record Episode 102 TOGETHER for the first time in a long time, and we couldn’t be happier. If you haven’t heard our interview with Adama Diomande on Episode 99, Episode 100 featuring Stix discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, or Steven Beitashour joining Filly and the Scarf on Epis...2020-06-2155 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 101 – It’s Beita Time on Defenders! (feat. Steven Beitashour)Kicking off the next hundred episodes as only we know how, The Defenders of the Banc (for however much longer we are called that!) FINALLY sit down with club legend, fan favorite, and one of the nicest, most personable guys in MLS, Steven Beitashour. As a member of the inaugural team in 2018, Steven Beitashour added leadership and incredible skill playing out of the back for LAFC. In 2019, Beita made more history, becoming the first defender in MLS history to record 20,000 minutes played and 35+ assists while earning a third Supporters Shield. In 2020, however, his contract was no...2020-06-171h 11Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 100 - Stix Speaks on BLM and the ThinkWatts Foundation (feat. Stix)It’s safe to say that when we started planning Episode 100, which was right around February 1st, after we recorded Episode 80, we did not see any of this coming. About one month later, a global pandemic hit the US, and the specter of coronavirus has irreversibly and, likely, permanently changed our lives. Just when we started to see a light at the end of the tunnel that we didn’t think was just another oncoming train, the shocking murder, yes, murder, of 46-year old Black man George Perry Floyd, Jr. on May 25, 2020, at the hands of four Minneapolis police offi...2020-06-131h 03Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 99 – Filly. Scarf. And DIO! (feat. Adama Diomande)This is normally the part where we try to come up with some clever hook to get you excited about listening to our latest episode. Here it is: ADAMA DIOMANDE IS ON DEFENDERS!!! Yes, that’s right, LAFC’s own Great One, #99, the man who registered the first hat trick in team history, the ender of Carson’s season, and the third-leading scorer all-time at LAFC, Adama Diomande sits down with Filly and Scarf for a half hour we will never forget! We discuss his entire career: his first match at Lyn, joining Bob Bradley and tak...2020-05-2644 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 98 – Max Bretos Defends the Banc! (feat. Max Bretos)As we near ever closer to the 100th episode, we begin to think about those bucket list items that we would like to achieve. While we haven’t scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro or learned Swedish yet, Episode 98 is one of those bucket list moments for Filly and the Scarf. While he rose to fame as a model in Italy in his early 20’s, Max Bretos has made a splash on the world of sports for several decades now. His illuminating work on the world of paintball as a co-host of “Splatter Factor” sent waves through the sport. Hi...2020-05-211h 02Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 97 – Imaginary Wins and LossesWe may not have been able to go nuts at the Banc watching our boys beat Carson, or rally Remi to a virtual victory in the eMLS tournament, or even actually see the game going on inside Dave Denholm’s head, but the boys at Defenders of the Banc are here to re-cap every LAFC-filled event going on this past week. It’s time for Episode 97! In the next of the soon-to-be-short lived series of uniform numbers, we give props to hockey’s “J.R.”, while Scarf takes us down his 11-year old childhood memory lane and a...2020-05-1851 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 96 - Practice! We're Talking About Practice!Episode 96 – Practice! We’re Talking About Practice!Finally! Live players. On a real pitch. Wearing those beautiful grey LAFC practice kits! It’s Episode 96, and, after about 8 weeks, we finally get to talk about… practice! It may only be a few players at a time, and they may not be able to share a ball or a bottle of water, let alone the workout room, but this week, LAFC’s Training Facility opened for the first time in two months. Trickling through the parking lot was Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, and even a healthy Bradley Wright-Phil...2020-05-1059 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 95 – Alekzandur? Not So Great.Take a journey down the 95 with Filly and The Scarf! Just 5 episodes away from triple digits, the Defenders break down yet another virtual victory for RemiMartinn, this time over SKC’s eMLS representative, Alekzandur, Alexander Betancourt. With a surprising amount of LAFC-related news to tackle, and the occasional rant with Filly, sit back and enjoy Episode 95! With MLS set to open for individual training on May 6th, how will this affect the Black and Gold? What about Los Angeles’s Stay At Home order? How do you train without sharing a ball? Who gets the best...2020-05-0452 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 94 – Virtual Vela Victorious in ChicagoThe headline is almost becoming redundant: “RemiMartinn Wins Again”, and we couldn’t be happier! The Crusading Champion of the Controllers, Martin Oregel, takes to Twitch once again in another installment of the LAFC Gaming Charity FIFA Challenge, this time against Chicago’s BITW7. It’s time for Episode 94 and more victorious exploits from our eMLS gamer. RemiMartinn absolutely dismantles Chicago’s eMLS gamer, BITW7, in the best-of-three series in the name of the LAFC Foundation. Virtual Vela, Rossi, and a moment of glory for Jordan Harvey are all part of another big weekend for Remi. You can...2020-04-2652 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 93 – Remi and Dio Doing WorkIt might be hard to keep track of the days of the week, but at least the boys at Defenders of the Banc are keeping track of their episode numbers. It’s time for 93! Since the quarantine, it’s been the RemiMartinn show, and he has provided us with plenty of entertainment. This weekend marks the kickoff of the eMLS Tournament Special, a new 32-player tournament featuring one active MLS player and their eMLS teammate from 16 MLS squads. The tournament has a fair amount of star power from the league: USMNT players Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Paul Arriola (DC...2020-04-2053 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 92 - A Tie in Virtual VancouverOn Episode 92, the 5th episode in our social distancing series, the boys may finally be losing it. Scarf sings The Police (not well), Filly busts a blood vessel as Filly Savage, and the mere mention of one of Saskatchewan’s most beautiful cities, Regina, makes them crack up like the middle schoolers Scarf teaches. Don’t worry! The Defenders actually spend most of the episode on LAFC and soccer-related news and happenings, even in these crazy, confined times. With so much great content released by and about LAFC each day, it’s hard not to! Our friend K...2020-04-1154 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 91 - RemiMartinn Does DallasWith the Coronavirus quarantine in full effect and the Belarusian Premier League having finished for the day, the good people over at LAFC Gaming knew just how to get 17,600 members of the Black and Gold faithful hyped for soccer: RemiMartinn. eMLS’s number 5 ranked competitor was set to take the sticks against FC Dallas’s gamer, i9ibbs, in the second FIFA20 Charity Challenge. Still riding the euphoric wave of his epic defeat of Carson last week, Remi showed up and showed out yet again, taking down Dallas in the second match, 4-0, en route to a 1-2-0...2020-04-0656 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 90 - Defending Twitch, Defeating the Galaxy!There's no need to look for Polish MMA or Hungarian soccer! Here on Episode 90 of Defenders of the Banc, we've got all the details on the domination of the "Digital Derby" in our first episode covering eMLS!While physical sports are on hold for now, leave it to our good friend Alex Sale and everyone at LAFC and LAFC Gaming to keep the competitive juices flowing. Martin "RemiMartinn" Oregel, LAFC's first eMLS competitor, and Giuseppe "The Godfather" Guastella, Carson's eMLS representative got together for a wonderful cause during these tough times: The LA Charity FIFA Challenge. 2020-03-301h 13Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 89 - Podcasting While Social DistancingCruz Azul at home? Postponed. A trip to Estadio Azteca? Grounded. Turning the Timbers into toothpicks? Delayed. But it's going to take more than a worldwide pandemic to keep Filly and the Scarf from recording our latest episode!Welcome to Episode 89, Podcasting While Social Distancing. Keeping a standard 6-city distance away from each other, Scarf is home in Lawndale while Filly sets up shop at world-famous Filimonster Studios to record our first episode since COVID-19 reshaped our collective reality. You may hear a few minor audio issues while we work out the kinks of recording remotely.2020-03-2540 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 88 - The Coronavirus EpisodeThe headline on CNN said it all: "America is on hold." In what seemed like mere minutes, sports leagues, concerts, festivals, celebrations, and other large galas went from "wait and see" to "postponed indefinitely" or canceled. Coronavirus has made its way into the very fabric of the world, and, with it, among many other things, postponed the CCL match between your LAFC black and gold and the blue cross of Cruz Azul.An hour or so after recording a superpod with many of the other #lafcpodfam on YouTube, moderated by Jerry Jimenez of Heart of LAFC, the...2020-03-1343 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 87 - Philly Falls Into a PointWelcome to Episode 87 of the LAFC Podcast for the People, Defenders of the Banc! We head back at the Banc for the second match of the 2020 season. In town are the Philadelphia Union, and who could have predicted this match would have gone much like many of the boxing matches of Philly’s Finest Fictional Fighter, Rocky Balboa. It was a true back-and-forth affair, as LAFC played catch-up for the entire 90 minutes. Philly would score, and LAFC would respond. Philly got another, and then so did LAFC. When the dust settled, not only were Union players strewn all...2020-03-091h 04Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 86 - Vela's Birthday PartyReunited... And it feels so good! Filly is back from Italy, and just in time, too! It's time to celebrate the 31st birthday of the greatest player in team history and the owner of the left foot of God, Carlos Vela! In honor of Carlos's birthday, footballing legend David Beckham and his Inter Miami CF have been invited to the Banc to kickoff MLS's 25th season and the third season for your boys in Black and Gold!While it wasn't quite the 3-0 beatdown of Leon, LAFC do everything they need to in a 1-0 win against...2020-03-0255 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 85 - Dominating Leon At HomeThe Cathedral of the Black and Gold welcomes the faithful and the spirited of LAFC as Liga MX foe Leon enters their worst nightmare, the den of the 3252, to take on LAFC in the second leg of Round 1 of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. In what would turn out to be a historic night for LAFC, the boys would go on to not only defeat Leon but advance in the CCL, 3-2 on aggregate, and secure a date with Cruz Azul in Round 2. We're off to Mexico City!Episode 85 of Defenders of the Banc, the L...2020-02-2943 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 83 - 3 Days in LeonAway Days in Leon. Just typing the words brings me (Scarf) back to tacos and seafood, a few too many tequila shots, and the incredible atmosphere inside Estadio Leon, home of Los Panzas Verdes, Club Leon FC. Welcome to Episode 83. What Tom Hanks was to Cast Away, Scarf is to this episode. Alone. With Nina in Anaheim and Filly and Panda in Rome, it's all Scarf, all the time on Episode 83. But don't worry! Scarf keeps it pretty short, barely topping the 30-minute mark as he recaps the events in Leon as the Black and Gold make t...2020-02-2431 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 84 - Running Our Mouths (feat. Neal Tyner - Black and Gold Running Club)To deal with the chaos and carnage of the MLS season, the Champions League, the Open Cup, the MLS Playoffs, and the many, many cool events that LAFC puts on, some people like to unwind with a run. Apparently, this is a relaxing endeavor. While Scarf does not understand this concept, Filly and Panda are avid runners, even when something is not chasing them. (Please do not chase Scarf.) The Defenders are joined in world-famous Filimonster Studios by the founder of the Black and Gold Running Club, Neal Tyner, as part of our Stories from the Stadium s...2020-02-1442 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 82 - The One Where The Academy Player Scores!The preseason comes to a close with a mid-day, mid-week match against Toronto FC, and with that comes Episode 82 of the LAFC Podcast for the People, Defenders of the Banc!Walker Zimmerman was traded to Nashville SC. We didn't believe the headline when we read it, either, but it's true. Yes, it was for a potential record-setting amount of GAM for a defender, but, wow. Just like that, one of the key members of our record setting first two seasons is gone. It felt different than the departures of Tyler, or Lee, or Laurent. But the team...2020-02-131h 06Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 81 – BWP is Black and Gold!The Defenders tackle Ontario, CA as they record the 81st edition of the LAFC Podcast for the People! The LAFC news never stops, but this week was a big one. Filly and the Scarf break down the potential ramifications of the Adama Diomande injury, a fractured 4th metatarsal in his right foot, the release of former phenom Josh Perez, the departure of every draft pick we made this season not named Hallahan, and… *cue the Stone Cold Steve Austin intro and channel your inner Jim Ross voice* LAFC has signed BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS! Despite many reports to th...2020-02-1047 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 80 - LXXXIt’s Episode 80, or as we are calling this one, Episode LXXX, in honor of the Super Bowl, played today between the Chiefs and 49ers. The preseason is underway, and as such, we recap the closed-to-everyone friendly victory over NYCFC, 3-1. The match had plenty of history for being a preseason friendly, as Brian Rodriguez finally put one in the back of the net for the Black and Gold. 2020 SuperDraft pick Jorge Gonzalez also got on the board, a goal you could have seen LIVE on Defenders of the Banc’s Instagram @defendersofthebanc! Kenneth Vermeer got the start...2020-02-0336 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 79 - Youth Gone WildAt about 6:30 on the evening of January 25, four goalies walk out together in unison, and the 3252 lets out their first loud cheer of the evening. Banc of California, the Cathedral of the Black and Gold, is officially alive again! Preseason is upon us, and Uruguayan powerhouse Peñarol visits the Banc for an international friendly! Filly and the Scarf were not only there to witness it, but thanks to Aubrey, we covered it as "media"! In a first for the boys, we were actually in our Sunday best at the Cathedral, wearing jeans and button-up shirts and sitting in...2020-01-261h 04Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 78 - Previewing PeñarolEpisode 78 is upon us, and this one has the Defenders asking, “Is it game day yet?!”After the boys go over a few LAFC News and Notes and Scarf recaps This Day In LAFC History, it’s time to talk about the first preseason match of 2020, the international friendly against Uruguayan powerhouse Peñarol. We give our listeners a little taste of the rich, 128-year old history and track record of the club while showering some praise on the club and national team career of its newest coach, Diego Forlan. It’s underpromise and overdeliver time! The...2020-01-2338 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 77 - First Practice of 2020!Episode 77 is here already! Yes, just four days after our last try at this, here we are with more! Blame LAFC, as a bunch of news, a new signing, two more draft picks, and the first practice of the season has ALL happened in the last four days!Unlike half of MLS, LAFC actually used their two Day 2 SuperDraft picks! We are happy to welcome Jorge Gonzalez and Younes Boudadi to the Black and Gold! With our first practice in the books, LAFC unveiled three trialists, including a huge name in the MLS record books, Bradley Wright-Phillips...2020-01-1441 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 76 - Dry January? More Like Draft January!Finally... the boys HAVE COME BACK... to Filimonster Studios! It's episode 76, and the Defenders are back in Burbank to record their latest episode. The 2020 MLS SuperDraft is upon us, and Filly and The Scarf look to attack it from all angles. Before tackling the draft, it's time to get up to speed on all the LAFC news and notes from the last 10 days. We say goodbye to Fito, and wonder what could have been. We welcome back Jordan Harvey and Dejan Jakovic for season 3. We congratulate Tristan Blackmon, the greatest draft pick in LAFC history, on his n...2020-01-1048 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 75 - Getting Gully with Alexis Guerreros of The Cooligans!It's the second episode of 2020 for the Defenders, and it's our second HUGE interview of the season! Fresh off the heels of our sit-down with Stix, Filly and The Scarf are lucky enough to be joined by Alexis Guerreros, comedian, writer, American soccer defender, and one-half of the incredible podcasting duo known as The Cooligans!Over the course of 70 minutes, Alexis and the boys talk about pretty much everything under the sun! We pick his brain about how The Cooligans got their start, what makes them so successful, and how his parents are still trying to cope...2020-01-051h 10Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 74 - Stix Joins Filly and The Scarf! (feat. Stix - Founder of ThinkWatts Foundation)Happy New Year from your favorite pair of podcasters, Filly and The Scarf! The Defenders look to kick off 2020 in a big way by interviewing LAFC legend, rapper, writer, producer, manager, and founder of the ThinkWatts Foundation, Stix! A special thanks to Erin and Brandon for allowing us to record at FreePlay, home of Black and Gold Fridays! Hear the story of how Stix became Watts' favorite son and philanthropist, from his beginnings as the founder of the Krump Dance movement, to working with Iggy Azalea and the icon Snoop Dogg, to his fateful clothing choice that l...2020-01-051h 06Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 73 - A Wrap on 2019As 2019 comes to a close, the boys at Defenders of the Banc could think of nothing better than to get together one last time this decade to put a bow on the 2019 season.In this short and sweet 26 minute episode, Scarf brings you one more This Day in LAFC History, Filly discusses our newest Uruguayan donning the Black and Gold, and the boys discuss their New Years’ Resolutions! We’d be remiss if we didn’t congratulate Tom Penn, John Thorrington, and Larry Freedman on their contract extensions, so we do! Also, listen for an early peek into w...2019-12-2826 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 72 - Guanajuato, Here We Come!Filly and The Scarf are back at it again on Episode 72! A flurry of LAFC news dropped over the last few days, but the main topic of discussion on this episode? LAFC crashes the CONCACAF Champions League party! The draw for the 2020 CCL is set, and LAFC drew the toughest opponent possible, Liga MX foe Leon. The Black and Gold will travel to Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico for the first leg, then host "Los Verdiblancos" at the Banc. Both legs will take place in mid-to-late February. Will it be a time to shine for Pablo Sisniega? Will we s...2019-12-111h 06Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 71 - LA Rox (feat. Roxana Aguirre)It's the offseason, so it's time to publish a fun interview we recorded during the season! Back in September of this year, between episodes 58 and 59, Filly and the Scarf sat down with do-it-all superwoman Roxana Aguirre, mother of two, wife, LAFC supporter, and part-owner of the brand 90 Plus Culture, a brand she helped cultivate with LAFC's very own Latif Blessing. You've no doubt seen Roxana around almost every tailgate and LAFC event wearing her trademark teal baseball cap! She almost never goes anywhere without it. Rox shares her story of how she became a ticket holder (Facebook!), h...2019-12-0432 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 70 - An Hour With Vince (feat. Vince La Rosa, Digital Manager for LAFC)What a week for the Defenders of the Banc! First, we sit down with President of The 3252, Jimmy Lopez, on Episode 69. Now, Filly and the Scarf head to LAFC's head offices in downtown to chat with Vince La Rosa. You may know Vince from his many fantastic articles on MLSsoccer.com or LAFC.com. Or maybe the many pre- and post-game videos and insights while you are at Banc of California Stadium. Or maybe you know him as a co-host of Inside LAFC, the fantastic insider podcast, with friend of the pod Max Bretos. The bottom line i...2019-11-211h 00Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 69 - 69, Dudes! (feat. Jimmy Lopez, President of the 3252!To quote one of our favorite movies, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, “69, dudes!” It’s Episode 69 of Defenders of the Banc, and this one is definitely a memorable one. We have a very special guest in this longer-than-normal episode of Defenders.With us today in beautiful Filimonster Studios is the President of The 3252, Jimmy Lopez! We are thrilled to be able to sit down with Jimmy and talk all things LAFC. Filly, Scarf, and Jimmy explore all of the recent roster announcements leading up to the Expansion Draft on November 19th. We discuss the 12 members of the Prot...2019-11-181h 33Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 68 - MLS Cup Final Recap feat. Panda, Nina, and Byron!Hello Defenders! It's been over 10 days since you've heard from us. Yes, part of the time was spent nursing our wounds (and hangovers) from the defeat at the Banc in the Western Conference Finals, but we have also been anticipating the MLS Cup Final between our new least favorite team in the league, Seattle, and our former captain's current home, Toronto. Joining us for a fun, sometimes off the rails, and Theraflu-infused episode are Nina and Panda of the Center Mid Chicks podcast and a friend to the Defenders of the Banc (and Filly's co-worker), Byron Paredes. 2019-11-1139 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 67 - Yellow and Green Make LAFC BlueEpisode 67 is here, and, unfortunately, with it comes the end of the 2019 season, with two less wins and one fewer game than we had hoped. Apparently, it’s time to wake up from the dream season that was 2019.In an episode we are calling Yellow and Green Make LAFC Blue, Filly and The Scarf recap the ugly defeat at the hands of the Seattle Sounders. While it’s hard enough to play against the 11 on the other side, the yellow team did us no favors tonight either. Beyond blatant handballs, flagrant fouls, and a lack of awareness of w...2019-10-3053 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 66 - The Galaxy Enter the Temple of Doom!It took six tries, but when it mattered most, when we needed it most, when we wanted it most, history FINALLY happened at Banc of California Stadium. Los Angeles Football Club defeats the Carson Galaxy, 5-3, in a loser-goes-home Western Conference Semifinal playoff match. Welcome to Episode 66, and to paraphrase Dave Chapelle as the late, great Rick James: "It's a celebration, Defenders!" What an incredible night at the Banc. Led by our MVP, Carlos Vela, the return of Adama Diomande, and some incredible saves by Tyler Miller, LAFC check off a lot of boxes. First playoff win? C...2019-10-2554 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 65 - Round 1 Playoff Recap and HYPE!Round 1 of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs is in the books, and what an amazing set of 6 games it was! Episode 65 from Defenders of the Banc serves as a recap of the round and, of course, sets the table for the Battle of Los Angeles, Round 6. The theme for Round 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs could be Extra Time, as half the games went more than the usual 90'. The Conference Semifinals are set: In the East, it's Atlanta vs. Philly in the ATL while Toronto heads to the home of the Metropolitans, Citi Field, to take on N...2019-10-2253 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 64 - You Can Call Him Al! (feat. Al Raitt, LAFC Director of Match Day Presentation)The first week of MLS Cup Playoffs is upon us. For LAFC, that means a little bit of rest, as the boys in Black and Gold secured a bye in the first round. For Filly and The Scarf, it means we get to release an interview that we recorded during the summer and earlier this season with LAFC's Director of Match Day Presentation, Al Raitt. Al has been with the club since the beginning, and he has one of the more unique and fascinating jobs at LAFC. We had a great time sitting down with Al talking a...2019-10-161h 05Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 63 - History at The Banc!Episode 63 is here, and it’s the final episode of the 2019 regular season. Could LAFC and Carlos Vela provide more history in what has been the most incredible season in MLS history? Get your left shoes ready!34 weeks of an MLS season, and it all came down to the final day of the year. LAFC needed a win to set a new points record. Carlos Vela needed one more goal to be able to call the single season MLS record his own, all while attempting to outrun a lion in Carson. And perhaps most importantly, the Black an...2019-10-071h 01Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 62 - Loon-ey TiesWelcome back, Defenders, to another episode of Defenders of the Banc with your hosts, Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert. Episode 62 awaits, recapping our Black and Gold's travels to a beautiful stadium with an awful pitch, Minnesota United FC's Allianz Field. Game 33 of the season comes with a large slice of history, as Carlos Vela lit the candle for the 31st time of the year, tying Josef Martinez's one-year old record of goals in a season. It was another wonder strike from the best left foot in MLS! Unfortunately, just 5 minutes later, Diego Palacios, m...2019-09-301h 17Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 61 - Achievement Unlocked: Supporters ShieldIt's Episode 61 of Defenders of the Banc, and it's the episode we have been looking forward to all season! No, not the return of Christian Ramirez... (but that did happen!) LAFC entered the mid-week matchup against the human highlighters from Houston with a chance to lock up the coveted Supporters Shield, our club's first piece of hardware, and in front of 22,000 screaming fans, history was made! WE WON THE SUPPORTERS SHIELD!In what was the most significant step in an incredible 2-year journey, the Black and Gold are able to lift the shield in front of their...2019-09-2656 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 60 - Family TiesOn our latest episode of Defenders of the Banc, we hit the big 6-0! 60 episodes of Defenders, and this one is special for the Bradley family. Our intrepid leader, Bob, matches wits against Toronto FC and their midfielder, his son, Michael, for the first time at Banc of California Stadium. With history in our sights and the playoffs inching (or as Filly says on this episode, millimetering) closer, we recap the 1-1 tie with Toronto. For what seemed like the seventh or eighth time in a row, LAFC falls behind early. A deflection in the box fell t...2019-09-231h 19Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 59 - Point-ing in the Right DirectionFor the first time, the boys in Black and Gold travel to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Union. Another game means a new episode of Defenders of the Banc, with newly plant-based Christian "Filly" Filimon and, as Christian called him on tonight's episode, the "Sultan of the Scarves", J.R. Lebert.Before getting into the match recap, Filly and The Scarf wax poetic on all things Iron Maiden, as the metal-rock legends stopped by Banc of California Stadium on their Legacy of the Beast Tour for a face-melting experience.The...2019-09-1546 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 58 - Technical Difficulties in OrlandoWelcome to Episode 58 of Defenders of the Banc, where hopefully we sound better than YouTube TV's coverage of the second half of our first visit to Orlando looked. LAFC sent a depleted roster into the House of the Mouse, down 7 players on international duty while MVP Carlos Vela sat out to rest his hamstring. Despite this, LAFC salvage a tie, 2-2, behind the 15th for Diego Rossi and the very first for LMU-product Adrien Perez. In the 11th minute, Adrien Perez gave us every reason to celebrate, tallying his maiden MLS goal, but off the very next k...2019-09-081h 11Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 57 - Minnesota Toyes With LAFCAfter a bit of a delay and a small Instagram campaign to wake Filly, Episode 57 is finally here! On this episode, while Filly is in Cartagena at a friend's wedding, Scarf is joined in the second chair by Center Mid Chicks' very own Nina! This game marked the first game in September, which also kicks off MLS's Kick Childhood Cancer fundraiser. By simply using the hashtag #KickChildhoodCancer, MLS will donate $1 towards cancer research for every post containing that tag. Please use it every time you post on social media this month!Minnesota makes their trip t...2019-09-0359 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 56 - Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying NothingIt'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 o...2019-08-261h 17Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 55 - Smurf Stew With a Side of Left Shoe!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. J...2019-08-221h 04Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 54 - Records Drown in Salt LakeLAFC 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 wa...2019-08-1853 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 53 - Downing the Energy DrinksLAFC was back at the Banc, so it's time for another game recap episode from your boys at Defenders of the Banc! Here on Episode 53, re-live the highs, lows, and highs again of the thrilling 4-2 victory over the Jersey Boys.A Carlos Vela continued to prove that he is the MVP of the league this season, notching two assists and a PK goal on the night. It was a night of set-piece success from the Black and Gold, as passes from Vela led to goals by steady Eddie Segura and Jordan Harvey, the 19th and 20th...2019-08-1251 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 52 - CENTER MID CHICKS PILOT EPISODE!!!!Have you ever heard of a midfielder in the center? Or is it center mid?You asked for it, and it's here! The Defenderettes are launching their very own podcast! In this pilot episode, Panda, Scarfette, and Sweet Home Amy reunite after their incredibly successful Women's World Cup recap episodes on Defenders of the Banc (check out the episodes!). They join forces on their new podcast, cleverly titled Center Mid Chicks, to talk about the resurgence of women's soccer in the US and get into the details of the NWSL. Will they bring a team t...2019-08-1042 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 51 - TAM, GAM, Thank You, Ma'am (The 2019 Transfer Window Episode)No game recap? No interview with a special guest? No problem. The boys at Defenders of the Banc tackle their first transfer window episode! We focus on moves that either directly effect the roster of the Black and Gold or the teams chasing us for the Supporters Shield. LAFC takes a loss on local product Christian Ramirez as he gets shipped to Houston, the much-talked-about signing of Brian Rodriguez FINALLY becomes official, and, just when things had started to settle down, LAFC does make a move involving Diego! But... not that Diego! John Thorrington and friends pull o...2019-08-0957 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 50 - A Close Shave at GilletteThe boys of the Black and Gold made the cross-country trek to the home of the Patriots, Gillette Stadium, to take on the Revolution. We hit the half-century mark on this episode, recapping the 2-0 win in The House That Tom Brady Built. It was a solid-but-not-spectacular performance by LAFC, holding the home team off the scoring sheet while establishing our defensive dominance at times. Sporting our home black jerseys, Jordan Harvey dished out two assists while Latif Blessing looked every bit of the part of "The Game Changer" in the middle. Tyler Miller looked assertive and c...2019-08-0459 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 49 - Hey Now, You're An All Star! (feat. Jonathan Reimer of S2S)It's All Star Week in the MLS, so the boys at Defenders of the Banc thought it would be a great idea to showcase a few All Stars of our own on this surprise episode! It's Episode 49, and we couldn't think of a better All Star to have with us than Jonathan "Ultra Gringo" Reimer of the Shoulder 2 Shoulder Podcast!Four LAFC players represented well in the 2019 edition of the MLS All Star Game, as the best players in the league took on La Liga powerhouse Atletico Madrid and their $142M teenager, Joao Felix! Though the team...2019-08-011h 08Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 48 - A Win Is A Nguyen!LAFC comes back home to Banc of California Stadium to take on the defending MLS champs, Atlanta United, and with that comes Episode 48 of Defenders of the Banc. Fresh off the heels of a stinging defeat at Carson, the Black and Gold were looking to bounce back to their winning ways and stay ahead of the pack for our first piece of hardware, the Supporters' Shield. The fans were barely into their seats when Atlanta struck first, and it seemed as if the loss to their rivals last week would certainly affect the outcome of this one, t...2019-07-271h 01Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 47 - 0-2-2Round 1 of the 2019 edition of the Battle for Los Angeles took place in Carson last night, and with that comes the newest episode of Defenders of the Banc, featuring your boys, Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert.It was deja vu all over again as Carson defeated the Black and Gold (and camouflage?) of LAFC, 3-2. It was a tale of two all stars. Two goals by captain Carlos Vela were not enough to secure victory, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned Man of the Match honors with his hat trick. It was a game full...2019-07-2047 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 40: Kansas City BBQAnother episode of Defenders of the Banc... another massive win by our boys on the road! It's as if they knew that no good 4th of July celebration is complete without some tasty BBQ. LAFC served up Sporting KC on a platter, 5-1, in a game full of first and fantastic finishes and, more importantly, showed that the loss to Colorado just a few days earlier was nothing more than a small hiccup on the way to owning the West.This game had everything! LAFC welcomed back Mark-Anthony Kaye from international duty, as Canada was eliminated from...2019-07-041h 11Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 33 - Earthquake WakeThe Open Cup is back underway, and with it comes Episode 33 of Defenders of the Banc! The Black and Gold were back at The Banc, and boy did it feel good. On this episode, Filly and The Scarf break down the burial of the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-1, as LAFC moves on to the Elite 8 of the Open Cup. Hear all about the fantastic, hard-fought win, including our thoughts on the rising star that is Pablo Sisniega. Despite playing without Tyler Miller, Walker Zimmerman, Mark-Anthony Kaye, and Steven Beitashour, LAFC looked solid and certainly did more than e...2019-06-2150 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 27 - Pride, Passion, and Plenty of Goals, Eh?It's time for the final episode in May, and what a May it was! Carlitos vaults to the top of the MVP race, LAFC stays at the top of the table, and we end the month with a wonderful early celebration of pride, inclusion, and Soccer For All. LAFC played their last MLS regular season home game for over a month against Montreal. In what turned out to be just as exciting as last year's eight goal thriller, the boys in Black and Gold handle their business at the Banc yet again, taking all 3 points in a 4-2 victory. 2019-05-2647 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 21 - Cinco de... CeroWelcome to Episode 21 of Defenders of the Banc with Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert. As we hit our 21st episode, LAFC seems to have hit a little bump in the road with their scoreless home draw against the uninspiring Chicago Fire. The boys dissect the draw, including their thoughts on pushing more defenders forward, Lee Nguyen's crisp passing and its effect on the entire team, the return of Dio, and another clean sheet by Tyler Miller. Of course, no episode is complete without a trip in the way-back machine in This Da...2019-05-0654 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 19 - Silencing the SoundersWelcome to Episode 19, where Filly and The Scarf are back at it after the mid-week debacle in Canada. What a difference a game makes, as the Black and Gold right the ship against the Sounders!In this Episode, the Defenders recap the exciting statement win at The Banc over Seattle. With the 4-1 victory, LAFC stands firmly atop the Western Conference and widens their goal differential even further. Hear all about each of the four goals, another MVP performance by Carlitos, a hat-trick of assists for Mark-Anthony Kaye, a rebound performance by Christian Ramirez, the return of...2019-04-2346 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 18 - BS at BC PlaceWelcome to Episode 18 of Defenders of the Banc, with your boys Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert. In this episode, we prove that you can't win them all in our recap of LAFC's first loss of the season. It was a tough night north of the border for the Black and Gold, falling 1-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Hear all about the unique lineup rolled out by Coach Bob, the LAFC connection manning the bench for Vancouver, and our thoughts on what we could have done differently to keep our undefeated season going.2019-04-1848 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 15 - The Pillage In Smurf VillageWelcome to Episode 15, The Pillage of Smurf Village! Finally, The Scarf... has come back... from Peru! The boys catch up on all things LAFC as well as their usual birthdays and "This Day In LAFC History" segments, and so much more!In Episode 15, Christian and J.R. breakdown the beatdown that was a 5-0 victory over the San Jose Quakes on the road. Re-live every stunning detail, from Tyler Miller's first clean sheet of the season to the MLS Player of the Week performance by our captain, Carlos Vela. In addition, the boys highlight a possible NEW...2019-04-0259 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 14: Hi Felicia, Avenger of The BancWhere in the world is JR “The Scarf” Lebert? In this episode we feature two important women in our lives as cohosts, @lafcnina (Scarfette) & @amandabrooke32 the (Panda). We recap the RSL game and that magical goal in stoppage time by @walkerzimmerman. We also talk briefly about the Pandas LA Marathon Run, some important information regarding the LAFC family, and highlight the watch party happening down in OC for the San Jose game. Get ready to hear Filly try to hold his own against the ladies behind DOTB! 2019-03-251h 15Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 9: Gearing Up for the Start of Season Two!It's been a few weeks since your boys Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert were able to sit down and record. There is SO MUCH to catch up on! Now that Filly is back from Australia, it's time to delve into everything that happened since. There's never been a better time for Episode 9!In this episode, we discuss the MANY new signings to the Black and Gold roster (Including goalies! Finally!), our final two preseason contests, a rumored member of the Azzurri training with the club, an incredible event hosted by Niky's Sports featuring...2019-02-281h 06Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 6: El Catrin Muerto joins Filly and The Scarf! Our First Interview!It's time for Episode 6, and this one is a special double-length episode. Yes, we know 90 minutes is a lot, but this time, Filly and The Scarf brought a friend! Edgar "El Catrin Muerto" Contreras joins the boys for their first interview in Defenders of the Banc history. A member of the 3252, Cuervos SG, and a true LAFC super-fan, Filly and The Scarf chat with Edgar about the story behind El Catrin Muerto, his experiences in the 3252 and on game day, and much, much more!Also part of Episode 6, Filly and the Scarf discuss the great 4-1 win...2019-02-031h 32Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 5: On the Way to The Banc to See Vissel Kobe?Filly and The Scarf are back for Episode 5! This 40-minute episode is the perfect length to listen to while you are on your way to Banc of California Stadium to catch Vissel Kobe take on your boys in the Black and Gold!In Episode 5, the Defenders cover a wide range of topics, leading with Rodolfo "Fito" Zelaya signing with LAFC! Hear all about the star from El Salvador. LAFC's season opening (but closed) scrimmage against Toronto FC and Laurent Ciman. The boys give a mini breakdown of the 3-1 victory. The Black and Gold wearing the Red...2019-01-3140 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 4: The Preseason Has Started!Happy 2019 from Filly and The Scarf! It's our first episode of the new year, and boy are we excited to be back talking all things Black and Gold!In this episode of Defenders of the Banc, the boys cover a wide range of topics. Back in Black and Gold: Jordan Harvey, Walker Zimmerman, Dejan Jakovic, and Danilo Silva all re-sign just in time for 2019! Vissel Kobe is coming: On January 31, the newest Japanese super team, featuring David Villa, Andres Iniesta, and Lukas Podolski come to the Banc to take on LAFC! The 2019 MLS Superdraft: Peter-Lee Vassell, Javi...2019-01-2155 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 3: Happy Holidays from Filly and The Scarf!In the last episode of 2018, Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert wrap up the year with more fun, LAFC-fueled banter, including: The U.S. Men's National Team calling in three (!) LAFC teammates to the squad, including the first call-up for GK Tyler Miller. LAFC rumors, news, and notes about current (Eduard Atuesta), former (Laurent Ciman), and possible future (Ryan Laursen) players. MLS news including a brand new playoff format and new stadiums in Austin and Minnesota. Information about two NEW premium spaces at Banc of California Stadium: the North End Terrace and Mid Field Boxes. Our...2018-12-2444 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 2: LAFC's Offseason Begins!It’s time for Episode 2 of Defenders of the Banc! In the 40-minute second episode, Christian “Filly” Filimon and “The Scarf” J.R. Lebert start the holiday season off right by getting you caught up on all the latest LAFC news and notes, including recapping the 2018 MLS Audi Cup Final between Portland and Atlanta, the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft and its effect on LAFC’s roster, trades and acquisitions by LAFC in the early offseason, rumored reports of a Barcelona/LAFC partnership, LAFC potentially signing a member of the Selecao… and so much more!Hear a salty Scarf enter into one...2018-12-1746 minDefenders of the Banc - The LAFC PodcastEpisode 1 - Welcome to Defenders of the Banc!It's finally here! The first episode of the much-anticipated Defenders of the Banc podcast. In our debut episode, you'll meet Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert, two LAFC super-fans excited to talk about all things related to the Los Angeles Football Club. Though this debut episode is a little less than an hour, expect future episodes to be between 40-60 minutes, perfect for the drive to and from work, home, or the next LAFC match!In this episode, we discuss LAFC's roster moves and contract renewals after the 2018 season, the 2018 MLS Expansion D...2018-12-0659 min