LAFC, for the moment, is above the playoff line! Yes, it may just be for a night, but LAFC, riding a 5-game unbeaten streak, is finally back above the line. The Black and Gold put a beatdown on the West’s #1 and our biggest nemesis, the Seattle Sounders, taking all three points and scoring three huge goals. It’s a great Tuesday at the Banc, and you can hear all about it on Episode 175 of Defenders of the Banc!
Brian Rodriguez, yes, Brian, opened the scoring for LAFC with a great shot that went 5-hole on Stefan Frei. Not content to go into the half up just one goal, Latif Blessing got on the end of a Kim Moon-Hwan pass and doubled the lead!
Seattle would come out swinging in the second half, with both the crossbar and Jamal Blackman needing to make a save early, but LAFC would settle down nicely. In the 51’, Filly’s favorite striker, Chicho, Chicho Arango, would net his lucky 13th goal on the season, putting the good guys up three and salting the game away.
As if three goals and a beatdown of Seattle wasn’t enough good vibes for one Tuesday, to quote Rafiki in The Lion King, “The king has returned!” For the first time in months, Carlos Vela took the pitch in an MLS match, coming on in the 78th minute to see out the win. LAFC brought on the closer, Jordan Harvey, in the 90th, and the party at the Banc was on!
Also on this episode, we celebrate the career of Carli Lloyd and the early season successes of the Lakers and Knicks while completely forgetting about Game 1 of the World Series. Why is Filly picking on Scarf? How did Panda get Super Bowl tickets? And who was Scarf profusely apologizing to? You’ll have to listen to Episode 175 to find out!