Episode 124 – Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Episode 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 our imagination thanks in part to an outage at the YouTube Studios and the sultry tones of Dave Denholm on the radio, LAFC fell behind early on a goal by “The Tank”, Lucas Cavallini. With their bunker-first mentality and a starting lineup with six players who didn’t start in the big loss, Vancouver went into the half up a goal but down many LAFC viewers. 

LAFC would fall behind by two after another goal scored by Cavallini, assisted by the same pair of Dajome and Montero, before a few subs by Bob breathed some life into the match. Mahala, Duenas, and a little earlier, Bryce Duke, changed the energy of the match, and the score line. Despite the best efforts of the ref, who was in charge of just her second MLS match ever, Duke helped LAFC earn a PK. After not one but two bites at the cherry, as Max says, Eduard Atuesta slots it past Evan Bush to cut the deficit in half. It really did seem like LAFC would claw back to earn a point on the road, but it was not to be, and Vancouver took all three points on the road. 

It was a big week for LAFC signings, with Jesus David Murillo and Mark Segbers coming on board, two signings that should definitely bolster our back line just in time for a playoff push. Is Murillo the answer at CB we have been clamoring for since the Walker Zimmerman trade? We hope so! This Day In LAFC History celebrates the birth of John Thorrington while News and Notes sees four LAFC players facing off on the international stage. The Defenders find themselves an amazing breakfast spot in La Habra (Eggbred) while Dexter Quinn joins us in the third chair for the first time in 98 episodes. If only we let him speak more… 

LAFC plays again in just 4 days as they hope to solidify their place in the table. That’ll be Episode 125, a quarter of the way into the next 100. We couldn’t be more appreciative of all the support for us here at Defenders as we make the playoff push during our final five matches.