In the strangest of seasons, with the oddest of circumstances, amidst incredible adversity and numerous challenges, despite injuries, COVID, trades, international breaks, poor play, impromptu tournaments, and more COVID, LAFC began their third playoff run in their young club’s history. This run would start, and end, against a familiar foe in a familiar spot with an unfamiliar name, as the Seattle Sounders hosted LAFC in the house formerly known as CenturyLink Field, now known as Lumen Field.  Seattle has largely been able to avoid both the injury bug and the coronavirus, and, as such, entered the playoffs relatively healthy. LAFC, on the other hand, would be missing five key figures from their 2020 season: Diego Rossi, Brian Rodriguez, Jose Cifuentes, and Diego Palacios, all of whom we knew would be out with COVID, and, surprisingly, Danny Musovski, also “Not Medically Cleared”.  Andy Najar also did not play. Water is also wet. LAFC hoped to exact revenge on Seattle, but, as many of our expectations in 2020, it was not to be. It took just 18 minutes for Seattle to find themselves, as the three-headed monster of Ruidiaz-Morris-Lodeiro connect for the first goal of the match. LAfC looked to equalize just a minute later as Carlos Vela earned a PK. It was not to be however, as, for the first time in his last 19, Stefan Frei was able to make what turned out to be a remarkably easy save. Near misses by both sides bring us to a 1-0 half where both sides may have felt lucky to get into the locker room. LAFC looked to turn things around with a few subs and came out on the attack to start the second half. Mahala, Mohamed El-Munir, and Adrien Perez injected some life into the Black and Gold side as Vela moved to the middle of the attack, but Seattle created better chances en route to an eventual second goal, this one for Ruidiaz off a corner. LAFC found new life as Carlos Vela found a streaking Eduard Atuesta to pull one back, but the momentum lasted all of 3 minutes before that same three-headed monster put the match away behind a goal from Jordan Morris. LAFC had one correctly (barely) waved off via VAR as Seattle killed off the rest of the match to advance, convincingly, 3-1, and continue their title defense. To be the man, you have to beat the man. Tonight, LAFC was beaten by the man, and, just like that, the longest, strangest trip that was the 2020 season comes to an end. Also on this episode, Filly sings while Scarf sings the praises of Angel City FC. We wish a happy birthday to a recently retired member of Black and Gold history, share news of expanding trophy cases for several of our players, and lament the disaster that was the international break for our club. We also celebrate UCLA’s newest Bruin from the LAFC Academy, Lawndale’s own Mauricio Gutierrez while discussing the latest transfer destination for one of our players. Carlos Vela takes home tops honors in kit sales while the Defenders update their Postmates app to order all the finest LAFC threads. So much to talk about, so little time.  Finally, we spend the last few moments of our episode thanking you, Defenders Nation, the millions… and millions of the Black and Gold Faithful. We could not and would not be here without you. We’ve got at least three more episodes planned in the 2020 calendar year, including getting ready for CCL against Cruz Azul. Please take a second to listen to the last few minutes, our thank you to you. Take a deep breath. Exhale out all the garbage that was 2020. And until then, see you on Episode 131!