Casual FC

Mario: this Sunday is the captain's ca ah,

rewind.

Angela: What happened to you?

Mario: It's.

Angela: Captain's

Mario: One of, it's one of those words
that like, because of our LA accent,

we cut certain letters, certain vowels.

So it's captain,

Angela: Yeah,

Mario: not captain, And so I'm
saying Captain, captain curtain call.

And it's just a weird thing to say.

Welcome to Casual fc, an Angel City Match
Preview and Footy Therapy Pod featuring

two podcast certified footy therapists.

I'm your host, Mario Salazar.

I

didn't have a thing ready, but my
wonderful host, Angela Morales.

Angela: The pause, I was like, hello, I'm

Mario: I thought I had
it, and then it flew away.

Angela: in the spirit of

Mai Niehues, loving Legos on Sunday
before the game, Eva and I went

to Aldi 'cause we needed groceries
they had a Halloween Lego kit.

It's so cool.

It's a little haunted house.

then.

It's got a bat on top and then this little
top thing opens up like you see the teeth

Mario: that's pretty awesome.

Angela: like back here.

It's

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: It was, it took
me like 20 minutes.

Like it wasn't like hard,
but it was fun and that's

Mario: Yeah, yeah.

If you're having fun.

Angela: saying that we were
gonna win because I bought Legos

and then my scored that goal.

Which we'll talk about later.

Spoiler alert.

and then I was like, it's
because I called Legos.

And then we found out that one
of the friends of the pod, I

should say, got Legos into BMO to

Mario: After a little, a little
bit of a worry at security.

Angela: but it happened.

She got them, she loved them
and then she went to Legoland.

But Mario, what are we here for today?

'cause I'm yapping.

'cause I'm tired.

Mario: We are here to talk
about our episode of the

Portland Thorns match preview.

It's happening on Sunday, October 19th.

It is the last home match of the
regular season at BMO 2:00 PM It's

going to be on ESPN as it was last week.

Last week was on ESPN also.

Yes.

if you cannot make it to the game,
if you cannot watch it on tv.

always a choice is going to be
iHeartRadio with Isaac and Tracey.

Can't say their praises enough.

It's freaking awesome.

And it's also going to be
on KF WB 980am in Spanish.

So pick your way to experience the match.

I was gonna say poison, but I'm
like nah, no, that's not right.

Angela: sometimes

Mario: I, like I said, it is the
last match, of the regular season.

The last match at home.

There will be one more
match, which is the decision.

Yes.

it's the final one.

So fan appreciation match,
usually they give out like a

poster, something like that.

Fanfics will be starting at 10:00 AM there
is a giveaway which got announced like.

A gate giveaway, which means on
your way in, not on your way out,

like they do with some of those.

It is a bobblehead pin giveaway,
so it's not a bobblehead, it is a

pin that looks like a bobblehead,

Angela: it moves it.

Mario: but the little head moves
did this to indicate the movement.

Angela: of you who are not watching,
shook my head, my hand, shaking it.

And then Mario did a
little squiggly finger.

Mario: Little red rum finger.

Angela: it's a, you know, little guy.

Mario: Yes.

but

Angela: Most

Mario: is on most importantly, it
is only for the first 10,000 fans.

we've already set our piece about
these giveaways that are like

way under counted for the number
of people in the stadium, but.

Whatever, if you want your pin, they
will be random chosen at random.

There's four of them.

Angela: yeah, four different players.

Mario: It'll be one per person
coming in, first 10,000 fans.

So get there early, get there early,
get to the fan fest, and then 90 minutes

when the gates open, before the match.

Walk in, get your bubble head pin, and

Angela: Let's party.

Mario: find out which places
aren't open with food.

Angela: I got a cauliflower
pizza on Sunday.

I

Mario: it actually,

Angela: the discord, and it
was a real cauliflower pizza.

It

Mario: was it?

Angela: the hell it was, they
tried to feed me last time.

Mario: oh, there you go.

Angela: Yeah,

Mario: all right.

And

Angela: most,

Mario: most importantly, it
is captain's current call.

It is the last match, the last
time Ali Riley will be in a kit

Angela: on the pitch.

Mario: on the roster on
the field for Angel City.

She already announced
her retirement there.

W don't be mad at us 'cause we're gonna
gloss over her retirement thing right now.

There will be a future mostly
tear soaked episode from Angela.

but it is her last match as an angel
city player, as a professional soccer

player at, so it's gonna be a good one.

We're going to do right by her.

so

come join and see what the
festivities are gonna be all about.

Angela: Yeah.

And just so you know, for the
retirement stuff, make sure you

stay after the match they're gonna

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: stuff throughout the game, but
the official retirement ceremony is after.

We're essentially just gonna be
crying from the starting whistle

until about 15 minutes after the game.

prepare yourself, hydrate,
some tissues, probs.

I will, if you're in 227 or around there,
just don't look me in the eyes, please.

Mario: Yeah, it's, I know it's gonna be.

A very emotional one for a lot of fans.

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: I have grown to really
love, respect Ali for basically

everything she's done.

being the casual, being like, I really
got to know her more about as an Angel

City player than anything else really.

again, we'll save all of this
for a fu a future episode.

Yeah.

Angela: talk about her a lot.

Don't worry.

Mario: Yeah, because I'm not getting
te, I'm not getting teary eye.

No.

Angela: What are you talking about?

How dare you?

I've never cried on this podcast.

Who do you think I am?

Just cuts to a clip of me like
just sobbing over everything.

Mario: there was a way that I
could super cut it, I would, but

Angela: There's a way,
it's just called time and

Mario: yeah,

Angela: of us have it.

Mario: no.

Angela: so this weekend
was crazy soccer wise.

We got and not even like the
weekend, so on Friday night.

Yeah.

'cause Eva had a gig Friday night
and we were driving there and then

I saw that Kristen Hamilton, who
plays for Kansas City retired.

Or he is like retiring
at the end of the season.

chaos Award.

It's all the retirements.

Guys, it's so many and I
hate it and I'm sad about it.

We know CAP'S retiring then yesterday
Eva texted me in the middle of

the day, Lu Barnes is retiring.

I said, what?

Who?

What?

ha.

me.

One of the last remaining
players original NWSL players.

Shit.

So you

Mario: We.

Angela: Atco, you have Lu Barnes,
you have Kristen Hamilton.

Ali Riley.

I'm missing someone else
off the top of my head.

But there's like little hints being
dropped and I'm like, guys stop.

Meanwhile, I'm like three
to five years older than the

majority of them going I get it.

Mario: Stop.

But yes, my knees.

Angela: But yeah, it's just, there's been
a lot of retirement announcements and

it's a big old bummer, but it means that.

They have the next whole, like
they have a whole new life ahead

of them in a different world.

And it's gonna be very exciting to

Mario: Yeah, I,

Angela: them do.

Mario: yeah, Ali's already on the
train on like media trade where she's,

Angela: let me just be a broadcaster and
a podcaster and, everything everywhere.

But she's Ali Riley.

It's what she does.

Mario: Hey, she got that hustle.

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: she just has fun, I

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: it's fun.

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: wanna talk to your
friends about things you like.

Together so know nothing
about that either.

So this weekend around the league, lots
of soccer was, had Louisville and Chicago.

Drew at won one Orlando beat.

Portland won nothing.

Seattle drew with Bay at one
again, City beat Gotham two.

Nothing.

I should have just
condensed all these draws.

And then another draw between North
Carolina and Washington tied at one.

San Diego, beat Utah.

Three to two.

And then we played,

Mario: Nothing went our way.

Angela: hold on.

I forgot because we had an official chaos
award that I can't believe I forgot.

'cause I knew it was there.

So in the second half of the game,
we had just scored the second goal.

The Chaos Award goes to the little
girls sitting behind me that were

singing a custom oompapa song from

Mario: What.

Angela: They were like, Oompa loompa
doompety doo we're beating you 0 to 2.

it was insane and it was so good, Oh
yeah, we're gonna beat you zero to two.

That's what it was.

Eva just texted me from the other
room, and then it's get another goal.

It's 0 to 3.

they were just on it and they don't know.

That's Willy Wonka with Gene
Wilder's, my favorite movie.

Like they have no idea and I'm just
sitting there Is this for real?

And then I'm like, Hey, to Eva.

And I'm like, Hey, to my mom, Eva texts
Vero, who's sitting in front of us.

'cause she's what's going on?

tell me.

so then she hears it
and we're all just like,

that was the Chaos Award officially.

The Oompa Loompas

Mario: is amazing.

Angela: was great.

It was

Mario: are they, regulars behind
you or is it like a whole.

Angela: semi-regular, they're
not there all the time

Mario: Okay.

But

Angela: But

Mario: that's great.

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: you know what I do enjoy?

my, my niece plays softball and the girls
just, they have a chant for everything.

Angela: let's go.

Mario: And I'm just like, I, we
were at one game and just the amount

of, I was like, they didn't repeat.

Angela: No.

Mario: Or at least they didn't
feel they repeated at all.

Like they just, they had a chant the
entire dime and I was just like, oh, Okay.

Angela: about being on a softball team.

Like I played softball for four years as
a kid, and that was like my favorite part.

I got in trouble because they're like,
you're tall, you can throw far here.

Go sit in the outfield.

And one game, my mom and my aunt both
were like, Angela, stop picking the grass.

Like very Christen Press.

Very bored over there pulling grass
out, playing with flowers like hitting

the ball to Field guys, we're seven
and most kids are not even three feet

tall, like hitting the ball to me.

But yeah, softball chants and
like dugout songs are amazing

and it's such a fun culture.

Mario: Oh yeah, no, she has a, yeah, total
tangent that we've gone on for softball.

But still, she has a really cool
collection of, stickers and pins from

like from all the tournaments and from,

Angela: Different

Mario: but they're not from the
tournament, they're from the

other teams that they're playing.

Which I was like, that's
actually really cool.

that's a really cool like

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: thing.

Yeah.

Because she's been to tournaments
all over the state, like around

the country, things like that.

So I'm like, all Yeah.

That's pretty cool.

All right.

Back to

Angela: Back

Mario: we are here for?

yes.

We had a wonderful match.

Angel City versus Houston Dash
with a two to nothing win.

As our Oompa Loompa Loving Song,
children Behind Angela, were singing,

we had a Fuller with Sugita
goal and we had the best

Angela: future

Mario: goal, the goal of the year.

Angela: bullshit or

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: assist of the week if
it's not something of the week.

Mario: there was a poll on NWSL's,
Instagram of for assist of the week.

And out of, I think at the time when
I saw it, it was just over 2000 votes.

87% were Jun Endo.

Angela: I'm gonna pull it up right
now because I need to know, because

Mario: Okay.

Angela: it, it was like 87% of
the votes were for that assist.

Mario: the first goal that we had.

Fuller had the ball, was running
forward, gave it, pass it off to Sugita,

Sugita, ran it down, crossed it in, it,

Angela: I.

Mario: the crossed it in slash shot.

It was going in there,
bounced off the keeper.

Fuller was there at the right spot

Angela: just

Mario: and just

Angela: through.

Mario: followed it
through and was beautiful.

That's like exactly what you
wanna see, There's always gonna

be the second chance ball.

So that's beautiful.

And then

Angela: so

Mario: if you have not seen this,

Angela: 2,779 votes at
9:50 on Tuesday night.

It's currently 85% to Jun 7% to
Rachel Kundananji, 4% to Janine

Sonia, and 4% to Yvonne Chacón.

Sorry.

Mario: I.

Angela: soccer players.

This is the shit.

Mario: You, if you have not
seen this, where have you been?

Two.

I will do you a favor
and show it right now.

on YouTube.

There you go.

Jun Endo with the thousand percent, soccer
IQ of like where the ball was coming.

And that she was overrunning it a bit
like she was ahead of the ball, but

put her foot up, flicked it behind her

Angela: Like it was

Mario: like

Angela: like it was cheeky.

That's the only way I

Mario: it was the definition of cheeky.

That's the only way you can describe it.

It was a cheeky pass.

It was a little flick
behind her, straight to my.

And then she just ran off with it.

Now I will say, as I was watching it
live, my heart dropped for a second

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: after she passed the
keeper that she was about to lose

the ball, and I'm like, stop.

You don't need to walk it in.

You are past the goalie.

Get it in.

Luckily, she only took that one
extra pass, that one extra touch.

Angela: clipped.

I think she was just off balance

Mario: yeah,

Angela: had her footing,
it was like, okay, fine.

But it was like, oh my God.

Mario: yeah.

on the replay.

It totally makes sense.

In the run of play, I was like,
stop touching it and put it in.

But it was so good.

She kept her balance, she outran,
like a defender and the keeper, and

was able to basically just tap it in.

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: She Happy Gilmored.

She just tapped it in

Angela: Yeah,

Mario: and

Angela: was awesome.

And then one of the players like
collided with her, as she was running,

they like, there was a collision.

She kinda went, she didn't even
get to like have a cell 'cause

she like got knocked down.

Mario: Yeah,

Angela: else celebrated for her.

So I bought Legos.

I'm just saying

Mario: she went to Legoland

Angela: She

Mario: the day after.

Yeah.

Her, yeah.

Which I would recommend if.

You're a fan of Legos, or if you
have little kids, go to Legoland.

it's a great place.

It's awesome.

We're not sponsored.

Angela: We're not sponsored, but
if Lego, if Lego wants to do a

partnership with us and my on behalf
of Angel City, I would not complain.

would either.

I think we'd have a great time.

Mario: yeah.

so yeah, overall, overall, I think
the match was, it was pretty even.

I think what was a big difference.

Maker in this match.

It's not like this match, I guess to
me was really like above and beyond

any other match that we've had.

I think the big difference is us
actually capitalizing on those moments.

We've had moments where we're like,
everybody's just grabbing their hair,

Angela: Yeah,

Mario: right?

Angela: close,

Mario: Because we're always so
close, we're always a touch off and.

Angela: was what the first 20,
30 minutes felt like, because.

The first five minutes of
the game, we had two corners.

We had shots on goal.

It was like, what the heck?

And we were just skying balls over
the net from like close distance.

And it was just like, it, we
haven't figured this out yet.

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: we'll get there.

And then we like had that first goal.

The entire energy changed.

The entire energy on the pitch
changed, and it was wonderful.

Mario: lots of good points that
happened, lots of good improvements,

especially the stuff that we've
been talking about week to week.

But the key thing is us
capitalizing on those.

And honestly, that's really the parts that
we need is those finishing moments and.

Permutation Primo went,

Angela: Ham.

Mario: okay.

there's only so many scenarios I can give
before I know everybody will be like, God

dammit, let me like, skip like 30 seconds.

If people don't already do that.

So

the, I will say I totally knew about
the situation that we're in now.

So yes, technically you
were not eliminated,

Angela: But

Mario: mathematically.

Angela: are.

Mario: but realistically, come on,

I, we will talk about it soon, but
it was such a kind of extra long shot

that I was like, okay, Let's not keep
going and drowning on about this today.

I get to do that, but last
week I was like, look, here

are the immediate scenarios.

all that kind of doesn't matter because
we got the win and we got the win in a

way where it's like we, we can see things
gelling, we can see things working.

Yes.

and as, I believe Joel put
it in our discord, let's go

on for this pre, pre-season.

Let's keep it going.

'cause let's just get weird.

Let's try more shit.

Let's get it out there.

And if we make it.

And if we don't, we're trying
stuff and we're advancing.

so the prompt really simply
was we got three points.

It was so much so that Ethan
came in with three kus.

Angela: for every point,
and they're perfect.

take turns?

Mario: yeah, go.

Go.

Angela: Okay.

So the first one is Spunk, tenacity.

Team Play Fuller was on fire.

Hope for next season.

Mario: And then haiku number
two, Kennedy Fuller Heena.

Zita Cross shot Kennedy Fuller.

Angela: And then the third one.

This is the play by play Endo
Backwards Touch pushing Ball Upfield.

Takes wide of keep score.

So thank you Ethan.

I, this, I, hopefully this, I know
you weren't upset, but I hope this

makes up for us not reading the Haiku
like two episodes ago or whatever.

'cause now it's three, so
it's like with interest, I.

Mario: Yeah.

And then I think there was just
a lot of excitement going on,

on Instagram, on on the Discord.

I think, and because there was so much
excitement, I think there was a lot

of stuff that we could read out and
we'll be here forever, but a couple

points that we did, and like I said,
they're all very kind of general

sentiments of yes, we're seeing a
lot of good stuff TJ came in with.

I feel like the team is going to look
very different after a full off season of

Straus implementing his plan or Strautegy.

I love a good pun

Angela: Good

Mario: I like to call it.

Good job, tj.

Also, that tap pass Jun
had was so beautiful.

It should be in the Louvre.

Angela: And then Nadia, which
this one is my favorite.

She said, I'm traveling and I
tuned into Isaac and Tracey's

call for the first time.

Thank you Angela and Mario for
always singing their faces.

They were great.

My

Mario: Yes.

Angela: she's irritated
at the delay, but she

Mario: Yes,

Angela: she games ago.

We full on how to go
get her new, headphones.

Now she's got like
wireless beats headphones.

Okay.

Mom.

okay, sure.

to listen to them because to be
fair, I would do the same thing.

I just don't wanna deal with
a delay and I want to Yap.

So she's there listening to Isaac
and Tracey getting the information.

She, I was like, you can just ask me.

She's, you don't have all of this.

I'm like, fine.

So go listen to Hall of Famer, Bailey,

Mario: Hall of Famer, hall of.

Angela: hall of Fame,
inductee class of 2025.

Tracey Bailey and Isaac
Lowenkron and have a good time.

But no, like they are so informative
and so wonderful and I just hope that

they know that we love them so much

Mario: Yes.

Angela: and they do.

It's the kind of thing where it
feels like, and I know I've said

this before, I think I said it on
the episode with Tracey, we are very

spoiled in Los Angeles, most of us.

Listened to Chick and Stew growing up.

listened to Vin Scully.

We listened to the guy whose name I
never remember, who called for the

Kings, like we have Hall of Fame, world
renowned announcers for sports, and now

we have these two that are just as good.

You've got Rashaan Haylock,
who I went to high school with,

calling games for the Sparks.

Like he is so good at what
he does, and we're so lucky

to have this at every level.

And I don't know if it's just because
we're close to Hollywood and maybe we're

it's, but it's not because it's old.

Like it, it's Vin Scully is from
Brooklyn, like he was with the

Brooklyn Dodgers and came here.

Chick Hern and Stew Lance were
with the Lakers forever and ever.

Amen.

man, we're just lucky.

We're lucky to have all

Mario: We are as they,

Angela: 'cause it's so many.

Mario: as it's referred to
sometimes champagne problems, right?

Like we've just got.

A, an embarrassment of riches and

not to knock any of your other
home callers from your hometowns,

but honestly ours are better.

Yeah.

Angela: And I will say,

Mario: I.

Angela: to be fair, because we
listen to a lot of Yankees baseball

in this household, they do have
a very good play-by-play team.

But it's not mine.

Mario: No.

No.

all right,

Angela: where are we in the standings?

What's going on?

Permutation?

Prenup, primo.

Put your hat on.

Let's go.

Mario: so we did our own, or
we did ourselves a favor, by

winning and staying alive.

we are now currently in 10th.

We leapfrogged over the
dash who were in 10th.

We swap places with them.

No one else, did us any favors,

Angela: Not at all.

Mario: right?

No.

Each one of them came down to the
wire where we were like, yes, racing

Tide, which we needed them to lose.

The wave one, which we
just needed them to tie.

Angela: Yeah.

Mario: I will say we did help.

We're not selfish.

We also did help Orlando.

Angela: We did.

Mario: they clinched the
playoffs because of our win.

So You're welcome.

But with all of that, we're
currently in 10th place.

like I mentioned.

I said it last time that we were
going to essentially be eliminated

and we brought down the dash with us.

'cause we're tied on points now.

because we virtually are, at any
point racing gets a single point.

we're done, we're out.

Angela: And frankly, I
don't know about you guys.

I don't wanna play Kansas City.

Yes, we've

Mario: like.

Angela: Yes, we've done
a good job against them.

I don't want to lose in the first
round of the playoffs Kansas City.

Mario: Unless there is something that I
don't know about right now where we get

a bonus just for making the playoffs.

Cool, let's do that.

But besides that, yes, I get it.

Playoff ball.

It can be like, Friday night lights,
like anything can happen but still.

alright, let's focus on this week.

I will touch base a little bit
on what decision day can happen.

It could be, but we still
need to handle this week.

Angela: week needs to shake out before
we can even think about decision day.

Mario: Exactly.

I did say at one point, it's not
over until it's mathematically over

and you know what it isn't yet.

So just to start off from the top.

Teams that can potentially
move onto the playoffs.

this week, Gotham with a win,
the reign with a win or draw

plus racing with a draw or loss.

The wave can also move in with a
win plus a racing draw or loss.

The thorns can move in with a
win plus a racing draw or loss.

They can also move in with
a loss with the courage.

Draw or loss?

Angela: just remember,
we want racing to lose.

Mario: Yeah,

Angela: A lot.

Mario: anytime.

all right, so those are all the teams
that could possibly clinch the playoffs.

This, most of them will essentially clinch
the playoffs no matter what this week.

But those are the results that would
essentially guarantee them that teams

that will be packing up and going
home, take their ball and go home.

'cause nobody.

Was being nice to them.

the dash with a draw or loss
or a racing win or draw.

It's the same situation for us.

We have a draw or loss
or racing, win or draw.

We're out.

If the courage draw and
wasting racing, wasting

Angela: Way.

Mario: and racing winner draw.

The courage is also out.

So the last three teams that are
in that kind of bubble, we can all

basically crash out, with racing.

Yeah.

So we all want racing to just lose.

All right.

it's a big ask.

Angela: only folks that don't want racing
to lose right now is racing and their

Mario: This is racing.

Angela: Everybody

Mario: Yeah,

Angela: please, no.

Thank you.

Mario: exactly.

we are.

On 27 points, we have a
potential max of 33 points.

So do the dash.

A lot of what I'm saying is gonna be
applicable to the dash two, screw them.

Racing is currently on 33 points, so
that means any result for them in these

last two matches completely takes us out.

that's why I'm saying we
gotta just worry about.

We're at that point where we've
left control of our fate and we've

left it up to everybody else.

That's never a good position
that you wanna be in.

So that's where we're at right now.

Now, if BMO October
Magic happens and we win

Angela: shit, especially
against games against

Mario: against Portland, yes.

If BMO Magic happens and we win.

And the good luck of all of you guys
talking about the pod and sharing

the pod and doing all of that.

And we sent it to the team and they
used some of that to sprinkle onto,

whoever racing's playing and they lose.

This is how a wild
decision day will face up.

We'll, and even if we don't make
it, the top eight are still not set.

First and second are set, but
three through eight will still be

on leapfrog mode on decision day.

So

Angela: Wild.

Mario: don't even know who the
other two teams that will get,

home field advantage will be.

But yes, if we move on to decision
day, it's gonna be a little bit wild.

We can squeak into it

and all of us would be
tied on points essentially

Angela: That's

Mario: racing end up losing.

If the courage draw or lose and the
dash lose now against racing, we would

win because of goal Differe, we would
move on because of goal differential.

against the courage.

Since we'll be tied, we will actually
win because of, we're essentially

tied on, most likely going to
be tied on gold differential.

So we will win because of the
second tiebreaker, which is

number of wins, and then the dash.

We will beat them on goal differential.

Now

that is a crazy ass decision day.

All of that is dependent on
us winning and moving forward.

Either way, in the general
sense of the league.

This is what we want.

This is what the league wants.

It's decision day chaos.

Even if the top eight teams are already
solid by decision day, like I said,

none of their positions are solid,
which means all hell can break loose.

And like

Angela: playoff matchups yet.

Mario: No.

No.

And that means that teams, only
two teams know that they can sell.

Their first playoff match right now,

Angela: Nobody knows ticket wise.

Mario: nobody else knows if they can
start selling tickets for their match.

now I will say that we're very happy
that the NWSL brought back decision day.

Didn't make it like another
weekend where it's like the entire

weekend we're playing matches.

No, all the matches one day.

It will be on ESPN and NWSL Plus.

Now, if I can recall, this is the
stupid part where it's like NWSL

you, you almost had it right.

You almost got it.

Not quite ESPN will be broadcasting two
of those matches, but they're not gonna

be broadcasting them simultaneously.

That will be broadcasting them
one after the other, which means

it's not a true decision day.

We're not getting all of
the matches all at once.

But it is what it is.

So at this moment, all
decision day matches are TBD.

That's your breakdown.

If you skipped or you went to the
timestamp and came all the way

over here to talk about Portland.

That's all good.

Angela: All right, so we're matching
up against Portland on Sunday at BMO.

I feel like.

Home matches against Portland for us have
been fraught because they're bonkers.

Normally, we give you the
history between the teams.

At the end of this, I'm gonna
give it to you now to understand.

We have won once against Portland.

We've had four draws and two losses.

The thing is that one win was a five
to one win, including a bicycle kick.

Like it was the most bonkers,
beyond insane of win.

I wanted, again, I want every
home game against Portland

to feel like that one did.

We had to make up a five, a four goal
differential to make the playoffs.

We had to win.

We had all these things
that had to happen.

All that shit happened.

So

Mario: and we got the Sid bike.

Angela: Yeah.

The bicycle kick is we have a shirt,
like it's easily a hall of fame moment.

Like it's so good.

But Portland is in.

Essentially in the playoffs.

They just haven't like officially
clinched big air quotes there because

Mario said, there's 15 different things
that can happen for them to do it.

but it's gonna be really interesting.

Hina Sugita will be facing
Portland for the first time.

the first time, like it's been forever.

It's been two, three weeks.

Okay.

get to see our girl, we get to see M.A.

Mario: is this the quickest
like a player has to like face

their team after a transfer?

Angela: I've seen it usually.

I think it might be because
normally, like we played Gotham and

Neely came home, like Neely said,
can I come over for a sleepover?

My mom said I could, if
your mom can drop me off.

and then we just, okay, pack your shit.

Get on the bus.

we're heading to North Carolina,
wherever we were going after that

game, It is that kind of thing.

It's similar, but it is
the opposite direction.

But yeah, I am, I'm so excited to see M.A.

I wish we could have given
her a proper sendoff from

BMO, so maybe this will be it.

Don't boo her.

Mario: No,

Angela: I don't know whether I'm gonna
wear my Ali Riley jersey or my M.A.

jersey.

I don't know what to do.

Mario: you gotta wear the, rightly

Angela: but which

Mario: you,

Angela: season l Riley Jersey, or?

Mario: oh.

That I can't help you with.

I can't help you with that one.

Angela: I feel like I have to wear the
LA Jersey one, but it's just beige.

I don't know what to do.

okay.

Can you put this on Instagram
after the episode goes live?

Do I wear M.A.

cap?

Cap year one Jersey or
cap year four Jersey.

That's, I need help deciding you guys.

So please, we're gonna
put up on Instagram.

Please help me decide
what to wear to the game.

okay, so overall, Portland is having
a funky season in the sense that

nothing's really a hundred percent
as consistent as they want it to be.

Not bad, not good.

They're doing fine.

Like obviously, there's a
weird thing going on right

now with a keeper situation.

Because Bella Bixby started
the season on maternity leave.

Same Bella Bixby.

That back healed the goal to beat
us, and then we wrecked her to one,

just saying, I will never forget it.

she came back from maternity leave.

the meantime, between last season and
the season, they picked up Mackenzie

Arnold Macka, as most people know,
her Australian keeper extraordinaire,

for being a bit of a brick wall.

This season, not so much.

It's been a little
confusing of yes, but no.

But also, yes.

you're doing the things that you should
be doing, but it's not calculating.

And I haven't watched enough
Portland soccer to see, is it the

back line breaking down and she's
just left to do everything she can?

Or is it she's just
not doing her job well?

Like where's the breakdown?

It's probably all of the above, honestly.

'cause that's usually when it's
something like this where there's

multiple goals led up a game or things
like that's where that comes in.

It's just, casualty of
defense in that sense.

But lately at Portland games, there's
been like, we want Bixby chance

and it's like awkward.

And I feel bad for Bella Bixby and for
Macca because it's like, what do it, okay.

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: which is like their.

Major supporter group.

Put out a statement that's guys, stop.

We don't do that.

We support the team.

We support the players no matter
what they're going through.

There are other things that we don't
know about that are causing these

decisions or the play on the field
or whatever, and give it a minute.

it's okay.

still going to the playoffs.

We're still like, we're okay.

Players can have a season.

That's not their best.

Nobody dies, like it's okay.

So it's a very curious situation.

yeah, it's just weird for the
keepers right now in Portland, I'm

not excited to see the connection
between Ryland Turner and M.A.

grow because that's gonna be terrifying.

They played together prior,
I don't remember where.

it.

I had it and then I forgot to
write it down and it's gone now.

But they have previous team connections.

Raylen posted a bunch of
stuff like, oh my God.

Roommates, oh, here we go.

Which is great.

That's awesome.

Already pre-built in team chemistry.

It's not great for everybody else who
has to deal with long balls from M.A.

Or like them switching up the sidelines.

That's dangerous.

And they've already extended MA's
contract, which I'm so happy for her.

Mario: Yeah, we're excited.

Like I'm

Angela: did I want it to happen?

No.

Am I happy?

She's happy?

Yes.

And that's the important part.

Mario: Yes.

Yes.

Angela: And we will forever,
don't be surprised if for the

next however many years M.A.

plays every year.

I'm like, guys, and then M.A.

'cause she's great.

Just let it be.

and then we have Sam Coffey, the captain.

She is such a cool, she
reminds me of Ali Riley.

Oh my God, I'm already getting
emotional and it just said her name.

Good God, I'm not talking about
Ali Riley tonight at all No more.

But she, Sam Coffey reminds
me of her in the sense that.

put the responsibility of being
a captain on her back and now

my te like now I can't stop.

Lovely.

she took it very seriously, getting
the armband from Christine Sinclair

upon her retirement and really?

Really just leading the team and being
that person players can go to for advice,

for help, for whatever's needed, being
that person to show up and it's so cool.

Like she's such a loyalty to
Portland, to the thorns and

getting the armband is something
she really takes pride in.

I wouldn't be surprised if over
the next couple se, couple years,

seasons, whatever you wanna call
it, as Lindsay Haran, I'm assuming,

pulls back from the national team.

would not be surprised if we see Sam
Coffey getting the armband because

that's the kind of person she is.

It's the same reason why Becky
Sauerbrunn was our captain forever.

they have this steady
nature about them, of just

wonderful people who show up
and who defend like a boss.

team and Sam Coffey, for those who
don't know, she tucks her jersey in.

She wears a scrunchie in her hair.

It's very cute.

It's a whole thing.

It's a meme a little bit, but
she's a really good human and like

really great to watch, play live.

So if you haven't seen the national
team Play Live, or you haven't seen

a Portland game Live, get Ready.

'cause Sunday's gonna be very cool.

Yeah.

But then for Angel City, more
of what we had the last weekend.

More of what we saw on Sunday because
I really feel like this is the

closest to a full 90 and the most
cohesive unit or the CO most cohesive.

We've looked as a unit

Mario: Yeah.

Yeah.

Angela: ride this wave of like feeling
more comfortable with each other on the

pitch, knowing where each other are.

There's still kinks to work out.

this is still a brand new team

Mario: Yeah,

Angela: essentially.

Mario: like I mentioned
earlier, like the, there wasn't.

Necessarily anything to write home about.

in, in that last match, we saw good
glimpses and there was good progress,

but there was nothing like we were
blowing them out and they had no match.

It was like, no, we just capitalized
on some really great chances

Angela: the ball.

We've maintained

Mario: we held the ball.

Angela: so much more than
we have in games prior.

Mario: Yeah, so all positive things.

And if we just get more
of those, remember.

We win.

If we don't let them score like we score
and we don't let them score, we win.

Angela: But most definitely,
I'm just excited.

I genuinely don't have much to say this
late in the season about Angel City that

I haven't already said, be it player wise,
like at this point, player development

isn't going to change drastically.

I will say Sarah Dorsen.

Has leveled up and has adjusted
to the league so quickly.

That first start, she was rocky.

There were passes getting by her.

It was funky.

It was maybe not great.

That's the day I got my tattoo.

since then with Megan Reid being out, we
are very slim on center backs right now.

She has completely, I don't know
how many extra hours of work she

was putting in, whatever that is.

A completely different person out there.

She tracks the ball better.

There was one play this last weekend where
both of the Sarahs with an H and no h.

You've got Gordon and Dorson.

That's who I'm just gonna
have to refer them as.

don't know what player on,
Houston had the ball, but they're

just like hauling the pitch.

Sarah Gorden goes to disrupt
the ball essentially, and up

on defense to get it that way.

came over to this side to block.

players cut around, like they just
actively double teamed a player in a way

I'd never seen before and it was so cool.

So like the Sarah Duo on the back line.

Very fun.

Very fun.

Sarah Dorsey's adjustment to the league
happened so quickly and it shows her

experience from international play and
like having to just pop in, like national

teams don't spend a lot of time together.

So she knows what that means
to just have to drop in and

pick it up and figure it out.

And you might have one weird game and
you don't have that weird game again.

And that's exactly what happened.

excited to see, we got to see Megan
Reid a little bit towards the end

of the game, so that's cool too.

yeah.

Excited to see how we defend against
Portland, especially 'cause we know M.A.

bu.

but yeah, Sunday, October
19th against Portland at BMO.

off kick, off.

Rewind kickoff is at 2:00 PM
so sure you have lunch brunch

Mario: All day brunch game.

Angela: as Joel found out
he was doing Sundays wrong.

but yeah, 2:00 PM kickoff.

It'll be on TV on ESPN and
on iHeartRadio and KFWB.

It's fan appreciation.

Match Iron fans.

You should have gotten an
email today 'cause I got mine.

woo.

fan fest starts at 10:00 AM I
will most likely be there early.

I'm going to dig out all of my stickers
make it rain because then we have to do a

re big restock in the off season because
I don't have that many slash very little,

Mario: And we can do new ones.

Angela: we've got some ideas on
Lock already, so we're excited.

So 10:00 AM at fan fest.

Eva will be there.

I will be there.

My mom will be there.

find us.

Come say hi.

Let's have a good time guys.

It's the last home game of the season.

Mario: Yeah.

Yeah.

I'll be there at some point
with the kids, it'll be fun.

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Angela: Sorry, I have the
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Mario: Oh man.

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Angela: is playing racing.

Mario: Yeah, spread the love.

So with all of that, thanks for
listening for the season so far.

we've got our decision day match and
we'll see if we get into the playoffs

and have more matches going there.

But we will definitely have some
fun episodes in the off season.

And, see you guys later.

Angela: guys.

See you on

Mario: Bye.

Angela: It's like, um, do you
remember in 101 Dalmatians, the cow?

The canine crunchies?

Mario: Yeah.

Angela: Sorry, that was so random