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4 months ago
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MLS fans at the Union-NYCFC game on Wednesday night got quite the show as a raccoon ran on the field and interrupted play in the first half.
Inside the 20th minute at Subaru Park, the critter invaded the pitch, sparking some hilarious scenes and a five-minute delay.
The raccoon ran freely around the field at first as MLS Season Pass broadcaster Callum Williams joked about the animal's movement.
'We need to find him a ball, he's moving very well in center midfield,' he cracked.
It also jumped up on a digital ad board at one point before hopping back down onto the field.
The raccoon invaded the field during the first half of NYCFC's win vs. the Union on Wednesday
The animal made it up onto a digital ad board at one point before hopping back down
A stadium staffer eventually managed to trap the raccoon under a trash can
Eventually, stadium staffers tried to trap the raccoon with a garbage can.
The animal continued to elude them until he was finally cornered and captured - drawing massive cheers from the crowd.
However, the stadium crew's work was not yet done, as they had to flip the trash can over and cover it with another trash can so the animal couldn't escape and they could get it off the field.
They managed to pull off the awkward maneuver and the game was able to resume.
Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin did not seem overly impressed with the racooon
The animal had to be flipped over and covered with another trash can before being removed
The Union confirmed after the incident that the animal was safe and in the hands of an exterminator.
Meanwhile, The MLS' X account shared a video of the animal with the caption, 'Sign him now!' after the incident.
And the league's official communications account hilariously dubbed the intruder 'Raquinho,' sharing that he spent '161 seconds on the field, which was the most by a raccoon in MLS history.'
Once play resumed, NYCFC beat Philly 2-1 for its fifth win in the last six games.
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