CNN
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A furry pitch invader paused Main League Soccer play on Wednesday as a rogue raccoon ran onto the sphere throughout a match between the Philadelphia Union and New York Metropolis FC.
The athletic critter ran the size of the pitch at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, deftly evading seize whereas sprinting stadium employees tried to apprehend it utilizing a trash can.
“We have to discover him a ball as a result of he’s shifting very nicely within the middle of midfield,” a commentator quipped throughout the kerfuffle, including that it was “leisure of its personal sort.”
The match was paused for 5 minutes as crews tried and ultimately succeeded in capturing the animal, dubbed “Raquinha the Raccoon” by MLS.
The Union despatched out an replace saying that the raccoon was “put in good arms” and was safely launched.
“Unofficially, Raquinho the Raccoon spent 161 seconds on the sphere tonight, which was essentially the most by a raccoon in @MLS historical past,” the league communications mentioned in a submit on X.
NYCFC went on to take the sport 2-1 after a second-minute aim by Alonso Martínez and a Hannes Wolf free-kick in harm time within the first half.
