Watch: Raccoon stops play in MLS

A raccoon on the right wing stopped play in the MLS match between Philadelphia and New York City on Wednesday.

With the game balanced at 1-0 to New York, players and fans were astounded when the animal evaded his markers and made a break into midfield. Operating in its preferred wide areas, the raccoon’s mazy run was eventually contained by a two-man defensive pod, using a dustbin.

On television commentary, Callum Williams had a field day. “This is marvellous entertainment! Go on raccoon!” he said. As staff chased the raccoon with a bin, co-commentator Calen Carr dared vocalise what all wildlife fans were thinking: “At what point are we just rooting for him?!”

Officials at Major League Soccer quickly dubbed the animal Raquinho the Raccoon and analysts worked through the night to establish that it had set an important new record for top-flight American football:

Philadelphia Union announced later that the raccoon had been released without a contract and picked up by a pest control team.

The visiting New York City team won the match 2-1 thanks to goals from Alonso Martinez and Hannes Wolf. The MLS Eastern Conference is currently led by Inter Miami.