Raccoon on field stops play in MLS game. How stadium workers surrounded him and freed him safely.

A Major League Soccer game was halted for several minutes Wednesday night after a raccoon invaded the field.

The raccoon ran up and down the field at Subaru Park during the game between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC, avoiding several stadium employees who used trash cans and other objects to try to catch it.

NFL schedule release? NBA and NHL Playoffs? No, that was the most fun thing in sports on Wednesday night.

O MLS PR X Account he jokingly called the raccoon “Raquinho” in one post.

“Raquinho the Raccoon spent 161 seconds on the field tonight, the most by a raccoon in @MLS history.”

Even MLS commentator Taylor Twellman, calling Orlando-Inter Miami without Lionel Messi, advised viewers to go to the Philadelphia game to see the raccoon because his “phone was blowing up.”

A stadium worker finally captured the raccoon by covering it with a trash can. At least 10 people surrounded the trash can, with six trying to use a sign to tip the trash can over and keep the raccoon inside. A worker ran into the field with another trash can to place on top of the raccoon to protect it. And two workers ran out of the field with the raccoon in custody between the two trash cans.

Players from both teams watched from their benches during the stoppage, standing still and out of the raccoon’s path, captivated by the scene as were the fans in attendance.

The raccoon was safely released after being removed from the stadium campus by Hoffman’s, a local pest control company and corporate sponsor of the Union, a team spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday night.

“Rest assured, our new friend was released unharmed,” the spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Raccoon on field interrupts play at Philadelphia Union-NYCFC MLS game