No one saw him leave. A child slipped away from the seats next to the sideline and, with that total freedom only little ones have, walked straight onto the field as part of the team.
The match between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes had to come to a sudden stop. The players, who just seconds earlier had been fighting for every ball, stood watching the scene with laughter, not really sure who should run to get him first.
A security guard immediately appeared, running after the child as if he were playing in his own backyard; they quickly managed to stop him before he got any farther.
It lasted only a few seconds, but that was enough for the entire stadium to forget about the score. Sometimes the best player on the field does not even know the rules of soccer.