This is early season MLS action.
This is San Diego FC’s first season as an MLS team.
Up until this season, San Diego had always been an LAFC/LA Galaxy town.
But since the introduction of San Diego FC, allegiances have been tested.
Families ripped apart at the seams.
Needless to say, there was tension in the air.
The winner of Saturday’s match would skyrocket to near the top of the Western Conference.
The loser would sink to about the middle.
Or they would tie and pretty much stay the same.
The stakes could not have been higher.
Fans of both sides came into Saturdaywith their head on a swivel,looking for a fight.
I have no clue if any of what I just said is actually true.
But I’m sure there are some fans who jumped ship.
And I feel like there’s a natural rivalry between Los Angeles and San Diego.
There seems to be some actual bad blood there.
Plus the game itself looked like a good ol' fashioned California barnburner.
It was a high scoring game.
Most soccer fans will go a full year without witnessing 5 goals in person.
Let alone in one half.
Held scarves above their heads.
Took their shirts offs.
Fans of both sides were on their feet for the duration of a scoreless second half.
But San Diego FC was able to hold on.
It was mayhem at the Snap.
Complete with the most blatant, mismatch of a sucker punch in MLS history.
Rarely do you see a sucker punch come from a man twice the size of the sucker punchee.
He was a thief in the night too.
He stepped in for quick knockout and went on his merry way.
Most people will watch this video and chastise these fans for behaving in such an unruly manner.
There was another solid suckerpunchpush at the 33-second mark.
But it’s possible for you to critique the contents of the fight you want.
I’m looking at the big picture here.
This is a fantastic sign for soccer in America.
The World Cup is right around the corner.
The United States is hosting.
This is exactly what America needs if we want to be taken seriously in the world of soccer.
Unruly soccer fans brawls have been a staple in countries across the world where world-class soccer is played.
And now were starting to behave like a respectable soccer playing nation.
I know this particular fight is basically happening on the Mexican border.
But we have to start somewhere.
