In Chilean football, an episode occurred that looks like a ready-made scene from a sports comedy.
On August 29, Unión Española hosted Rangers de Talca in a second division match. By the end of the game, the hosts were losing 0:1 and desperately trying to equalize.
And it was at that very moment that a person who should not have been there at all suddenly ran onto the field.
Really wanted to help
A second ball landed on the pitch, and the Unión Española ball boy decided to quickly remove it.
The logic is understandable.
The timing was catastrophic.
While he ran out for the extra ball, his own team began a dangerous attack. Players were already building up the play near the penalty area when the referee was forced to stop the game due to an outsider on the field.
It turned out something like this:
Team: "Last chance! Go!"
Ball boy: "Just a second, there's a second ball!"
Team: "NOT NOW!"
The attack was ruined.
And then he understood everything
The funniest part began after the stoppage.
The young man quickly realized what had just happened and almost immediately ran off the field towards the tunnel.
Judging by his reaction, he didn't need anything explained to him.
The commentators couldn't believe what they were seeing either: in those decisive minutes, the team provided unexpected help to their opponent through their own ball boy.
And the ending turned out to be particularly cruel.
Unión Española never did manage to equalize.
The match ended in a 1:0 victory for Rangers.
Of course, you can't say for sure that this specific incident cost the hosts a goal. But for the ball boy himself, that's likely cold comfort.
Because somewhere in Chile, there is now a person who once ran onto the pitch thinking:
"I'm going to help my team now."
And a few seconds later, he was already looking for a place to hide from the fans of his own team. 😄
