It was one year ago today, but in so many ways it feels like a lifetime ago.
A full house of 22,112, including a packed 3252, jammed into Banc of California Stadium for the finale of Week 2 of the 2020 MLS season. And the most anticipated match of the early season lived up to the billing and more with LAFC and the Philadelphia Union playing to a pulsating 3-3 draw on March 8, 2020.
Little did any of us know at the time how much things, and life, would change in the coming days and weeks.
That was the last MLS match played before the COVID-19 pandemic halted play for months, the last match without fan restriction, the last match before our new normal.
Re-live the LAFC-Philadelphia Union six-goal thriller
The matchup of the reigning Supporters Shield champs and the eventual Shield winners saw the teams trade stunning goals, with the Union taking three leads only to have LAFC fight back to level the score.
Carlos Vela struck for the first equalizer with a free kick in the 38th minute, only to be outdone early in the second half by a Jakob Glesnes dead ball golazo.
Diego Rossi struck 69 seconds later and the teams continued to trade barbs until the final whistle blew to give the teams a point each.
It was a significant moment on the field, too. Philadelphia showed they could match MLS' best and by the end of a season like no other it was they who replaced LAFC as Supporters' Shield winners.
