Forget nude streakers — energetic toddlers are the best “Did you see that?” moments in sports now.
During Saturday’s FC Cincinnati match against Orlando City FC, Cincinnati Enquirer photographer Sam Greene snapped amazing shots of a woman chasing her young child across the field at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati’s West End.
The Enquirer reported that two-year-old Zaydek Carpenter ran onto the north half of the field during the Aug. 7 match before his mom Morgan Tucker chased him down and scooped him up — something many parents have undoubtedly imagined themselves doing.
Major League Soccer cameras also caught the toddler’s great escape.
Greene posted on Twitter that most people loved the spectacle; indeed, most comments on Greene’s original photo were positive, and many were from other parents.
But a certain demographic repeatedly called for Tucker to be “jailed” for not controlling Carpenter and accused her of bribing the tyke to take the field.
Nonetheless, Greene said that mother and son were safe and content after the incident.
Here’s hoping that FC Cincinnati keeps an eye on little Zaydek — both now and as a potential midfielder.
The Aug. 7 match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Read more about the great toddler chase in stories from the Enquirer and from MLS.
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This article appears in Aug 5-17, 2021.