Watch: Players enter stands during massive US Open Cup brawl
A US Open Cup game between El Farolito and Sacramento Republic FC ended with players fighting and entering the stands to confront fans. See what happened.
A contentious U. S. Open Cup match boiled over Wednesday night, as players fought on the pitch and some entered the stands to confront fans.
The first-round match between amateur side El Farolito and USL Championship team Sacramento Republic was scoreless at the end of regulation. Republic striker Forster Ajago scored twice in extra time, giving the home side a 2-0 victory. Tempers flared after Ajago scored his second goal.
"They came to mock us after the goal,” El Farolito coach Santiago López said, according to San Francisco news site Mission Local. After a Sacramento player taunted the El Farolito bench, a brawl ensued on the field involving almost every player and coach from both teams. Referees gave two players red cards, El Farolito's Jhohann Yabur and Sacramento's Mark-Anthony Kaye, before it appeared things calmed down.
But in an instant (which can be seen at around the 5:45 mark of the video below), multiple El Farolito players went charging into the stands at Heart Health Park. Players confronted fans and one player threw a water bottle, while others went to friends and family to protect them. U.