In anticipation of the final whistle, every player on the Philadelphia Union bench stood on the edge of the sideline huddled together.
When they heard it, bedlam ensued.
They sprinted out to the midfield in a mad dash and kick-started a wild celebration. Ray Gaddis, who is the longest tenured players, knelt on the ground in prayer near midfield, was interrupted by teammates who piled on top of him.
This was obviously not your typical postgame celebration. Then again, this was not your typical game.
With their 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday at Subaru Park, the Union won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the team that finished with the best record in the regular season.