FOX basically missed the winning penalty kick of MLS Cup 2016

For FOX, the MLS Cup going to penalties on Saturday night is close to a dream scenario. Penalty kicks might not be the fairest way to pick a champion of the league, but they’re surely the most exciting, thanks to the built-in drama. After both Toronto and Seattle converted on four of their first five attempts, it went to sudden death.

After a Toronto miss, Seattle’s Roman Torres stepped to the spot with a chance to capture the MLS Cup. And FOX basically missed the entire thing. Here’s how it looked for FOX viewers:

It seems like the production was caught by surprise when Torres took a quick run-up, staying with the closeup shot for too long. They cut to their overhead angle as the ball was entering the goal, but by then it was too late. Twitter concurred:

Congrats, too, to Fox's crew for a great call. Unfortunately, nightmare finish for director — how do you (just about) miss the decisive PK?

— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) December 11, 2016

Great job @FOXSports Your director missed the winning PK. #MLOLS

— New York Owls (@NewYorkOwls) December 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/AndyGlockner/status/807797635876876289

https://twitter.com/BlueChipLogeBox/status/807798704241573888

No shots of visiting fans during game, no live cameras in Seattle, last penalty camera angle fluffed. @FOXSoccer @FOXSports sucks! #MLSCup

— Ariel (@Arielworld) December 11, 2016

Uhm Hey @FOXSoccer @FOXSports Maybe next time show Penalty Kicks like every other broadcast so we can actually watch them? #MLSCup

— Michal Kucharz (@kucharzm) December 11, 2016

To top it off, broadcast viewers were then treated to a prompt cutaway to a Volvo commercial, missing further replays and some of the immediate on-field celebration:

Unsurprisingly, this didn’t go over well either:

@FOXSports that car ad during penalty shoot out during @MLS final was a WTF moment.

— Sarbjeet Johal (@sarbjeetjohal) December 11, 2016

FOX already takes hits for their soccer coverage, some more deserved than others. This was an unfortunate mistake, of course, but it could have been prevented. And as they hold the rights for the next few World Cups, attempting to clear a very high bar for soccer coverage set by ESPN, this is not the kind of mistake they needed in a big moment.