Perfect ending to great team’s amazing season

Congratulations to San Antonio FC, champions of the USL Championship league — and quite possibly the best team in league history. It all became official Sunday night after San Antonio FC'S riveting 3-1 victory over Louisville City FC. The victory secured the team's first USL championship, a fitting end to a dominant season.

SAFC is the first team to win the USL'S regular season and playoff crowns. Its 24 wins and 17 shutouts are also records.

Another record? The crowd of 8,534 that made Toyota Field electric on a chilly Sunday night. Equally amazing was seeing high-level professional soccer in San Antonio on national TV (ESPN 2). We'd like to see more of that, please.

In some ways, this championship gave us a glimmer of what might have been. Readers may remember that in 2015, local leaders pushed to have San Antonio named as a Major League Soccer expansion market. Ultimately, MLS kicked San Antonio in the shins. While MLS openly flirted with San Antonio, it covertly placed a team in Austin.

That poisoned any future relationship. And what a shame because the markets are distinct, and as we saw after San Antonio FC beat Austin FC 2-1 in April, there is fabulous potential for an I-35 rivalry. As Sunday's championship showed, there is also fabulous potential for soccer in San Antonio.

We felt all of this in Sunday's championship. The weight of recent history. The possibilities for the future (perhaps Liga MX, the top division in Mexico). The excellence on the field this year.

All was reflected in words from San Antonio FC defender Mitchell Taintor.

“This is history. We just proved that we're the best team in league history,” he said. “I don't care what anyone says. This team is amazing. In front of our home fans, it means so much to everybody. It's been a long road, but they've been with us every step of the way.”

What a game. What a season. What a team. Congratulations to San Antonio FC on a magnificent season. Success breeds success.