"That's it?" Turris's right back found Lu Yang during his team's celebrations and taunted him. "I thought you were supposed to be good. Go on, point at me again if you've got the guts!"
Lu Yang looked at the right back calmly, though inside, he was already furious.
It wasn't the cheap trash talk that had angered him. It was the state of the match.
He wasn't the kind of player who could get used to losing.
So far, he'd never lost a match he'd played in!
Of course, he knew that one day he would lose. But... even if he had to lose, it shouldn't be today, in such an important, crucial match.
He refused to become a pitiful loser in everyone's eyes!
Second place was the biggest loser in any competitive game!
After checking the time, Lu Yang decided to use the random gift pack he'd been saving.
Moment Card!
Come on, Moment Card!
Lu Yang looked at the interface.
"Ding! You have received a player-level dribbling skill: Bicycle Dribble!"
Lu Yang furrowed his brow.
This... probably wasn't enough to change the situation on the field.
In the stands.
Arthas: "Lu Yang's angry. He rarely furrows his brow like that."
Maniero: "But it doesn't look like it's because of that right back. Honestly, I don't think Lu Yang even takes his provocation seriously. He's probably frustrated because he can't find a way to break through."
Carlisle: "He's already been outstanding, but I'm afraid he'll struggle to score today. San Remo are under too much pressure defensively."
Latuidi: "He's that aggressive defensive midfielder, Lu Yang? His defending is impressive. Without him, Turris could've scored two more."
Milan youth development director Smith shook his head. "There's no hope. Even if San Remo score one or two, it won't matter. They're two points behind Turris, and the only way they can win the title is by winning this match. Even a draw means they lose. Besides... they won't be able to equalize anyway."
Benevento's head coach said, "Turris are a Serie C team, and probably one of the better ones in the league. Their striker used to be a regular substitute in Serie B. Nobody in Serie D can stop him."
The situation on the pitch grew clearer by the minute.
And just three minutes later, San Remo suffered the biggest blow of the match.
Turris once again passed the ball around near San Remo's penalty area.
Another cutback.
San Remo's right midfielder lost his man, and Turris's right back took another long-range shot.
Bang!
Lu Yang happened to be right in the ball's path. There was nowhere to dodge, so he steeled himself and blocked it with his face.
A deafening thud!
Lu Yang went down on the spot, as if he'd been hit by a cannon.
Sophia was stunned.
"Oh, my God! This is absolutely brutal. At this crucial moment, Lu Yang chose to clear the ball with his face! That takes tremendous courage!"
"Lu Yang is down. That was a powerful shot, and he probably won't be getting back up anytime soon."
"Turris haven't stopped attacking. They're still fighting for the ball."
As the commentator spoke, Lu Yang scrambled back to his feet. He didn't have time to lie on the ground.
At that moment, a Turris midfielder picked up the ball outside the box and sent in a cross that could have been either a pass or a shot.
Turris's beast of a striker leapt into the air and threw himself at the ball, kicking it in an unorthodox fashion.
If he made contact, it was certain to go in.
But...
A head suddenly appeared on the other side of the ball, getting there first and glancing it away.
Then...
Thud!
The man was kicked hard in the face by Turris's striker.
Tweet!
The referee stopped the match and showed Turris's striker a yellow card for dangerous play.
In truth, the challenge had been bad enough to warrant a red.
But the San Remo players had no interest in arguing with the referee.
Moric rushed to the scene first. His eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.
"Oh! My God! This... Oh, my God... This is just..." The commentator was stunned, his voice growing choked with emotion. "Lu Yang! It's Lu Yang!"
"Lu Yang was in terrible pain after going down, and his nose is bleeding! But he still got straight back up and threw himself at the ball, heading it away to keep San Remo's goal safe!"
"But he paid a terrible price for that clearance! Turris's striker kicked him in the face. The studs tore open his cheek and left a deep, ragged gash beside his eye!"
"The wound is deep and long, and the blood won't stop! Lu Yang is badly hurt!"
"Turris's striker isn't protesting the call. He's standing beside Lu Yang, looking a little frightened. He knows how dangerous his challenge was. But scoring is instinctive for him. He just never imagined anyone would be brave enough to challenge for the ball with their head against his foot. Nobody would do that!"
"Moric is crying. He's extremely emotional. He looked at Lu Yang, then charged at Turris's striker... Moric's gone for him. He shoved the striker, who didn't fight back... Nagy is holding Moric back..."
"The referee has shown Moric a yellow card, and Rondo has come over to calm him down. Those who often watch Serie D matches know that Moric and Lu Yang are very close. We can understand how he feels..."
"The stretcher is on the field. Lu Yang's teammates have helped him onto it, and blood is still pouring from the corner of his left eye!"
"On the sidelines, Soto is preparing a substitution."
"Wait! Lu Yang is sitting up on the stretcher!"
"He's holding a huge wad of gauze against his eye and cheek. He's walking toward Soto, and he's talking to him."
"Soto keeps shaking his head and signaling for the stretcher to take Lu Yang away."
"Lu Yang is extremely agitated. He pushes the stretcher away and throws down the gauze. He's shouting at Soto!"
On the sidelines, both Turris's and San Remo's benches were stunned by the scene before them.
Maniero and the others were sitting close to the benches. They could clearly see and hear the incredible scene unfolding.
"Let me stay!"
"I still want to play!"
"I don't want to lose this match!"
Lu Yang clenched both fists. Blood streamed from the corner of his eye, covering half his face!
Soto was shaken.
"Trust me like you did in the first match. I can still fight! I want to keep fighting!" Lu Yang looked Soto in the eye with such intensity that, in that moment, Soto felt a chill run down his spine.
Soto felt as if he'd been transported back in time.
He'd seen that look before.
Fourteen years ago, he and Maniero had lost to the Netherlands in the European Championship semifinals. Back then, one of their team's strikers had worn that same look in his eyes.
It had been the striker's last European Championship before retirement. He would never get another chance to make up for that regret.
Twelve years ago, Italy faced the Netherlands again in the World Cup quarterfinals. They beat them in a penalty shootout, advanced, and went on to win that World Cup.
For Maniero and Soto, the most thrilling moment of that World Cup, aside from lifting the trophy, had been taking those penalties against the Netherlands.
Especially when Maniero stepped up to take the final penalty, the one that would decide the match. His eyes had looked exactly like Lu Yang's did now.
If he missed, that would be Italy's last match of that World Cup, and it would be Maniero and Soto's last match, too. Their bodies wouldn't hold up for another four years.
Ten years ago, Maniero and Soto led Italy in their final European Championship, reaching the final for the first time in sixteen years.
But in the final moments of that match, Italy, trailing 2–0, fought as if possessed. Maniero and Soto had worn that very same look in their eyes.
They knew they would never play in another European Championship. That was their last major tournament.
They couldn't accept it. They truly didn't want to lose!
In that moment, Lu Yang's eyes held the same determination and resolve.
This wasn't the last match of his career, but Lu Yang was playing as if it were.
If Soto had never understood what made Lu Yang seem so different from everyone else, so much more impressive even than the more talented Moric, Vedian, or some of the top youth players from Serie B and Serie A... then he finally understood now.
Perhaps football meant something different to Lu Yang than it did to everyone else.
He had a footballing creed all his own.
And a person with conviction was invincible!
"Your wound needs treatment!" Soto relented. In truth, San Remo couldn't find anyone to replace Lu Yang at his level—or even someone good enough to start in his place.
"Doctor! You have three minutes! You have to treat the wound!" Lu Yang turned to the team doctor beside him.
"But... I..." The doctor froze.
Looking into Lu Yang's eyes, the doctor couldn't bring himself to say no.
That look—the longing for the match, for football, for victory—made the doctor shudder, yet filled him with respect from the bottom of his heart.
This was what it meant to give yourself completely to a match.
As long as the match wasn't over, he would never admit defeat!
Not even now, with the score at 3–1 against him!
"It's going to hurt a lot." The doctor took out his medical kit.
"It doesn't matter!" Lu Yang turned and shouted to his teammates on the pitch. "Three minutes! Hold on for me for three minutes. In three minutes, I'll be back out there fighting alongside you! We're going to win. Believe me!"
Moric wiped away his tears and shouted, "What makes you so sure? We can win without you!"
He wanted Lu Yang to get treatment. He was worried about Lu Yang's health.
"No. I've seen this match! We're going to win. I'll give you a victory!" Lu Yang had barely finished speaking when the doctor began stitching up the wound right there on the sidelines.
There was no anesthetic. The stitches went straight in, and the pain was unbearable. After briefly capturing the scene, the broadcast camera quickly moved away. Even the director couldn't bear to watch.
Lu Yang clenched his fists. He could feel every bit of it.
But he had to endure.
He had to get back on the pitch. He had to play!
"Lu Yang! Lu Yang! Lu Yang!"
In the stands, San Remo's fans chanted Lu Yang's name.
They didn't know whether they should be asking the team to take Lu Yang off, but they knew he had to hear them cheering him on.
At that moment, Lu Yang's name was the only thing echoing above the city of San Remo.
Sophia covered her face, her tears already pouring freely. She clutched Lu Yang's jersey and watched him getting stitched up on the sidelines, unable to say a word.
But from that moment on, there would be no room in her heart for anyone but him.
Yes, he was only sixteen, but he was the toughest and most responsible man in the world!
Tweet!
The referee restarted the match.
Even with only ten men on the pitch, San Remo found a tremendous reserve of courage.
They fought for the ball as if their lives depended on it.
They didn't pass up a single chance to challenge for possession. They feared no physical contact, and they turned their half of the pitch into an iron fortress.
They knew that if they held on until that man returned, they could win!
It was a ridiculous belief, but in that moment, no one doubted it!
Even Turris's players were shaken by the sight of Lu Yang getting stitched up on the sidelines. Their attacks faltered without them even realizing it.
They were afraid.
And they were worried about getting hurt in a challenge.
Their team had already secured promotion. There was no need to push themselves.
An injury would ruin their holidays, and their newly promoted team was going to revamp its squad anyway. Being left out of the plans because of an injury would be a terrible outcome.
As a result, Turris failed to create a single dangerous attack over the next four minutes.
But... anyone could see this couldn't last much longer.
San Remo's players were almost out of the energy and anger Lu Yang had inspired in them. They were running out of steam. When that happened, Turris would tear them apart!
The score could end up worse than 3–1!
In the eighty-fifth minute, the team doctor finished temporarily treating Lu Yang's wound.
After the match, Lu Yang would still need further treatment, because the temporary stitches only addressed the symptoms, not the underlying problem. And... because of these stitches, he would have to endure even more pain later. He might even be left with a permanent scar.
But Lu Yang didn't care about any of that. He changed out of his bloodstained jersey on the sidelines and prepared to go back on.
When the referee gave him permission to return, Lu Yang stepped onto the pitch.
"Ding! Your resolute gaze has shaken the world and redefined the belief in victory. You have received a Moment Card*1: Cristiano Rona!"
A Moment Card!
It had appeared in this way!
Without a doubt, Lu Yang crushed the Moment Card.
In an instant, he felt power surging through his entire body.
A sudden realization came to him.
June 16, 2018. Russia World Cup, Group B, first round: Portugal vs. Spain.
He was here!
On the pitch.
"Oh, no! Vedian's lost the ball! Turris's right back and midfielder have him surrounded, and their pressure has paid off. Turris launch a counterattack, and their right back surges forward at speed. He's been very active today. He scored a long-range goal in the first half!" the commentator said. "Oh, Lu Yang's back on the pitch and charging over. He's so fast!"
"He wins the ball! A clean, beautiful tackle! Turris's right back doesn't even have time to react! Lu Yang keeps possession and evades the challenge, then passes to Moric. Lu Yang surges forward!"
"Turris's right back stays close to Lu Yang and returns to his defensive position. Vedian makes a run toward the middle, but there's no opening. Moric passes the ball back to the team's left back, who finds Lu Yang as he comes back to receive it. Lu Yang has been incredibly active since returning. It's as if he has endless stamina."
"Lu Yang bursts forward, using his speed to blow past Turris's midfielder... Oh, a beautiful backheel flick! He sends the Turris midfielder trying to stop him sprawling, then cuts inside. He doesn't pass to Vedian. He's going to carry the ball into the box!"
"Turris's right back is in position, retreating as he defends Lu Yang. Dribbling isn't Lu Yang's strong suit, so the right back looks confident against him. After all, he'd practically shut down Vedian earlier."
"Oh! Stepover! Lu Yang strings together several stepovers just outside the penalty area. Turris's right back doesn't dare commit, and Lu Yang breaks into the box. He shoots..."
"Turris's right back thinks Lu Yang is about to shoot, so he lunges for the ball. A player loses control of the ball for a brief moment just before taking a shot."
"Oh, my God! Lu Yang doesn't shoot. He throws in another stepover and knocks the ball away first."
"He's down! Turris's right back brings Lu Yang down with a challenge inside the box! We saw it clearly. That's an unquestionable penalty!"
"The referee blows his whistle... He shows Turris's right back a yellow card. A penalty—it is a penalty! Oh, my God! Is there still hope for this match?"
"San Remo haven't given up! Lu Yang hasn't given up! They're still fighting!"