From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Free kick!”

The assistant coach suddenly rushed over and held the phone in front of Neil, ”Ma’el’s breakthrough earned us a free kick, this is a chance!”

”Buzz...” In the arena, a wave of commotion quickly sounded. Due to different cell phone signals and varying delays in watching the game, they gradually received the news that Sheffield United had won a free kick.

Everyone knew what this meant; it could be their last chance!

Neil’s chest rose and fell as he swallowed and closed his eyes, saying, ”God bless Ma’el.”

...

Loftus Road Stadium, at the edge of the penalty area, the referee was surrounded by Queens Park Rangers players.

”Back off! Back off!”

With a stern face, he showed two yellow cards, finally halting the players’ determination to make him change his decision as they left cursing.

”Stop arguing!”

Worlock stood at the edge of the field, anxiously shouting at the players, ”It’s stoppage time, don’t waste it, let him kick!”

His assistant coaches also rushed out, all looking excited as they shouted, ”Are you crazy?!”

”What are you thinking? Quickly form the wall!”

”Do you want the kick to happen, then the referee blow the final whistle?”

”Whew... whew...!!” The sound of whistles and various noises rose from the stands, and the scene instantly became chaotic.

A few tall players stood helplessly on the line drawn by the referee, one hand covering their groin and the other shielding their face — a customary protective motion.

In front of the penalty spot, Ma’el and Janu stood, both staring eagerly at the goal.

”No fake run.”

Ma’el abandoned the usual free-kick routine, covering his mouth and firmly saying, ”I’ll go straight for it this time.”

”Okay.”

Janu agreed, not moving away, still standing in place, sending smoke signals to attempt to confuse the Queens Park Rangers players.

”Beep!”

When the referee’s whistle sounded, the scene instantly fell silent.

The chaos subsided, and people focused intently on the figure at the penalty spot, nerves stretched to the limit.

It was at this moment that people clearly realized this could be the goal to decide the direction of the match!

At Ma’el’s feet hung the hope of Sheffield United securing the Championship title firmly, and also the blade to kill Queens Park Rangers’ hopes.

”Sigh...”

He stood before the ball, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his eyes, as if blinded.

After turning his head and blinking a few times, he realized it was the fans’ laser lights shining on his face.

Some extreme fans were trying to disrupt his view.

Ma’el finally confirmed the position of the ball relative to the goal, took a step to start his run-up, knowing that once he started running, they couldn’t aim at him.

Arriving at the ball, he unfolded his left arm in the manner of countless nights of practice, swinging his right leg, and at the instant his foot flicked, he curled the ball around.

”Thud!!”

In the silence of the arena, the sound of the shot was strikingly loud, the ball spinning violently toward the goal.

The five Queens Park players lined up in the wall jumped high, stretching their necks to the maximum to block the ball, only to fall short!

”Oh.....!” Faint cheers arose from the South Stand, some couldn’t contain themselves, raising their arms prematurely.

Ma’el’s family stood up; some covered their faces, not daring to watch, others bowed their heads, hands over head, watching from the corner of their eyes, some raised their hands widely like other fans.

”Brother!”

Ava, held by Isabella, opened her mouth, hopeful for a goal.

”Ma’el....” Mendes’s voice was deep as he constantly prayed in his heart, also waiting for the burst moment.

On the sidelines, coaches Garrispeed, Jorson, and other assistant coaches stood shoulder to shoulder, holding their breath in anticipation.

Alongside them stood Gilbert and others who had been substituted early, ready to charge towards their goal hero.

Thus, in the focus of countless gazes, the ball Ma’el kicked arced over the wall, plummeting toward the near corner of the goal.

The goalkeeper soared, exhausting all his strength, hoping to leave a thread of hope for his team, but his right hand still failed to touch the ball, which slammed into the net he guarded: ”Swish!!”

The ball was in!

One-nil!

In the 2nd minute of injury time, Ma’el scored an invaluable goal, killing the game!!

”Yeah.....!” Instantly, every Sheffield person on the field reached an emotional climax, as if they’d been hovering outside the gates of heaven, finally stepping in and shutting the door behind them!

”Ma’el!!”

All feelings and love ultimately transformed into a hoarse shout, because they simply couldn’t organize words: ”Ma’el!! Ah ah.....!!”

On the sidelines, the coaches Garrispeed, Jorson, and others quickly withdrew their hands from others, dispersed rapidly, heading to different locations to celebrate.

”Champions!!”

Garrispeed raced towards the traveling fan section, ignoring the fourth official’s obstruction, sprinting wildly as if he’d returned to the pitch.

Arriving at the fan section, he raised his hands high, triumphantly shouting: ”We did it, the Championship belongs to Sheffield United!!”

”Oh....! Haha!” Jorson opened his arms wide towards the Queens Park Rangers coaching area, laughing arrogantly, having just had a clash with an opposing assistant.

Other assistants either howled to the sky, hugged each other, or jumped high as if ascending to heaven.

They were relatively restrained because the substitutes and players just off the pitch rushed along the sideline into the field, heading toward Ma’el.

”You are God!”

”Damn! That was great!”

”I had a feeling, I just knew this ball would go in!”

”Ma’el!”

Gilbert was the most emotional; he never imagined he could win a professional league title at 17, especially under Mr. Wenger’s nose. For a moment, he was joyfully tearful: ”Ma’el! We did it!”

In the spotlight, Ma’el’s brain was rushing with blood, his ears were buzzing, almost feeling a bit of tinnitus, yet the fiery flame still pushed him towards the sidelines.

He could hear faint shouts, could hear someone calling him, but couldn’t care less.

Arriving at the sidelines, he had forgotten all celebratory actions, simply flinging himself forward, chest sliding across the ground.

Game-winning goal!

Securing the victory, securing the title!

With a perfect curling free kick, he beautifully concluded his Championship career!

40 goals!

That’s the scoring record he left in the Championship League, a ten-goal increase from before!

”We are the champions!” Someone rushed over, imitating his action, sliding belly-down, finally bunching together with Ma’el.

”Ah haha....!” Their laughter at the moment was more than indulgent, almost a bit wanton.

...