UEFA Super Cup End

Monaco fans at the Stade Louis II had no intention of applauding Ajax, let alone Yang Yang. The reason was simple—they still harbored a deep resentment toward both the team and the player. 

The grudge stemmed from last season's Champions League semi-final. Yang Yang had been instrumental in Ajax's 3-0 thrashing of Monaco in the first leg at home. And when Galásek was sent off with a red card in the second leg, it was Yang Yang who provided the decisive assist to Ibrahimovic, leading to a 1-1 draw that sent Monaco crashing out of the tournament. 

That goal shattered the morale of the Monaco team. The subsequent red cards of captain Ludovic Giuly and Zikos only compounded their misery, leaving their fans bitter and vengeful. 

So tonight, Monaco's supporters had made their feelings clear from the outset. They booed Ajax relentlessly and cheered for Valencia at every opportunity. For them, this was an opportunity for revenge—if not on the scoreboard, then through the satisfaction of watching Ajax, and especially Yang Yang, struggle. 

And the game was unfolding exactly as they hoped. Ajax's right flank, typically so reliable, was torn apart by Valencia's lethal winger Vicente. He tormented Maicon repeatedly, his quick feet and dazzling speed proving too much for the Brazilian fullback to handle. Meanwhile, in the center of the pitch, the combination of Rubén Baraja and David Albelda dominated Ajax's midfield, giving them no room to breathe. Ajax's youthful side, already weakened by the sale of five key players, seemed out of their depth. 

In the Eredivisie, Ajax still held power and prestige. But in the unforgiving arena of European football, they had slipped from their former glory, relegated to the status of a second-tier, or perhaps even third-tier, team. And tonight, against a polished Valencia side, that gap in class was laid bare. 

Vicente's two marauding runs down the left flank had exposed Ajax's vulnerabilities, with Baraja and Di Vaio taking full advantage. Their goals had cast Ajax into a pit of despair. 

For Valencia's coach, Claudio Ranieri, this was a masterclass in control. Often regarded as one of Europe's most underrated tacticians, Ranieri had thoroughly outwitted Ronald Koeman, whose inexperience at this level was beginning to show. 

With Ajax's defense in disarray, Yang Yang was forced to drop deeper and deeper, often tracking back to help relieve the pressure. But with the midfield losing its grip on the game, it became increasingly difficult for him to find any space or opportunity in the final third. 

Despite his best efforts, Yang Yang's influence on the match was limited. Every time he looked to spark something, Valencia's well-drilled defense snuffed out the danger. If it weren't for Valencia's occasional wastefulness in front of goal, Ajax could have been looking at a far heavier defeat. 

The gap in quality between the two teams was glaring, and it was a gap that no single player, not even Yang Yang, could close on his own. 

Monaco fans, sensing Ajax's impending defeat, reveled in the moment. They cheered for every misplaced Ajax pass, every Valencia interception. With each passing minute, their satisfaction grew. 

By the 66th minute, when Di Vaio scored Valencia's second goal, the Spanish side slowed the tempo considerably. They had secured their victory, and with La Liga commitments on the horizon, there was no need to continue pressing Ajax. Ranieri made a tactical adjustment, substituting Bernardo Corradi for Pablo Aimar, aiming to control the midfield even more and preserve his players' energy. 

The difference between the two sides couldn't have been clearer. Aimar, once hailed as the next great Argentine playmaker, was now coming off the bench as a luxury substitute for Valencia. Every position in the Spanish side was filled with world-class talent, a stark contrast to Ajax's youthful, understrength squad. 

Yet despite the overwhelming odds, Yang Yang refused to give in. 

Even as Valencia eased off, and even as the Monaco fans rejoiced in his team's suffering, Yang Yang's resolve never wavered. He ran tirelessly, looking for that one opening, that one chance to claw Ajax back into the match. 

Valencia may have held the advantage, and the fans may have been against him, but Yang Yang still believed in a way back. For him, giving up was never an option. 

... 

... 

Yang Yang ran tirelessly in the front third, turning back and forth like a machine on the brink of exhaustion, but still running, still chasing. Every muscle in his body screamed, but his mind kept him going, focused on the slightest chance to seize the ball and change the game. 

The feeling was all too familiar, like when he played for Almere's youth team during their Rondo drills. He had felt like a headless fly back then—chasing, pressing, waiting. Waiting for an opportunity that might never come. That same helplessness washed over him now as he ran across the field, chasing shadows and hoping for a chance against a far superior opponent. 

He could feel the enormous gulf in quality between Ajax and Valencia. This was no ordinary team. Valencia, La Liga champions, had reached the Champions League final twice. Last season, they outclassed Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruña, and Real Madrid to claim the league title. They were a different level, a step above Ajax—just as his Almere teammates had once been a step above him. 

Sometimes, you simply couldn't fight the odds. You had to keep running, keep pushing, because stopping wasn't an option. 

Yang Yang knew that no team was immune to losing, but it didn't make the idea any easier to swallow. To lose without a fight, to be embarrassed without even a respectable attack, was something Yang Yang could not accept. For him, there was always a way—always a chance, no matter how slim. 

Maybe it was his relentless drive, or perhaps the determination of his teammates, but Ajax began to stir. Led by Sneijder, De Jong, and Heitinga, the team slowly found their fighting spirit again. Together, they started to press Valencia harder, forcing errors, refusing to give up. 

Whenever a glimmer of opportunity arose, they launched counterattacks, no matter how fleeting the chances seemed. 

Valencia's Curro Torres, the Portuguese full-back tasked with keeping Yang Yang at bay, had followed his every move all game, pressing him step by step. Add to that Marchena, the fast and tough center-back, and the formidable midfield pairing of Baraja and Albelda—two of Europe's finest—and it became clear why Yang Yang struggled to find a single clear chance. Ranieri's defensive setup was tight, calculated, leaving Yang Yang with almost nothing to work with. 

Yet, as the match wore on, Yang Yang could sense a change. Valencia's players, comfortable with their 2-0 lead, were starting to show signs of fatigue. The urgency in their movements waned. They began to play more conservatively, as if already thinking about their upcoming La Liga match against Villarreal. Their intensity dropped, their focus slipping just enough for cracks to appear. 

Yang Yang knew—this was his moment. 

He continued to run, telling himself that as long as he kept pushing, there would be a chance. His legs burned, his energy was fading fast, but his mind refused to yield. 

Seventy minutes passed. Then seventy-five. Eighty. Eighty-five. 

Valencia, now playing to protect their lead, no longer ventured forward with the same aggression. The game seemed to be drifting toward a quiet end, exactly what Valencia wanted. 

But Ajax did not share that sentiment, and neither did all of Valencia's players. 

With the ball at his feet, Pablo Aimar tried to weave his way past De Jong. The Argentine genius, eager to impress Ranieri and earn a starting spot, went for an ambitious dribble. He saw an opening, determined to break through Ajax's midfield with flair. But just as he was about to pull off a move, Sneijder came storming back, stealing the ball from under Aimar's feet with a perfectly timed challenge. 

Aimar fell to the ground, looking for a foul, but the referee's whistle remained silent. 

De Jong wasted no time. He pounced on the loose ball and played a sharp pass forward—straight to Yang Yang. 

Yang Yang received the pass with his back to the goal, Valencia's Curro Torres breathing down his neck. He knew he couldn't turn—Torres would be on him in an instant. The only advantage Yang Yang had was his speed. 

Time seemed to slow. The roar of the crowd faded. In that moment, Yang Yang's mind was clear, as though the air around him had frozen. The only things that mattered were the ball at his feet and Curro Torres behind him. 

With a deft flick of his right foot, Yang Yang tapped the ball past his right side, using the outside of his foot to send the ball into space. At the same time, he spun left, leaving Curro Torres off balance and lunging for nothing but air. Yang Yang was already sprinting, catching up to the ball with his blistering pace, leaving the defender trailing behind. 

... 

"What a beautiful move from Yang Yang!" 

"Ajax have launched a counterattack! Yang Yang storms down the right wing, tearing through Valencia's defense!" 

... 

Yang Yang gritted his teeth, pushing his legs to their limit as he sprinted at full speed, catching up with the ball just in time. With Valencia's defense scrambling to recover, he surged forward, the goal in his sights. 

Valencia's defenders reacted quickly, with Marchena the first to intercept Yang Yang's run. The Spanish center-back, known for his physicality, prepared to use his strength to outmuscle the thinner Yang Yang. But just as Marchena closed in, Yang Yang suddenly pulled up, planting his foot and spiking the ball inward, forcing Marchena to shift his weight to block the move. 

But Yang Yang had another trick in store. As Marchena committed, Yang Yang deftly cut the ball back with his left foot, shifting his body weight again and leaving Marchena off-balance. With that quick movement, Yang Yang slipped past the defender, successfully dribbling into the penalty area. The crowd gasped as he now faced the onrushing Valencia goalkeeper, Santiago Cañizares. 

... 

"What a beautiful dribble from Yang Yang!!" 

"Yang Yang completely bamboozled Marchena and broke into the penalty area!" 

... 

Cañizares, a veteran goalkeeper with decades of experience, immediately rushed off his line as Yang Yang bore down on goal. Timing his approach perfectly, he spread his arms wide to cover as much space as possible, trying to narrow the young striker's shooting angle. 

But at 34, Cañizares no longer had the speed of his younger counterparts. Standing at 1.81 meters, his height left him slightly vulnerable to lofted shots. And Yang Yang, sensing his opportunity, delicately chipped the ball over the keeper's outstretched arms, sending it arcing into the air. 

The ball floated past Cañizares, forming a perfect parabola, before beginning its slow descent toward the empty goal behind him. 

Valencia's other central defender, David Navarro, sprinted back in a desperate attempt to clear it off the line. But it was too late. The ball dropped into the net just before Navarro could reach it, his sliding effort taking him into the goal alongside the ball. 

Beep! Beep! Beep! 

"Goal!!!" 

"The ball is in!" 

"Yang Yang! What a goal from Yang Yang!!" 

"In the 88th minute, Yang Yang pulls one back for Ajax!" 

"This is a well-earned reward for his tireless effort throughout the game." 

"A simply magnificent individual performance—Yang Yang single-handedly tore apart Valencia's defense." 

"1-2! Ajax has pulled back a goal!" 

The Monaco crowd, who had been largely against Ajax all night, erupted in applause, recognizing the brilliance of the 17-year-old's performance. 

"Even the Monaco fans are applauding Yang Yang's effort!" 

"Despite Ajax's overall struggles compared to Valencia, and with Yang Yang being closely marked all game long, he found a way to make his mark." 

"Ranieri had stated multiple times before the match that Valencia's main defensive priority was freezing Yang Yang. They did their best, but this 17-year-old prodigy continues to shock the football world." 

"His fighting spirit has been unbreakable tonight. And under his leadership, Ajax refused to surrender despite the two-goal deficit and the overwhelming gap in quality." 

"This young talent has left a lasting impression on everyone watching." 

The game approached its final moments, with Ranieri already preparing a substitution to solidify the result. Though the scoreline still favored Valencia, Yang Yang's moment of brilliance had shifted the narrative. 

"With the game winding down, it's clear that Valencia are in control, but Ajax, and particularly this young Yang Yang, deserve immense credit. His determination and resilience have been nothing short of remarkable." 

"That goal has given us a new appreciation for his abilities—his skill, his composure under pressure, and his never-say-die attitude." 

"Yang Yang created the only real highlight for Ajax tonight, but despite his efforts, the team is still headed toward defeat. Yet, this goal serves as a reminder of the bright future this young talent has in store." 

... 

The referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the end of the match. 

1-2. Ajax had lost the UEFA Super Cup. 

As the final whistle echoed through the Stade Louis II, Yang Yang collapsed onto the grass, utterly exhausted. His body felt heavy, his legs burning from the relentless effort he had put into the game. He had given everything, running until he had nothing left to give. But despite his best efforts, it wasn't enough. Ajax had fallen short. 

Breathing heavily, Yang Yang stared blankly at the pitch, feeling the sting of defeat sink in. The roar of the crowd, the cheers from Valencia's jubilant players—it all felt distant, as if the world around him had blurred. 

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. 

"Good job." It was Vicente, breathless but smiling. The Valencia winger, who had caused Ajax so much trouble throughout the game, extended his hand and took off his jersey as he approached Yang Yang. 

The exchange of jerseys—a time-honored gesture of mutual respect. Vicente, one of the most exciting wingers in Europe, had recognized Yang Yang's performance. 

Yang Yang slowly sat up, still catching his breath, and looked at the Valencia winger. Vicente, at 23 years old, was already a recognized star in European football, having helped lead Valencia to a La Liga title and a UEFA Cup triumph. He had been bought for a staggering €27 million at just 19, and tonight, his class had been evident again. 

"Thank you," Yang Yang said quietly, pulling himself to his feet. He removed his own shirt and handed it to Vicente. 

They exchanged jerseys, a brief but meaningful moment of acknowledgment. In that moment, the pain of defeat eased slightly, knowing that even in loss, his efforts had been noticed by one of Europe's best. 

"Come on," Vicente added with a nod, though he struggled to find the right words of comfort. He was still young himself and hadn't yet learned how to console a fellow player after such a loss. 

Yang Yang watched as Vicente turned and walked away, the number 14 of Valencia now clutched in his hand. It was the jersey of a genius winger, a player who had earned respect across Europe for his talent and ability. But as Yang Yang stared down at it, a new fire ignited within him. 

He clenched his hand around the shirt, his fingers digging into the fabric. 

This defeat, painful as it was, would not define him. The respect of a player like Vicente only fueled his determination. Yang Yang knew this was just the beginning. There would be more battles, more chances to prove himself, and more opportunities to rise to the top. 

As the applause from the crowd echoed in the background, Yang Yang stood tall once again, knowing that the path ahead was long but full of potential. This was just one chapter of his story, and he was far from finished.