Chapter 32:- Final; Things get heated

From his tactical perch at the sidelines, Coach Jaime's lips curled into a knowing smirk as Ahamad, ball at his nimble feet, bolted towards the opposing penalty area with exceptional pace. 'With Kabir tightly marked, Ahamad can be our secret weapon,' he mused, an analytical gleam in his eyes, 'South Korea's midfield is left wide open as they concentrate their efforts on Kabir. This forces them into a tough dilemma – either abandon their post on Kabir and tackle Ahamad or stay with Kabir, giving Ahamad a clear path to the penalty area.'

Observing Ahamad's rapid approach towards the goal, the right midfielder had no option but to forego his position. Yet in doing so, he unwittingly carved an opening for Ahamad to exploit. With a nimble flick of his foot, Ahamad threaded a pass through to Kabir. The centre midfielder lunged to intercept the pass, while the left midfielder attempted to restrain Kabir by clutching his arm.

But Kabir's agility was unparalleled. His burst of strength threw off the midfielder's grip while his nimble feet directed the ball out of the centre midfielder's reach, securing it back into his possession. At this sight, Coach Bento felt a cold shiver travel down his spine, his heart pounding in fear. Sweat droplets dotted his forehead as a silent plea escaped his lips, 'Someone, stop him.'

In the midst of the chaotic frenzy, Kabir slipped into a different dimension. In his perception, time appeared to slow down and a crimson lightning seemed to flicker around him. With the net in sight, his vision carved out numerous paths leading to a successful goal. These paths were illuminated by the mystic crimson lightning, each providing a viable option. But among them all, one path stood out, promising the highest chance of scoring.

What transpired next would remain etched in the memory of all onlookers. The left midfielder lunged at Kabir, but in doing so, he abandoned his previous position. Kabir, seeing an opportunity, deftly nudged the ball past the startled midfielder with a swift touch from his right foot. A visibly shocked Son Heung-Min tried to grasp Kabir, but it was too late – Kabir was already gone.

The penalty arc loomed in front of Kabir. As he glimpsed the awaiting defenders, he strategically shifted the ball with a diagonal push from the outside of his left foot. He then dribbled left, briefly, before swiftly transferring the ball to his right foot.

And then he took the shot. The ball was propelled by a strong kick from the top of his right foot, aiming towards the right side of the net. The ball whizzed past the stunned defenders before they could even register what had happened. The goalkeeper, initially positioned to the left of the net, made a desperate leap towards the right, but it was futile. The ball ricocheted off the right post before nestling itself into the net, marking the first goal of the night.

Boooom!!!!!

[It's a Goal.]

The South Korean players and their coach, Bento, were rooted to their spots in disbelief, reeling from the lightning-fast attack. The question 'Since when did Kabir become such a nimble dribbler?' echoed within their minds. The defenders and midfielders, especially, were staggered by Kabir's sudden acceleration and dexterity, his movements barely a blur to their stunned eyes.

On the other hand, the scene was dramatically different for Kabir. He sprinted towards the right corner of the pitch, an exhilarating surge of triumph coursing through his veins. He paused momentarily to press a reverent kiss to the Bangladesh badge emblazoned on his jersey. At that moment, he was living the dream he had nurtured since he was a child. The coveted trophy was now tantalizingly within his grasp.

As Kabir basked in his achievement, jubilation erupted around the globe. Yukina, Khalid, Kabir's parents, and millions of ardent fans worldwide erupted into raucous cheers, the air thick with their collective excitement. Kabir's goal at the 5th minute of the match had sparked an unprecedented wave of ecstasy.

Coach Jaime, from the sidelines, watched the celebrations unfold with a proud smile tugging at his lips. This goal brought him a significant step closer to clinching his first ever major trophy in his managerial career. The feeling was nothing short of magical.

Kabir's teammates, caught up in the contagious joy, swarmed towards him, their praises echoing through the roaring stadium.

"That was stellar, Captain!"

"Phenomenal execution, Kabir!"

"Brilliant work, lad."

"Thanks to your goal, we can now focus on a defensive strategy for the remaining time." Each member of the team showered Kabir with well-deserved accolades.

The senior players, in particular, radiated immense pride for their young captain. They knew their time on the international stage was nearing its end, but thanks to Kabir, they now had the prospect of a glorious farewell. This golden opportunity for them to hoist an international trophy aloft before their retirement had been made possible by their talented, determined captain. Their hearts swelled with gratitude and admiration for Kabir, the gem of their team.

In the exuberant aftermath of the goal, the sportscasters couldn't contain their awe, voices trembling with excitement. "At the 5th minute of the match, Kabir has struck a mesmerizing goal. Bangladesh surges ahead into the lead. With this, Kabir now holds the record for the most goals in the history of the AFC Asian cup. A truly monumental achievement!" "Now with a total of 15 goals under his belt, Kabir's tally surpasses any individual's in the storied history of the AFC Asian cup."

Son Heung-Min, visibly disheartened, cast a helpless glance at Kabir. He knew it was unfair to fault his teammates; Kabir's prowess was simply staggering. His blistering speed and breathtaking dribbling made him an exceptional adversary. Within the penalty arc, he maneuvered like a wild cheetah, swift and uncatchable. The South Korean defense had been left helpless, incapable of preventing Kabir from breaching their goal.

As the match resumed, the dynamics had visibly shifted. The Bangladeshi players, buoyed by Kabir's early goal, now played with a serene, relaxed demeanor. The crushing weight of goal-scoring expectations had been lifted off their shoulders. Conversely, the South Korean team was descending into a state of mounting pressure. Every passing minute was an intensifying ticking time bomb of tension.

Furthermore, the overwhelming support for Bangladesh in the stadium was a daunting psychological obstacle. A sea of enthusiastic fans, roaring their encouragement, could significantly tilt the scales in a game. A classic case in point: Liverpool's home ground, Anfield, renowned as the most heated stadium in Europe, where Liverpool has a formidable winning streak.

In the 9th minute, South Korea's right central midfielder, Moon Seon-Min, delivered the ball to the central defensive midfielder. Paik Seung-Ho neatly controlled it with his right foot before scanning the pitch. Since Bangladesh's initial goal, their team had shifted to a more defensive stance, turning the pitch into a maze for the South Koreans. Even now, Paik Seung-Ho was finding it tough to locate a safe passage for a pass. Seeing an opposing player charging towards him, Paik Seung-Ho was forced to roll the ball back to one of his center backs.

Meanwhile, the match was attracting the keen eyes of Klopp, Pep, Jose, and other revered football managers. Their interest primarily centered around Kabir. They noted how Bangladesh's strategies orbited around Kabir, making the team dramatically vulnerable without him. Kabir's presence, both in terms of mental influence and on-field performance, was fortifying the entire squad. "The South Korean midfielders are finding it hard to weave opportunities; not everyone possesses Kabir's genius. Their CDM, in particular, lacks the vision and pass-mastering ability to craft significant openings," Klopp mused as he watched the game unfold. His observations seemed prophetic, as every time Paik Seung-Ho tried to initiate a move, his attempts were either thwarted or the intended receivers were tightly marked by the Bangladeshis.

For the subsequent 10 minutes, the South Koreans managed to primarily keep the ball on their side. Their midfielders held a firm grip on the possession, constantly oscillating the ball. The strategy seemed clear: If the path forward was blocked, they would maintain control by steering the ball back. The air was thick with their desperate endeavors to carve out a promising opportunity.

Then, in the 21st minute, their efforts bore fruit. Paik Seung-Ho finally found Son Heung-Min with a pinpoint pass. Wasting no time, Son swiftly redirected the ball to Kim Shin-Wook. The air was electrifying as Kim Shin-Wook positioned himself to take a shot from outside the penalty area. The South Koreans hadn't been able to register a single shot on goal since the match commenced, and Kim Shin-Wook felt a desperate urge to roll the dice. He was acutely aware that penetrating the penalty area was near impossible under the circumstances. Had there been just one defender, he might have gambled on dribbling past him, but there were more than three defenders forming an impregnable barricade within the penalty area.

Just as Kim Shin-Wook drew back his foot to unleash a shot, he was startled by a flash of movement. Someone had launched into a slide tackle right in front of him. Kim Shin-Wook's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized Matin, Bangladesh's left midfielder. Before he could react, Shin felt a sharp jolt of pain rip through him as he was sent sprawling to the ground by Matin's powerful slide.

An immediate high-pitched whistle pierced the intense atmosphere of the match!

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Let's aim for 3000 power stones for this week as well.