Semifinals (6)

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"Fuck," Jerry muttered under his breath. He had just taken a shot from the left towards the far post. It was a very good shot, but unfortunately for him, the Young Dragons Academy goalkeeper was up to the task. The ball ended up going out for a corner kick.

A few other Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution players groaned in frustration, while some of the more composed and mature ones had already started arranging themselves for the corner. Much to their collective disappointment, however, the corner came to nothing. The ball was cleared away confidently by the Young Dragons Academy goalkeeper, and the resulting counterattack nearly saw Casey Simpson score a brace.

The next ten minutes consisted of Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution trying their best to break through Young Dragons Academy's defense. Earlier in the match, it had been a bit easier to get shots on target because Young Dragons Academy was actively pressing forward, trying to double their lead. But as the match progressed, their approach shifted. They began adopting a defensive stance, resolutely holding their ground. It was obvious to everyone watching that they were intent on holding out until the final whistle, which wasn't very far away.

The scoreboard read: 82 minutes. The game was slipping away.

Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution managed to create another attempt. Ethan Maxwell, who had made it to the starting lineup for the very first time in the tournament, was proving to be a revelation. His confidence and skill were growing with each passing minute. Once again, he orchestrated an attack, taking possession on the left flank. Using a deft Cruyff turn, he elegantly got away from his marker before threading a precise through ball to Jordan Phillips, who had overlapped him.

Jordan sprinted down the wing, showcasing his athleticism and determination. As he neared the touchline, he executed a Ronaldo-styled chop to switch the ball to his left foot, preventing it from going out of bounds. Aaron Welbeck, the Young Dragons Academy right-back, lunged in with a desperate full-blown tackle in an attempt to stop the inevitable cross. Despite the tackle, Jordan maintained his balance and momentum. With Welbeck now on the ground, Jordan burst into the Young Dragons Academy penalty box. With a sharp touch on his right foot, he pushed the ball further inside, creating space for a shot. But standing in his way was Destiny Uchechukwu, the imposing Young Dragons Academy center-back, who seemed utterly unwilling to let him pass.

Jordan didn't falter. He kept pressing forward, determined to make something happen. Using a stepover, he feinted toward the inside, subtly tilting his body to sell the move before cutting back out. The maneuver worked just enough to create space, and he unleashed a powerful left-footed attempt toward the far post.

The Young Dragons Academy goalkeeper, who had been phenomenal throughout the match, reacted instinctively, diving to his right. He managed to get a strong hand to the shot, parrying it away. However, the ball only went as far as Jerry, who was lurking inside the box.

Without wasting a single second, Jerry smashed the rebound into the back of the net.

The stadium erupted.

The commentator's voice roared through the speakers:

[Oh my word! They've done it. Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution has found the equalizer—very, very late in the game. And it's the man who's carried them throughout the tournament that has saved them once more. Superman! Jeremiah Hayes Junior has once again saved the day!]

The co-commentator chimed in:

[Well, I'm sure everyone is thrilled about that goal, and I don't mean to take anything away from the scorer. But let's talk about the buildup for a second. Absolutely beautiful football from Ethan Maxwell, who found the space and spotted Jordan Phillips. And Jordan? What a nasty little run there. His effort was ultimately thwarted by Isaiah O'Connor, the goalkeeper, who's had a fantastic game. But he just couldn't keep out the rebound from Jerry, who was in the right place at the right time.]

Jerry lost himself in the celebration. He sprinted toward the crowd, sliding on his knees before imitating Ronaldo's iconic "I'm here" celebration. The joy was palpable. For a brief moment, everything felt perfect. But after a short while, Jerry wrapped up his celebration and returned to his position. The match resumed shortly after.

The remaining minutes of the game turned into a chaotic back-and-forth as both teams searched desperately for a winner. Defense was all but abandoned by both sides as players pushed forward in waves, their exhaustion replaced by sheer determination. The goalkeepers were called into action multiple times, making crucial saves to keep their teams in the game.

The clock ticked into added time: 90+2.

In the second and final minute of stoppage time, Young Dragons Academy launched what would prove to be the last attack of the game. Miles Hunter received the ball on the left flank, immediately turning and driving down toward Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution's penalty box. With remarkable skill, he performed a reverse elastico to evade Miles Heath, who had come out to close him down.

Now at the edge of the penalty box, Hunter faced Moses, the last defender. Instead of taking Moses on directly, he opted for a clever pass across the box. He lifted the ball slightly to ensure it bypassed any incoming challenges.

Casey Simpson, who had been sprinting into the penalty area, arrived just in time to meet the bouncing pass at the edge of the box. Without hesitation, he struck the ball on the volley. The stadium held its collective breath as the ball soared through the air before etching itself into the top corner of the net.

The commentator erupted again:

[And Hunter has squared it for Casey Simpsonnnn!!! Oh my word! What a goal! What. A. Goal! And surely that's it now. Casey Simpson has scored a late, late winner that sends his team to the final. He's delivered the final blow that brings down the Goliath of Jeremiah Hayes. This has to be it!]

The co-commentator added somberly:

[Casey Simpson has just broken the hearts of the Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution players. Every single one of them fought valiantly for so long, but in the end, it was all for naught. Young Dragons Academy will go to the finals, and Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution will use their shirts to cover the tears in their eyes. What a shame.]

[I think this is one of those matches where either side deserved to win. But unfortunately, this is a knockout tournament, and there has to be a winner—and, sadly, a loser.]

As Casey's teammates mobbed him in celebration, the crowd roared with approval. The goalscorer himself remained uncharacteristically calm. Instead of sprinting toward the crowd and losing himself in the moment, Casey performed the calma celebration. He then pointed to his chest and to the ground, mocking Jerry's earlier "I'm here" celebration.

Jerry, standing at the center of the pitch, looked on in disbelief. His dazed expression told the story of a player who knew the inevitable truth: there was no coming back. That was the final attack of the game. Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution had lost. Or rather, they were about to lose. The referee hadn't blown the final whistle yet, so, technically, they hadn't lost. Not yet.

"Fuck," Jerry muttered under his breath as he walked slowly back toward his team's half of the pitch. Despite knowing the outcome, certain formalities had to be observed. The team that conceded had to restart the match with a kickoff.