FC Utrecht vs Roda JC II: A New star is Born

Amani's legs itched to run. At the break, as veterans gulped sports drink, he reflected on his dream last night: to make a difference in this final match. The locker room door opened. From the tunnel emerged Jan Wouters, called him aside, and spoke quietly: "Hamadi, you're on for the second half. Trust your instincts."

A grin broke on Amani's face as he nodded and popped a menthol lozenge. Back on the pitch, the referee blew the whistle for the restart.

Jan Wouters turned to his bench at the break. Amani gulped and tied his boots tighter. "Kid, warm up quick," the coach shouted over the roar. 

The tension in the stadium was palpable. Fifty-five minutes had bled from the clock, and the score remained deadlocked at 1-1. FC Utrecht had traded blows with Roda JC, but neither side could find the decisive edge.