Chapter 149
After Son Jinho scored a fantastic overhead kick to take the lead, the flow of the game surged to a rapid pace.
A mad fast break unfolded as the ball quickly traveled back and forth across both halves.
Bayern Munich was eager to equalize, while Dortmund aimed to extend their lead, aggressively threading sharp passes into each other’s territory.
[Jérôme Boateng delivers a long ball forward! Franck Ribery to Arjen Robben!]
Jérôme Boateng’s pass found Franck Ribery, who connected with a darting Robben through the gap created by Marcel Schmelzer.
[Robben! He’s running! Robben!]
Arjen Robben dashed past Marcel Schmelzer at an incredible speed.
[Robben left foot——! But Weidenfeller saves it!!]
Robben found himself in a one-on-one situation and took a quick left-footed shot, but it was blocked by Roman Weidenfeller’s fantastic save.
Dortmund barely managed to contain Bayern’s threatening fast break.
Now it was Dortmund’s turn to counterattack, centered around Son Jinho.
[Son Jinho has the ball, and the Bayern players are closing in quickly.]
[That’s right. Son Jinho really is the most dangerous player on the field today, right? Not just with his overhead kick, but he’s also created multiple threatening opportunities with his nimble movements.]
Son Jinho, protecting the ball tightly in the narrow space between Bayern players, passed it backward.
[Son Jinho won’t lose the ball! Son Jinho calmly shakes off the pressure and connects with İlkay Gündoğan behind him!]
The ball headed towards İlkay Gündoğan, who instead of taking a long-range shot himself, passed it to Ivan Perišić, positioned for a better opportunity.
[I’ve seen İlkay Gündoğan spot Ivan Perišić! Perišić!!! Oh~~ no!! He missed it! Ivan Perišić!!]
In a moment that could have sealed the match, Ivan Perišić’s shot went wide of the goal line.
“Scheiße!”
Jurgen Klopp, who was losing his cool beside the touchline, could only let out a desperate curse as he collapsed onto the grass like a puppet with its strings cut.
[Despairing Jurgen Klopp! It was a golden opportunity to take the lead!]
└ Hahaha, what’s with him suddenly lying down like that, lol
└ As expected, Jurgen Klopp brings the entertainment factor, haha
└ He really adds a touch of relaxation to this tense match, lol
***
The first half between Dortmund and Bayern Munich came to an end, wrapping up with Bayern’s attacks being repelled.
And then came halftime.
“What a fantastic first half.”
Rejuvenated, Jurgen Klopp began clapping and motivating his players with compliments for their efforts. Although they hadn’t scored additional goals, they were still leading by a single point.
“And our captain has something to say. I’m stepping back here.”
Jurgen Klopp’s speech ended short as Dortmund’s captain, Sebastian Kehl, stepped forward among his teammates.
Though his influence on the pitch had diminished with age, he continued to inspire the players positively in the locker room.
“Honestly, I never imagined even a few years ago that this team would reach the Champions League final.”
Sebastian Kehl’s heartfelt speech, initiated with a light smile, quickly inspired the Dortmund players.
“There are only 45 minutes left, let’s play without regrets. For those not on the field today, cheer just as hard as I do!”
“Heja!!”
With Sebastian Kehl’s final words, the players erupted in cheers and headed back onto the field.
***
[Bayern Munich’s attack is getting fiercer!]
If the first half was a lopsided flow in favor of Dortmund, the second half shifted to Bayern Munich’s rhythm.
The Dortmund players appeared worn out, showing signs of fatigue as the match went on, making it harder to execute plays smoothly.
[Ah—! Dortmund concedes a goal! Bayern Munich has equalized!]
Just 10 minutes into the second half, Bayern Munich successfully scored the equalizer.
[Ribery’s cross from the side is perfectly redirected by Mandzukic with his forehead.]
Scorer Mandzukic rushed toward the corner flag, roaring, as the game started to unfold in a direction nobody had anticipated.
[Oh no, Dortmund looks exhausted. Unlike the first half, the players seem much heavier on their feet?!]
After about 30 minutes into the second half, Dortmund’s players showed signs of their physical limits. Their steps were heavy, and they struggled to build up attacks.
Knowing they could prevail in extra time, Bayern Munich focused on defense rather than offense.
With their line drawn back, Bayern Munich waited for a single counterattack.
Though it was clear that Bayern Munich’s plan was obvious, Dortmund, having shown all their cards, could only follow Bayern’s lead.
Then around the 35th minute of the second half.
“Argh!!”
Sven Bender, who had been active like Son Jinho, collapsed on the ground, possibly due to a muscle cramp after intercepting a through pass from Thomas Müller during a counterattack by Bayern Munich.
With medical staff rushing to the field, Jurgen Klopp seized the moment to prepare Nuri Sahin.
Jurgen Klopp’s gaze turned toward Son Jinho, who was bent over, gasping for breath.
After a moment of contemplating whether to substitute Son Jinho, Jurgen Klopp recalled how he always saved the team during critical moments and approached Nuri Sahin, who was warming up.
“Relay this to Jinho! He has to conserve energy for a final strike!”
***
The match continued.
Upon scoring the equalizer and becoming more defensively minded, Bayern Munich began to identify that Dortmund’s stamina had completely drained, slowly inching their line higher and starting to press Dortmund harder.
Well, their method wasn’t entirely wrong. At some point, the voices of teammates on the field had vanished, and the momentum had entirely shifted to Bayern Munich.
As Bayern Munich’s one-sided offense continued into the 44th minute of the second half.
Mats Hummels blocked Bastian Schweinsteiger’s long-range shot with his body.
The second ball fell to İlkay Gündoğan, and simultaneously, I rushed forward instinctively to call for a pass from my position near the halfway line.
Gündoğan seemed to be fatigued, as his pass was inaccurate and longer than expected.
‘No, maybe it’s because I’m tired.’
I had already burnt through all my stamina, and honestly, the pass was out of reach, but I didn’t give up and continued to run.
Fortunately, just before the ball went out of touch, I managed to trap it with my toes and began sprinting into Bayern’s territory.
Thud─!
Suddenly, a Bayern Munich player in red, whom I could not identify, came crashing into me to thwart the counterattack.
Maybe it was the thought that it was the last chance for Dortmund to win?
Even after being fouled and falling to the ground, I immediately pushed myself up onto my hands and sprinted forward.
And in a burst of energy, just before the Bayern player could take possession of the ball, I barely managed to touch it first.
In a rush, the player in the red jersey closed in, desperate to snatch the ball away.
If I hesitated, I’d surely be surrounded by Bayern players.
I made my decision quickly and set into action.
Although there was a strange feeling as Bayern players stretched their feet more easily than expected, I focused on my play first.
“──!!!”
Once I breezed past the Bayern player blocking me, the surrounding sounds vanished.
Fear and pressure dissipated, replaced by an overwhelming confidence that I could execute every play.
The plays I had only imagined were now unfolding flawlessly.
‘Huh? When did I get this far?’
Suddenly, realizing it, I found myself right in front of the goalkeeper. I looked at the stoic Manuel Neuer and feigned a shot, calmly passing the ball in the opposite direction of where Neuer was positioned.
Tap─.
With the slow-rolling ball and Dortmund’s crowd gripping their hands tightly, everything felt like it was playing out as if I were dreaming.
As eternity seemed to pass, the ball shook the net.
And it was then that I heard the roar of the crowd in my ears.
“You’ll never walk alone!”
The fans sang their anthem with unwavering spirit.
***
The Korean commentators stared blankly at Son Jinho, who was sprawled on the ground, shining brightly with raised arms, until they finally regained focus thanks to the director’s cue and shouted.
[…Goo, goo, gooool has been scored!! Son Jinho!! What a fantastic wonder goal!!]
With his wonder goal after dribbling past 50 meters on his own at the age of 18 in the Champions League final, Son Jinho was celebrated by the crowd.
A glorious emotion reigned in their hearts, and the commentator unwittingly shouted from the depths of his soul.
[We might just be witnessing a new legend being born at this very moment!!]
***
The siege from Bayern Munich to equalize continued.
As the referee raised an additional time of 5 minutes, jeers erupted from both sets of fans.
Though they jeered for different reasons, both teams desired the same thing.
Victory.
The fans of both teams anxiously watched the field, hoping for their club to emerge victorious.
Franck Ribery, having received the ball from the side, attempted a cross, and Mandzukic met it with his forehead.
[Mandzukic’s header—! Saved! Roman Weidenfeller! Showing incredible focus right before the match ends!!]
But he could not get past Roman Weidenfeller.
‘This is basically handing over the title. If I let it in now, I won’t be able to live with myself.’
Roman Weidenfeller, recalling Son Jinho who had been substituted out right after scoring, clutched the ball as if he would not let it slip no matter what.
The Dortmund fans let out a sigh of relief, while Bayern Munich fans buried their heads in disappointment.
Bayern Munich’s relentless attacks continued.
[Subotić!! Subotić blocks the shot with his body!!]
[Dortmund is fully in defense! Everyone is giving it their all to defend.]
But Bayern’s offensive firepower could not penetrate Dortmund’s defenders who were risking everything.
Beep──!
Meanwhile, time continued to tick away, and the referee’s final whistle blew.
[It’s over!!! Dortmund wins the Champions League!!]
As the match ended, all Dortmund players rushed onto the field.
The broadcast showed a tearful older Dortmund fan in the 96-97 season jersey.
In the stands, the Dortmund fans began to sing their anthem with red eyes.
[Dortmund is expressing their gratitude to the fans who have steadfastly supported them over the years!]
Having shared the joy of victory lightly, the players, completely drained of energy, could barely lift themselves up and moved forward, celebrating a Champions League victory after 16 long years with the fans who had helped them endure the dark times of bankruptcy.
[The European Champion of the 12-13 season! It’s the revived noble house! Borussia Dortmund!!]