Chapter 1 In Desperation

After Kuba wasted a golden opportunity, the game time seemed to fly by. Before anyone knew it, the fourth official was standing on the sidelines, holding up the sign for added time. Only then did everyone realize that the ninety minutes were up.

The number displayed on the added time board was "5," meaning there would be five minutes of added time.

A bit longer than usual, considering the interruptions in the second half.

But for Dortmund fans, the length of added time was not enough to satisfy them.

Was five minutes enough for Dortmund to score a goal?

If they were facing some unknown scrubs, it wouldn't be a problem at all. But they were facing Bayern Munich, a team of comparable strength, and one that was defending with all their might. Five minutes seemed a little short...

As the fourth official held up the five-minute added time sign, displaying it to the fans and the cameras, many Dortmund fans who weren't in the South Stand stood up from their seats, unable to sit still.

No one was in the mood to sit and watch; they were too anxious.

Many placed their hands on their chests, praying to God, hoping He would hear their voices.

But they seemed to forget that tonight, God was on Bayern Munich's side.

In the first minute of added time, Bayern Munich completely retreated, leaving no one up front, with everyone inside their own thirty-meter area. Facing Bayern Munich's all-out defense until the end of the match, Dortmund launched a siege.

At this point, it was a bit much to ask the players to calmly pass the ball and organize their attack.

The moment the added time sign went up, it was as if a switch had been flipped, releasing the pent-up anxiety of the Dortmund players.

When Gündoğan got the ball outside the box, he didn't pass it to Zhou Yi. Instead, he took a long-range shot himself.

But the shot couldn't penetrate the dense crowd in Bayern Munich's penalty area, hitting Schweinsteiger and bouncing out.

Fortunately, Dortmund quickly regained control of the loose ball, preventing possession from falling into the opponent's hands.

Generally, when facing a packed defense with little time left, the attacking team would try two methods to break the deadlock. The first was a long-range shot, and the second was a cross from the wing, with players surging into the box.

Gündoğan's long shot didn't work, so Dortmund naturally shifted the ball to the wing.

Then, the overlapping full-back Piszczek sent a high cross into the box.

In the final moments, the full-backs turned into wingers.

And Hummels rushed into the penalty area and became a center forward...

The Dortmund players were now experiencing what the Real Madrid players had felt four days earlier in the final moments of their game.

Piszczek's cross wasn't met by Hummels, Lewandowski, or Mark.

Boateng didn't let the ball slip past him this time. He jumped high and headed the ball away.

This time, Zhou Yi controlled the loose ball. While everyone else was crowding into the box, he stayed outside. This was in line with his style. Given his physical condition, he wouldn't be able to push his way through those muscle-bound monsters in the box. He might even become a burden to his teammates.

It was better to stay outside the box, trying to control the second ball. If he had a chance, he could take a sneaky long-range shot – as he had done countless times before. He had scored many goals from outside the box. Despite his slender physique, he was good at scoring from distance...

Because he was good at clever shots and cold shots.

After controlling the second ball, Zhou Yi didn't unleash a long-range shot. Instead, he suddenly sent a through ball that rolled along the ground into the open space in the penalty area, accurately finding Mark.

Mark didn't control the ball. Instead, he turned and shot, following Zhou Yi's pass!

It was a very sudden attack. The pass was sudden, and the shot was sudden, but Neuer still made a brilliant and timely save, diving to block the ball with his leg!

"Mark—Neuer!" Marcel Reif's tone shifted abruptly, ultimately settling on Neuer's name. "Simply an incredible save! Dortmund's attack was excellent, sudden and sharp. Both Zhou Yi's pass and Mark's shot were very good, but in the end, Neuer's save was even better!"

"Mark also missed a golden opportunity! But it's hard to say it was Mark's own mistake. He's already done enough. It's clearly...Neuer's save was more brilliant!" Duan Xin said helplessly.

※※※

After saving Mark's shot, Neuer stood up, clapping his hands vigorously and cheering for his teammates.

His teammate, center-back Boateng, rushed over to give him a tight hug, thanking him for his amazing save. If he hadn't reacted quickly, the ball might have gone in. At the moment Mark turned to shoot, so many Bayern Munich players in the penalty area didn't react, and Boateng could only watch Mark shoot, shouting "Oh no!" in his heart!

"Neuer made another incredible save! I told you, tonight God is a Munich native!" the Munich radio commentator said excitedly.

Mark held his head in his hands, unable to believe his eyes. He didn't expect his high-quality shot to be blocked. What else could he do to score?

Zhou Yi also looked up at the sky.

What a good opportunity...

※※※

Inside Westfalenstadion, an air of despair was quietly spreading. Even many Dortmund fans felt that the league title was slipping away from them.

Some were already thinking: losing the league title was just saving up good karma. According to the law of conservation of karma, losing the league title would greatly increase Dortmund's chances of winning the Champions League. Which was more important, the league title or the Champions League?

Of course, it was the Champions League!

This Dortmund team already had two league titles, but no Champions League title yet.

So, if they could trade a league title for a Champions League title, it would be a hundred percent worthwhile.

※※※

The second and third minutes of added time were a bit uneventful. Dortmund's attack was a bit rushed, so most of the time, they were just hastily giving up possession without really threatening Bayern Munich's goal.

The most dangerous shot was still Mark's turn and shot in the penalty area.

"It seems that Mark's shot is likely to be Dortmund's last threatening shot in this game, and it was Dortmund's last chance in this game..." Marcel Reif said.

On the field, the ball was transferred to Schmelzer's feet.

Schmelzer was already on the wing at this time, and the penalty area was full of people, but apart from passing the ball directly in, he didn't seem to have any other good options.

Zhou Yi was originally outside the penalty area. He never participated in this kind of cross from the wing, because there was no use in participating.

But at the moment Schmelzer lifted his foot to cross, Zhou Yi suddenly accelerated and ran into the penalty area, heading straight for the far post!

However, at the time, everyone's attention was focused on the ball and the goal, and no one noticed his move.

The ball was crossed high into the middle by Schmelzer. Lewandowski wanted to jump up and compete for the header, but he was tightly缠住 (chánzhù,缠住 translates to entangled or缠绕缠绕around) by Van Buyten, unable to jump at all, let alone compete for the header. He could only watch the ball fly over his head, then raise his hands angrily to complain to the referee about Van Buyten's hand movements.

But at this time, the referee Gagelmann wouldn't pay attention to him. The game was still going on, and the ball was still flying.

Because there were Lewandowski and Hummels in front, attracting most of Bayern Munich's defensive attention, relying on their cover, Mark Wagner jumped up in the middle!

The good thing about him compared to Lewandowski was that at least he could jump up, but that didn't mean he could threaten Bayern Munich's goal. Schweinsteiger also jumped up next to him at the same time.

Under Schweinsteiger's close defense, Mark could only barely touch the ball with his head. As for a header? That was completely impossible!

It was good enough that he could touch the ball. He couldn't control where the ball flew...

Where did the ball fly?

The ball, touched by Mark, didn't fly towards the goal, but slightly changed direction and dived towards the far post!

If it flew along this trajectory, the ball would most likely go out of bounds, and Dortmund would miss another scoring opportunity!

At this moment, a yellow figure flashed across Bayern Munich's goal like lightning, chasing after the ball!

It was Zhou Yi!