In the 85th minute, with the stadium still buzzing, Zachary sprinted toward the corner flag, arms out wide, his face lit with joy and fire. His teammates came charging after him. Firmino got to him first, wrapping him in a hug, followed by Oxlade-Chamberlain and Robertson. Soon, the whole squad was there, piling around him in a wave of red.
All across the Liverpool end of Wembley, fans were on their feet, scarves waving, voices raised in unison. The celebration was more than just for a goal. It was relief, pride, and belief all rolled into one. With five minutes to play, they had finally carved out a big enough lead against one of the deadliest teams in Europe.
Back in the broadcast booth, the commentators could barely keep up.
"What a move. What a finish," one said, still catching his breath. "And what a performance from Zachary Bemba. He started that passage by escaping City's press with that smart dummy, and he ended it with a clinical finish inside the box."
