Alessandro Marco, the Fire Milan captain, initiated a swift counterattack, passing the ball to Rossi Lorenzo, who burst forth from the center circle. Lorenzo's speed and agility allowed him to weave past the Devertary United players, leaving them in his wake.
As he progressed, Lorenzo executed a fine nutmeg, effortlessly getting past Ruyne Ness. His uncharacteristic berserk playstyle caught everyone off guard, including his teammates, who wondered how their typically calm and tactical striker had transformed into a frenzied attacker.
Despite the chaos, Lorenzo's movement was closely tracked by one player. As he found himself surrounded by Devertary United defenders, Lorenzo cleverly crossed the ball to Kofi Owusu.
Owusu responded with a long, arcing cross that sailed over the defenders, ultimately finding its way to the feet of Sander Hansen.
Ruyne Ness, anticipating Hansen's next move, slid in front of him, kicking the ball away and out of bounds.
The resulting throw-in was taken by Lukas Müller, who launched the ball to Julien Dubois. Dubois showcased his skill, cutting through the Devertary United players with ease.
Dubois then passed the ball back to Rossi Lorenzo, who seized the opportunity to shoot. However, his attempt was thwarted by Jobas Poker, who slid in and used his leg to kick the ball away, preventing a potential goal.
The ball landed squarely on the feet of Floxx Leon, sparking a rapid counterattack. Leon swiftly passed the ball to Nicolas Ronoa, who in turn pushed the ball forward to Leon once more.
As they advanced, they were met with resistance from Worus Alexander and the second Fire Milan central defensive midfielder, who dashed towards them with determination.
Alexander nearly gained control of the ball, but Wolf Deo intervened, using his body as a barrier to block Alexander's view of the ball. In a flash, Leon crossed the ball to Carlos Marcus, who unleashed a powerful shot. García González, the Fire Milan goalkeeper, managed to hit the ball away, but his clearance was mishit, and the ball landed in a critical spot.
Ryan Shark, seizing the opportunity, easily shot the ball into the net. The stadium erupted as the scoreboard reflected the new tally: Fire Milan 2, Devertary United 3.
The time read 88 minutes and 34 seconds. The Devertary United fans burst out of their seats, delirious with joy, as the stadium reverberated with chants of Shark's name.
The screen replayed Shark's goal, showcasing the intricate sequence of events that led to the decisive score. The footage highlighted Floxx Leon's pivotal role, as he crossed the ball to Carlos Marcus.
Marcus, with precision, shot the ball, which slid past the outstretched legs of Alessandro Marco and Matteo Leonardo, Fire Milan's stalwart defenders.
The ball seemed destined for the net, but García González, the Fire Milan goalkeeper, intervened, stretching to push the ball out. However, fate had already sealed the outcome.
The ball landed squarely at the feet of Ryan Shark, who seized the opportunity, shooting the ball directly into the net with unerring accuracy.
Ryan Shark's goal sent shockwaves across social media platforms, with fans and spectators alike tagging him as Devertary United's new "guardian angel." Pictures of Shark's time at Blizzare FC surfaced alongside images of him in Devertary United's jersey, sparking widespread comparisons of his performances.
As the match resumed, the referee signaled three minutes of additional time. The Fire Milan players launched a fierce, all-out attack, dashing forward in unison and passing the ball amongst themselves. Their sheer numbers allowed them to easily bypass the Devertary United players.
Ruyne Ness sprinted towards the opposition, rapidly closing the distance between himself and Julien Dubois, who possessed the ball. Ness cleverly stopped in his tracks, allowing Dubois to collide with him. This granted Ness the opportunity to make a swift clearance.
However, Sander Hansen leaped into the air, heading the ball back towards the Devertary United post. Kofi Owusu's movement changed in an instant as he swiftly reached the ball, navigating past the Devertary United players with ease. Owusu played the ball through the legs of the opposing team, finding Rossi Lorenzo.
With incredible speed, Lorenzo shot the ball towards the net. Shawn Lucius, the vigilant Devertary United goalkeeper, dove towards the direction of the ball, hitting it out towards the pitch. Patrizi Conti trapped the ball mid-air, using his legs to control it while airborne. As he landed, Conti passed the ball backward to Alessandro Marco, who shot once more.
Kofi Owusu made contact with the shot, sending the ball curving towards the post. Shawn Lucius made a spectacular save, cementing his reputation as a reliable goalkeeper. Just as the tension reached its peak, the referee blew his whistle, signaling the end of the match.
As the final whistle blew, both teams headed to their respective locker rooms, exhausted but relieved. Later, Molis Harrison sought out Ryan Shark to apologize for not substituting him into the game earlier. Shark's impressive goal had turned the tide of the match, and Harrison acknowledged that his cautious decision had almost cost them the win ¹.
"I'm sorry I didn't put you in sooner, Shark," Harrison said, his voice laced with regret. "Your goal was pure brilliance. I was worried about your injury, but I shouldn't have underestimated your skill."
Shark smiled graciously, his expression forgiving. "Don't worry about it, Coach. I know you were just looking out for my health. I appreciate that."
As they left the locker room together, Harrison nodded in appreciation. "You're a true team player, Shark. I'm glad we have you on our side."