Chapter 48: A Temptation No One Could Refuse
Behind the goal, the famous Yellow Wall was still roaring. The moment the second goal hit the net, the entire South Stand had erupted once again, a sea of yellow scarves rising and falling like waves under a storm. Even after the celebration ended and the players jogged back toward the center circle, the chants refused to fade.
Ken wiped the sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to calm down. Two goals. Bundesliga debut. Home stadium. Any young player would be overwhelmed by the moment—but he knew the match was far from finished.
Pierre jogged beside him, still laughing.
"You're dangerous today," he said. "I like it."
Ken smiled slightly.
"You dragged the defenders away perfectly. That helped."
Pierre shrugged.
"Then let's finish the job."
---
Braunschweig restarted the match with noticeably more urgency. Being two goals behind at Westfalenstadion meant they had nothing left to protect, and their formation began pushing forward several meters higher than before. Their coach shouted continuously from the sideline, urging his players to increase the tempo.
On Dortmund's bench, Jürgen observed quietly, arms folded.
"Good," he muttered to the assistant coach beside him. "More space now."
The tactical shift was exactly what Dortmund wanted. With the opponent forced to attack, the compact defensive block that had frustrated them in the first half was gradually dissolving. Passing lanes began opening across midfield, and Dortmund's transitions grew sharper with every possession.
---
In the 53rd minute, Şahin intercepted a loose pass in midfield and immediately turned forward. Ken had already anticipated the moment, accelerating down the right channel before the ball was even played.
The through pass arrived perfectly into open grass.
Ken sprinted after it, pushing the ball ahead in long, controlled strides. The chasing defender struggled to close the gap; each step only made the distance wider. Another center-back rushed across to cover, planting himself near the edge of the penalty area.
One-on-one again.
Ken slowed slightly, rolling the ball beneath his sole for a split second before shifting his weight left. The defender reacted, leaning just enough—exactly the opening Ken needed. A sharp elastico snapped the ball back across his body, and he slipped past the defender's outside shoulder.
Now inside the box.
The goalkeeper moved forward, narrowing the angle, while Pierre sprinted toward the near post. Ken glanced up once and squared a low pass across the face of goal.
Pierre struck first-time.
The shot was powerful but struck the goalkeeper's leg, rebounding sharply into the center of the penalty area.
Ken had continued his run.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and guided the rebound calmly into the net.
Goal.
For the second time in less than ten minutes, Westfalenstadion exploded.
Ken turned instinctively toward the corner flag, but before he could even begin celebrating, Pierre leapt onto his back laughing.
"That one counts as teamwork," Pierre said.
Ken laughed, trying to keep his balance.
"Next time finish it yourself."
"Next time pass it again," Pierre replied.
Their teammates surrounded them quickly, applause echoing from all sides of the stadium.
---
On the touchline, Jürgen clapped repeatedly, satisfaction clearly visible. He had expected Ken to change the rhythm of the match, but even he had not predicted such immediate impact.
Two goals within minutes of entering the field.
Not just technical ability—confidence. That was what impressed him most.
---
The match resumed, but the balance had shifted entirely. Braunschweig, now trailing heavily, pushed more players forward in search of a goal, leaving increasing amounts of space behind their defensive line. Dortmund's midfield controlled possession calmly, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
In the 67th minute, Reus dribbled inside from the left flank and was fouled just outside the penalty area, slightly right of center—an excellent free-kick position.
Reus picked up the ball and walked toward Ken.
"This one's yours," he said simply.
Ken blinked in surprise.
"You sure?"
Reus nodded.
"You're feeling it today. Take it."
Several teammates stepped aside, forming a loose semicircle behind the ball. Pierre raised both hands in encouragement. Even from the sideline, Jürgen watched closely without saying a word.
Ken placed the ball carefully on the grass, stepping back to measure the angle. The wall formed in front of him, four defenders standing shoulder to shoulder, the goalkeeper shifting slightly to his left to improve his view.
A hat-trick on a Bundesliga debut.
It was the kind of opportunity players dreamed about for years—and one few ever experienced. The roar of the crowd softened into a steady hum as the referee stepped back and blew the whistle.
Ken began his run-up.
His planted foot struck the turf firmly, and his kicking leg whipped forward, striking the lower half of the ball with the inside of his boot. The shot rose quickly, clearing the defensive wall by a narrow margin before dipping sharply toward the far top corner.
The goalkeeper launched himself sideways at full stretch.
Fingertips brushed the ball—but not enough.
The net rippled.
For a split second, silence hung in the air as the crowd registered what had happened.
Then Westfalenstadion erupted louder than ever before.
Hat-trick.
Teammates sprinted toward Ken from every direction, embracing him near the corner flag. Reus laughed as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"I knew you should take it."
Pierre pointed toward the stands, shouting over the noise.
"They already love you!"
Ken looked up at the towering Yellow Wall, thousands of fans bouncing and chanting his name. He felt the vibration of the stadium through the soles of his boots, the sound almost physical in its intensity.
Moments earlier, he had only wanted to help his team secure victory. Now, he had written his name into the memory of the stadium itself.
---
On the sideline, Jürgen allowed himself a rare, broad smile.
"No one," he said quietly, "can resist a moment like that."
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