Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Park Si-hyun vs Ronaldo (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2-2 tie.
Time was heading toward the end.
Brazil unleashed relentless attacks centered on Ronaldinho, while Korea squeezed out every last drop of strength to block them all.
Pressure. Release. Shot. Block.
Attacks and defenses clashing like blades. Tension so thick you could barely breathe.
Players from both Korea and Brazil were utterly exhausted.
Movements slowed, muscles rebelled, breaths came in ragged gasps.
But the pressure of the final and the 2-2 score sharpened them even more.
No one gave up. They threw their bodies, stuck out their legs, chased the ball to the end.
In those desperate moments, even monstrous attackers like Park Si-hyun and Ronaldo couldn't break through gritted opponents in a single burst.
Both teams traded attacks back and forth, searching for that final chance, but it never fully connected.
And finally—
Beeeep.
The whistle signaling the end of regular time filled the stadium.
It meant full time was over, and the World Cup final was heading into extra time.
But this extra time wasn't ordinary.
The 2002 World Cup's unique rule: Golden Goal.
Not playing both halves and comparing scores. Just one goal. The moment it's scored, the game ends.
That goal is the victory.
That goal is history.
A single mistake from someone, a single choice, could rewrite the final page of the World Cup.
The Korean players entered the locker room.
Breaths ragged, legs dragging heavily.
Sweat had dried, but their hearts still pounded as if on the pitch.
Coach Hiddink and the staff briefly embraced each entering player.
But no one could speak.
Not that they held back—it was just that they couldn't even catch their breath properly.
As the players sat, gulping water and finally steadying their breathing, Coach Hiddink slowly stepped in front of them.
Looking at each one, as if committing the face of warriors to memory.
"You guys... did really well."
A few heads that had been bowed slowly lifted.
Hiddink wasn't one to praise lightly.
So these words weren't mere comfort or encouragement—they were 100% sincere.
"You're the most desperate team I've ever coached, the one that worked the hardest, and the most like true soccer players."
At that, all the players raised their heads.
Hiddink picked up the tactics board.
"I have no intention of playing defensively in extra time to run out the clock. We end it in the first half. One goal is all we need. So Sun-hong, Si-hyun—top two stay the same. And I'm putting more forwards in other lines too."
The players swallowed hard at Hiddink's words.
Names went up on the board.
Kim Tae-young OUT → Lee Chun-soo IN
Song Chong-gug OUT → Seol Ki-hyun IN
Lee Sung-min OUT → Choi Yong-soo IN
It was an extreme choice: cut defense, bet everything on attack.
"In extra time, we're not the team that defends. We're the team that scores."
Hiddink's voice didn't waver.
As the players rose, Hiddink spoke again.
"Oh, and one more thing."
All eyes turned to the coach.
"The Korean President is at the stadium."
The locker room air froze.
The Korean President.
And the fact that Hiddink brought it up at this exact moment.
One word flashed through the players' minds like lightning.
No way.
Every head snapped toward Hiddink at light speed.
Eyes sparkling, already half-mad with anticipation.
Hiddink let out a small chuckle at their expressions.
"Yeah. It's what you're thinking."
Then firmly:
"Military exemption. It's confirmed."
0.1 seconds of silence.
And—
The locker room exploded.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!!!"
"It's done!!! For real?!"
"This is it!!! This is what I'm talking about!!!"
"Hey!!!! I don't have to go to the army!!!!!"
"Mom!!!! They say I don't have to go to the army!!!!"
"I could die right now!!! No, let's win and then die!!!"
"Coach, I love you!!!!!!!!!!"
Water bottles hit the ceiling, jerseys flew through the air, some laughed until they cried, others shouted through tears.
At the center of the frenzy, Hiddink quietly smiled.
In truth, the military exemption had been confirmed back in the semis.
But Hiddink had held back on saying it.
He knew there was a perfect moment to play this card.
And now. He was certain.
With these words, Korea's power had more than doubled.
Extra time began, and Brazil made the same choice as Korea.
They ditched defense and brought in attackers.
Front line, midfield, flanks—all positioned for attack.
A mad situation neither side would normally allow: both teams drawing swords and charging head-on.
Defensive lines essentially didn't exist.
Whoever had the ball was all attackers.
Dizzying chances kept arising.
Brazil struck first.
The moment Ronaldinho got the ball in midfield, Brazilian players surged forward en masse.
Smooth—
Brazil's signature rhythm.
Ronaldo received Ronaldinho's pass and started dribbling.
Scissors.
Once, twice, three times.
His foot vanished as he shook.
Lee Chun-soo confronted him head-on, but as no specialist defender, he stuck his leg out first. Ronaldo tapped the ball with the other foot and burst forward.
Left foot to right, back to left, creating shooting angle.
Shot streaking like lightning.
Bam!
At that instant, a massive shadow flew at the goalmouth.
Lee Woon-jae.
He dove, fingertips deflecting the ball.
"Uwaaaah! No one gets it in!!!!"
Brazil's first blade attack. But Lee Woon-jae snapped it clean.
The ball went back to Korea.
Lee Woon-jae launched a long goal kick.
The high ball headed central, Yoo Sang-chul raced in and took it. Yoo Sang-chul's first touch passed to Cha Du-ri. The moment Cha Du-ri got the ball, the right flank was wide open. But Cha Du-ri didn't get greedy.
He could have cut inside for a shot, but he chose one beat faster.
Cross.
Precise, to the center of the goalmouth.
Thud—
The ball hit Hwang Sun-hong's forehead.
But at the last moment, Brazilian keeper Marcus stretched with unreal reflexes.
Smack!
The ball grazed the post and went wide.
"Hoo..."
Breath up to my throat.
These Brazilian guys are throwing their bodies like they've sworn to retire today.
Just like a moment ago.
I jumped the tackle, but suddenly he shoved his face in, jamming his whole body between the ball and my leg.
"What the hell, is he crazy...?"
Startled, I yanked my leg back quick, and the ball hit his face and bounced away.
'Dribbling through straight-up... honestly not easy.'
Stamina aside, Brazilian players blocked paths by throwing bodies—no, even faces—to kill my acceleration.
'In times like this...'
Not frontal breakthrough. Trust.
My team.
I immediately approached Yoo Sang-chul.
"Sang-chul hyung."
"Yeah, Si-hyun."
Yoo Sang-chul.
Korea's engine controlling the flow, and the calmest brain.
I steadied my ragged breath and said,
"When hyung gets the ball... no matter where I am, long into the box. Can you thread it right away?"
"Just straight?"
"Yeah. I'll make it in somehow."
A moment of silence.
Yoo Sang-chul's eyes wavered, then hardened.
"...I trust you."
After blocking Brazil's counter, the ball flowed back to Korea.
Yoo Sang-chul knew I hadn't even reached the box yet, but without hesitation, he sent it into the box as I said.
"Hahaha... somehow make it in."
Brazilian players shove faces when I have the ball, grab jerseys.
With the ball, it can turn physical.
But touching me running without it? That's a foul.
So I wasn't disturbed.
I squeezed every last bit of stamina from my toes and ran.
Brazilians, fresh subs with stamina left, chased fast, but I was faster—I'd bet everything on this one moment.
'No next time. Miss this, it's over.'
I preempted the drop, chest-trapped it.
But Brazilian defenders swarmed the box, closing angles.
No angle.
No space.
No time.
So I lofted it again.
Thud.
In that instant, Brazilian defenders' eyes all went up.
I didn't miss the split second.
I leaned back, twisted my body.
The move now called my signature.
Overhead kick.
Bam!
I fell flat, but my eyes never left the ball.
Marcus reaching for it.
Marcus desperately lunged, but the sudden overhead threw him into reverse motion. The ball rocketed into the net.
Splash—!
Even a rampaging Marcus couldn't defy inertia.
Because I didn't give up.
Because I trusted my team.
And because I trusted myself.
A miracle was born.
Park Si-hyun's shot for the comeback goes straight into Brazil's net!!!!!
The moment I scored, the ref's whistle blew.
Bweeeeeeep——
The sound signaling the end of the world's greatest festival, the World Cup.
Korea 3-2 Brazil with Golden Goal!! South Korea claims historic World Cup victory!!!!!
Top contenders Italy, Spain, Germany, and final boss Brazil—all felled! South Korea reaches the summit!!!
While preparing for the awards ceremony, I didn't head to the locker room. Instead, I stayed near the stands, signing for fans.
That's when I spotted a familiar uniform.
Essen's Park Si-hyun jersey.
No Korean would wear an Essen jersey to the World Cup.
It was Lisa Schmidt.
'She came all the way to Japan?'
"C-Congrats on... the win..."
"Thanks. Didn't expect you to come all the way from Japan."
"W-Well... You're the benefactor of my song... And you beat Germany again... So if you win, it's good for Germany too... So... Yeah..."
Lisa's face flushed red, words tumbling out like rap.
I couldn't help laughing, lightly ruffling her hair.
"Thanks for coming. Did you see? The moment I proved to the world I'm the best."
"Eek... Why pat my head. Get off, hand."
Her mouth said remove it, but she pushed her head closer.
I'd proven I'm the best, but honestly, one World Cup win won't make the world call me the greatest yet.
But now they can't ask anymore.
"Who's that guy?"
Instead, they'll say this.
"What's he gonna show next?"
Final hat-trick. Hat-trick in every game except group stage.
15 goals, topping Ronaldo's 14 for top scorer.
Turning for the ceremony, I said,
"See you later."
As I walked away—
"Hey! Si-hyun!!! You gotta come to my concert later!!! I came all the way here!!!"
Lisa Schmidt, face tomato-red, yelled at me. I turned, flashed a brief smile.
'Cute.'
"Sure."
A Lisa Schmidt concert? As a fan, I'd genuinely love to go.