Crushing Manchester City 3-0
Unlike Robert Lewandowski, who had asked me if that counted as a goal, referee Pavel Královec didn't hesitate for a second when the net rippled. He pointed straight to the center circle, signaling the goal.
"Hey!! Why is that a goal?!"
"Boooooo─!!"
Manchester City's players protested toward the ref, and the crowd unleashed a barrage of boos, but it made no difference.
"No issues under the rules."
The referee shook his head firmly, confirming there were no rule violations and upholding the original call.
"Hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo─!"
"Hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo─!"
After our double Hoo celebration with Lewandowski, as we jogged back...
"Ha."
I spotted Joe Hart with a utterly defeated look on his face.
He'd put on a godlike performance, channeling Lev Yashin himself to keep Manchester City alive with save after miraculous save. But while he was busy rallying his teammates, that goal had shattered his spirit.
Not just Joe Hart, though—the entire Manchester City squad looked mentally frayed.
Maybe now we could cruise a bit more comfortably.
The game restarted with City's kickoff, and sure enough, my hunch became reality in no time.
Dortmund capitalized on a sloppy pass from the shell-shocked City players, snatching an easy second goal.
And as I watched Marco Reus sprint to the corner flag for his bland, colorless celebration, I decided to show a little greed for goals myself in the second half.
Ah. That's not how you do a celebration.
Meanwhile, back home, Han Gyeowol was losing her mind now that Dortmund had pulled ahead by two.
"Manchester belongs to United!!!!"
This wasn't the Manchester Derby—it was City vs. Dortmund—but that didn't matter to her.
What did matter was that a loss here would all but confirm City's elimination from the Champions League.
Was her ecstatic shrieking that loud? It must've been, because...
Han Gyeowol stifled a giggle at her dad's desperate attempt to preserve household peace with some full-body contortions.
[Jinho's Mother-in-Law has kicked WinterWinter from the group chat.]
The first half ended with Dortmund up by two, and the second half kicked off.
Manchester City made a sub right away: Harvey Garcia out, Jack Rodwell in at central midfield.
Having regrouped at halftime, City's players came out firing, and early in the second half, the momentum swung their way with relentless attacks.
But they couldn't pierce Dortmund's defense.
Son Jinho cleanly nicked the ball with a precise tackle, snuffing out City's push.
He popped right back up and charged into City's half on a dribble.
"Jino!!!"
Marco Reus called out urgently, bolting forward at full speed.
"Pass it!!" "To me!"
Lewandowski and Mario Gotze followed, demanding the ball.
Like baby birds begging mom for food.
But cool-headed mama Jinho didn't pass.
We were already up by two.
"Fuck!!!"
Having resolved to chase goals over assists this half, Jinho slipped the ball between Yaya Toure's legs, burst through, and unleashed a long-range screamer.
Thwack─!
The well-struck shot rocketed toward goal, but it didn't quite find the net.
Thud─!
Vincent Kompany read the trajectory and threw himself in front, barely blocking it. Gotze pounced on the rebound, but Joe Hart tipped that one away with his fingertips too, earning Dortmund a corner.
Marcel Schmelzer prepared the corner, while Jinho quietly took position inside the penalty box.
Schmelzer signaled and whipped in the cross. Players from both sides tracked it and leaped.
Schmelzer's kick floated higher and longer than expected, sailing past Lewandowski and Kompany.
It dropped toward Jinho, who was lingering just a bit behind.
He cushioned it with his chest, then swung his right foot right before it hit the turf for a volley.
Joe Hart would later go down rolling after stopping a point-blank rocket from Messi himself.
But even the best keepers can't save everything.
Jinho's shot flew past Hart, rattling Manchester City's net.
The scorer sprinted to the corner flag, spinning his right arm and bellowing at the top of his lungs.
"Hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo─!"
That goal crushed City's morale completely. The match ended soon after, Dortmund pocketing all three points.
They trailed Bayern Munich by two points in second place.
On December 1, 2012, they grabbed a point with a draw at Bayern Munich, keeping hopes alive against a potential three-peat.
Having locked up Group D, Dortmund gave their stars a breather against Real Madrid. They lost that one, but conserved energy for the league clash with VfL Wolfsburg in round 16, which they won.
Time flew by.
December 14, 2012—Champions League round of 16 draw day.
"Huh? Mom, where you going?"
"To my room."
"It's the Champions League draw!"
"…."
"Oh right! Chelsea dropped to Europa!"
Heaven's wrath struck the unfilial daughter.
"Heavens no!!!!!!"