The Star of Borussia Dortmund - 1
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November 23, 2011. Borussia Dortmund versus Arsenal in the Champions League group stage round 5.
This round 5 match was a do-or-die clash for both Dortmund and Arsenal.
Currently, Arsenal and Marseille held first and second in Group F with 7 points each.
Dortmund followed in third with 6 points, while Olympiacos languished in fourth with 3.
In this razor-thin situation where a single slip could mean elimination from the Champions League, Dortmund made their way to Arsenal's home ground, the Emirates Stadium.
After a quick bag check, they passed through the tunnel and entered the pitch.
“Ooh to! Ooh to be! Ooh to be a! Gooner!”
The Arsenal fans' chants began to echo.
…Aren't Arsenal tickets notoriously expensive?
Son Jinho's eyes took in the sight of the Emirates Stadium packed to the brim, despite the steep prices.
“Heja! BVB! Heja BVB!”
Of course, amid the sea of fans, there were Dortmund's away supporters too.
Under captain Sebastian Kehl's lead, Dortmund gave a light wave to their away fans.
“So, no speech from the little captain today?”
They gathered in a circle before the away fans to fire each other up.
“Shut up, old captain.”
“Old captain, don't push your duties onto others!”
The Dortmund players teasingly ribbed Sebastian Kehl.
“Let's win, you idiots!”
Raising both hands in mock surrender, Sebastian Kehl flashed a smile at his teammates and wrapped it up short.
With motivation set, the players took their positions.
Since Dortmund had the kickoff, Kagawa Shinji and Lewandowski stepped into the center circle to prepare.
“Booooooo!”
“Kill! Jerry! Kill! Jerry!”
The referee's whistle blew, Arsenal fans jeered, and...
The battle for Champions League knockout spots between the two teams kicked off.
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Halftime ended, and the second half began.
If the first half had been one-sided Dortmund dominance, the second belonged to Arsenal.
Arsenal pressed hard from the restart, and in the 49th minute,
Aaron Ramsey stole the ball from Sebastian Kehl and pushed it left to Gervinho.
Gervinho cut inside but hit Dortmund's packed defense and passed back.
“Fuck! What the hell are you doing, you moron!”
As Arsenal fans vented fury at squandering a golden chance,
Alex Song, receiving at the back, tore up the left flank, slipped between three Dortmund defenders, and whipped in a cross.
Van Persie met it with a header, ripping the net.
Conceding first, Dortmund pushed aggressively for an equalizer, but in the 85th from a corner, Thomas Vermaelen headed down for Van Persie to volley home the second.
The goal all but sealed it, but Dortmund never quit.
“Fuck! Don't hang your heads! Game ain't over!”
“Don't give up! Time left!”
Son Jinho's shouts drew a response from Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl.
“In 1909, a star was born!”
Dortmund's away fans cheered their unyielding players.
“And the moment that star saw it, it knew it was from Dortmund!”
Fueled by the fans, in stoppage time, Kagawa Shinji took a left-flank pass and buried it.
But with just two minutes left, even Dortmund fans thought reversal too late.
“Get the ball! It ain't over!”
Yet Dortmund's players refused to yield.
Son Jinho's voice rang across the pitch. Lewandowski snatched the ball from the net and sprinted toward midfield.
Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller waved his arms, urging the away fans.
“Shine, my star Borussia!”
Ivan Perisic, subbed on for the ailing Mario Gotze, pressed Arsenal ferociously right after kickoff.
“Shine your light and show me the way!”
Arsenal dropped into a low block, and Dortmund hammered away.
Dortmund kept attacking. A deflection off Szczesny's hands went out for a corner.
Time ticking down—perhaps their last chance.
Mertesacker cleared the corner.
As the ref put whistle to lips to end it,
The cleared ball fell to Son Jinho.
The ref hesitated.
Son Jinho cushioned it perfectly with a first touch, then unleashed his left foot.
A thunderbolt mid-ranger shook the net.
The stunned ref gazed at the goal, then signaled Dortmund's equalizer.
Son Jinho sprinted to the corner flag where away fans gathered.
Facing their ecstatic roar,
“No matter which path you lead me down, I'll be with you!”
A shiver shot through him, hair standing on end.