Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Club World Cup Final (2)
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LW: Rodrygo
It used to be his main position, but now it felt so awkward that he hadn't touched the ball there in ages.
Even in his national team, he was being pushed out by Vinícius Júnior, so he truly hadn't been able to play on the left wing in any match.
But now, with Vinícius suspected of an ankle injury and forced off the pitch...
This was Rodrygo's chance—a real opportunity handed to him.
Yet the timing was too late. Far too late.
Rather than extending his journey with Real Madrid, this felt like a beautiful farewell.
"Rodry!!!"
Rodrygo steadily controlled Ban Yeager's pass and found himself with a chance inside the box.
Pwaang!!—
He had become the player who could finish it off.
A goal. And an end to a long partnership.
——
Rodrygo took Ban Yeager's pass and slotted home the goal.
The score was now 2:1, putting Real Madrid ahead of Bayern Munich.
It happened right after the second half kicked off, as soon as Rodrygo shifted to the left wing.
Bayern Munich fought desperately to pull one back, but stopping a Real Madrid side with momentum was no easy task.
They pushed their lines up to hammer at Real Madrid's goal, but it wouldn't budge.
And whenever they did, Real Madrid's counterattacks fired right back.
Rodrygo - Mbappé - Mastantuono.
If those three all targeted the space behind at the same time, no club in the world could stop them.
With a pass master like Ban Yeager temporarily joining the fray, Real Madrid's counters were arguably the best in the world right now.
Even a top-class powerhouse with insane physicality like Upamecano was getting shredded.
But Bayern had to overcome this somehow, or they'd lose. Catching up would tie it at 2:2; failing meant a blowout. High risk, low reward.
——
Only 20 minutes left on the clock.
Score: 3:1
Bayern had rushed forward for a goal and got caught helplessly on the counter.
The moment Real Madrid's third goal came off Kylian Mbappé's boot, victory was all but sealed.
Just hold out for 20 minutes without drama.
Focus more on defense, and counters like that would come naturally.
Real Madrid could stonewall Bayern's attacks and pick their spots for counters—only jumping when it was a golden chance.
And even if a counter didn't pay off, no big deal.
As if to declare it officially, Xavi Alonso made two substitutions.
—
Raúl Asencio IN, Trent Alexander-Arnold OUT
Eduardo Camavinga IN, Aurélien Tchouaméni OUT
—
Both swaps bolstered defense without ruining their core roles—smart moves.
Bayern, meanwhile, had no choice but to go all-in on attack now.
—
Wisdom Mike IN, Jamie Gittens OUT
Arjon Ibrahimović IN, Aleksandar Pavlović OUT
—
Jamie Gittens, who had his worst game yet, was replaced by Wisdom Mike, Munich's young prodigy of the future.
And in place of the defensive Pavlović came box-to-box midfielder Arjon Ibrahimović, brimming with attacking flair.
Both in their early 20s, raw talent guaranteed—but to flip this dead momentum, Bayern needed that youthful fire.
And shockingly, it worked immediately.
Wisdom Mike beat his man, whipped in a cross, and Harry Kane redirected it on target with a header.
Iyaaaaahhh!!—
Giorgi Mamardashvili's fingertip save denied the goal, but it was Bayern's first corner of the second half.
It didn't pierce the net, but that sharp attack reignited Munich's fire.
Once a trophy-less ghost.
Now, as his career lengthens, so does his forehead—and the jokes.
Harry Kane left his boyhood club Tottenham for silverware. Even at 36, he shaved his head to keep performing.
Did the heavens hear his desperation?
Jamal Musiala's corner flew straight to Harry Kane's vast forehead, shaking Real Madrid's net.
Iyaaaaahhh!!—
Amid the fans' roars, Harry Kane quietly retrieved the ball and jogged back to midfield.
No need to announce it—the eyes of the entire stadium were on him.
Time left: 10 minutes
Score: 3:2
Bayern Munich, seizing control, began their assault on Real Madrid.
——
Down by one, the fire was at their feet.
Another goal conceded could force extra time, so they couldn't burn their last two subs.
Real Madrid, tasked with defending, felt the greater pressure despite the lead.
With forwards Rodrygo, Mbappé, and Mastantuono all dropping deep to defend in this do-or-die moment, Ban Yeager waited near midfield once more.
Aside from Ban Yeager and his marker Upamecano, nearly every player crowded Real Madrid's box.
Pwaang!!—
Real Madrid players dreamed of snatching the ball and hoofing it to Ban Yeager—but the ball rarely obliged.
Most times, it sailed out for a throw or rolled to Bayern feet, sparking danger. Rinse and repeat.
They endured, scraping through the agony. Five minutes left.
All that suffering, and only five minutes had passed? The "five minutes remaining" announcement hit like despair, not hope.
Maybe Ban Yeager should drop back and defend too?
Those thoughts flooded the pitch.
Woooooohhh!!—!!!
Real Madrid fans, who had cheered and clapped before, turned to boos as defeat loomed.
Not just hate for Ban Yeager—mostly a plea: Please, just help defend!
Maybe the jeers would snap him into action. With five minutes left, was waiting for counters even right?
Even if a counter came, could Ban Yeager score alone?
He'd dominated the Club World Cup, sure—but just five games in a month.
Real Madrid fans still lacked full faith in him.
No, even with solid belief, trusting this situation was tough.
But chances always come.
Pwaang!!—
Real Madrid players had been waiting: snag the ball, boot it long to Ban Yeager.
At least the ten on the pitch trusted him completely.