Chapter 110
Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The End of the League's First Half
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The end of the league's first half.
Early in the first half, Union Berlin conceded the opening goal to Hoffenheim, but the situation wasn't all that dire.
Union Berlin's players quickly pulled themselves together mentally and began reorganizing their defensive line.
Naturally, all of this was led by Union Berlin's veteran player, Cafu.
After all, words from a teammate on the pitch would carry more weight than shouts from outside the touchline.
"Everyone, get your heads in the game! The match just started!"
Anyway, the moment Cafu's voice echoed across the pitch, even the players who had looked rattled began regaining their composure.
'Definitely, things have gotten easier for me since signing Cafu.'
I wore a satisfied expression as I lowered my head to look at my leg.
There, I saw my foot in its cast.
'...Should I just take it off?'
In truth, there was no problem at all if I removed the cast.
Youth meant quick recovery.
I'd successfully bounced back from the injury in record time.
'...And it wasn't even a serious injury to begin with.'
My playing career had been short, so I hadn't overworked my hamstring to the point of tearing it.
It was just a muscle spasm, nothing that a light massage couldn't fix.
I didn't need the cast at all anymore.
But the medical staff had sealed my leg to prevent any potential accidents.
- But you said it was just a muscle spasm, so why the cast?
- Without it, you'd be practicing celebrations, right? And that could make it tear.
It was over-treatment born from knowing me too well.
'I'm not some kid named Konau or whatever.'
I'd told the players it was a torn hamstring because I was embarrassed to admit it was just a minor muscle twitch that got me casted.
"Sigh, I knew this would happen eventually."
Surprisingly, none of the players paid much attention to my injury.
Anyway, the cast on my leg now was basically like the handcuffs Daniel Teixiera had used to chain me to the bench—a kind of seal.
Kagawa Shinji's through ball found Yannick Foite, who rattled the net.
I bolted to the corner flag and, instead of a full-on Hoo celebration, just did a quick 'Yes!' right there on the spot.
No way was I skipping the celebration entirely just because of a cast.
***
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
'How long has it been since I could celebrate this leisurely...'
Yannick Foite, performing his celebration at the corner flag, was feeling a strange sensation.
It was the unfamiliar ease of not having to rush desperately to claim the celebration.
'...You can still do celebrations even if you're injured?'
This was unheard of at Union Berlin.
Any hesitation meant Park Chan-hyuk would burst from the bench and steal it.
But ever since Park Chan-hyuk hurt himself practicing celebrations, Union Berlin had some breathing room.
'...Kinda miss it?'
Yannick Foite was shocked to catch himself feeling a pang of regret.
'Huh? Miss it?'
Unbeknownst to himself, he'd become addicted to the tension Park Chan-hyuk brought.
***
After equalizing, Union Berlin began hammering Hoffenheim relentlessly.
As the match heated up in earnest, the Korean broadcast team calling the Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim game found their voices swelling with excitement.
"Luka Modric with the ball! He calmly shrugs off Hoffenheim's pressure!"
"Modric swings it wide to the flank! Lewandowski lays it off, and Son Heung-min unleashes a shot!"
"Oh! Son Heung-min's strike is denied by a brilliant save from the Hoffenheim keeper!"
"Yes, what a strike it was! Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand pulls off a fantastic save!"
Even at the awkward hour of 2 a.m., Korean soccer fans were up watching Union Berlin's match.
Right now, Union Berlin dominated conversations among Korean soccer fans.
If Park Ji-sung's move to Manchester United had opened the door to European soccer,
Union Berlin had become the home turf for Korean fans of overseas leagues.
After all, Union Berlin alone had six players who could make Korea's national team.
└ Come on, if you're Korean, cheer for Union Berlin!
└ With over six Korean players (including youth), who's not supporting?
└ Why six? Isn't it five?
└ Son Heung-min, Lee Sung-jae, Kim Min-hyuk, Kim Hyun-seong, Han Rae-on, Jo Ji-won—that's six.
└ Isn't Rae-on that German kid though;;
└ He's still mixed-race, so it's unclear...
└ Unclear my ass lol, it'd be dumb not to pick him for Germany lololol
While overseas soccer fans chatted during the match.
"They've won it back! Lewandowski! Lewandowski spots the run from Son Heung-min!"
Union Berlin seized the ball again with intense pressing.
Seizing the moment as Hoffenheim's defense crumbled, Roberto Lewandowski slotted a perfect pass to Son Heung-min.
Thwack—.
Son Heung-min took a first touch inside and whipped in with his left foot.
The Hoffenheim keeper, braced for a shot, froze for a split second. Son Heung-min had opted for a cross instead.
"Son Heung-min with the cross!!!"
"GOOOAAAL!! Yannick Foite bundles Son Heung-min's cross into the net!! Yannick Foite! Yannick Foite's brace! Union Berlin's iron heart beats strong once more!!"
Yannick Foite met Son Heung-min's cross perfectly and shook Hoffenheim's net.
"Nice shot."
"Nice cross."
"Nice pass."
He shared smiles and praise for the plays with Son Heung-min and Lewandowski.
"Wow, what a picture-perfect goal. Lewandowski's pass, Son Heung-min's run and cross, and Yannick Foite's finish."
"Yes. This goal shows just how in sync Union Berlin's attack is."
With Union Berlin's comeback goal right before halftime, Korean soccer fans forgot the late hour and erupted in cheers.
└ ㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅㅅ
└ Whoa ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
└ But why haven't we seen Kim Min-hyuk and Kim Hyun-seong lately? Lee Sung-jae at least comes on as sub sometimes.
└ Those two got loaned to Zwickau Fürstenkuppe or whatever.
└ For real?
└ Check Union Berlin's squad—where would they even fit?
└ Lol no cap, thought they were all nobodies but they ball hard.
└ Kinda sucks, but at that age, minutes matter.
└ Sending a lot out on loan there.
└ Sister club or something.
└ Heard Union Berlin's parent company just bought a stake in Zwickau Fürstenkuppe and is investing.
└ ? Union Berlin has a parent company? Bundesliga's 50+1 rule doesn't allow full ownership?
└ Shut up, dumbass.
└ How's that a parent company lol.
└ Rumor is they're forming some football group.
└ Damn, now soccer clubs are building conglomerates too ㄷㄷ
***
Halftime came after Yannick Foite's go-ahead goal, leading into the second half.
Hoffenheim pushed forward aggressively from the restart, raising their line to chase an equalizer.
But their attacks were repelled by Union Berlin's defenders, and they were hit with a counter that saw Roberto Lewandowski bag another.
As the scoreline stretched to two goals, Hoffenheim quickly lost their fight.
The match ended with Union Berlin's 3-1 victory.
[Union Berlin solidifies top spot with Hoffenheim win....]
[The fairy tale Union Berlin is writing! Can the promoted side claim the league title?]
With Union Berlin's surprising run, media outlets began whispering about a 'title'.
[Early lucky goal bursts! Karlsruhe SC stuns Union Berlin!]
[Bundesliga expert: Beginner's luck over! Union Berlin's fall begins!]
[Novice manager's limits? Can't steady the ship.]
They took an unexpected hit in the loss to relegation-threatened Karlsruhe SC, snapping their streak.
But we bounced back with wins in Bundesliga rounds 14, 15, and 16, racking up another three-peat.
Talk of Union Berlin's limits or beginner's luck vanished overnight.
[Dreams★Come True! Union Berlin tops the table at the halfway mark!]
[Teams leading at the turnaround win the title over 70% of the time!]
Soon, praise for Union Berlin flooded the press.
And the match marking the turnaround—Bundesliga round 17.
The final game before the winter break pitted us against.
[Park Chan-hyuk's pre-match taunt? "Hamburg SV is always a grateful team."]
Hamburg SV, Son Heung-min's team in the original timeline.