Treble 7: The Hat-Trick Miracle

Halftime ended, and I slipped into the locker room, quietly munching a banana to replenish my calories.

Hmm.

As I rolled my eyes to scan the room, the depressed atmosphere hit me like a brick.

I was debating whether to fire up the team with a speech when the locker room door creaked open slowly.

Valverde strode in with a stone-cold face. I couldn't help but admire his blazing scalp.

Damn, Valverde is pissed.

Valverde scanned the players' faces and seized control of the room with a barrage of brutal curses.

"Puta madre! Where are the warriors? Why is this room full of defeated losers who've already given up and little girls scared shitless of Liverpool?"

Valverde didn't dwell on mistakes like errors. "Luis! Why the fuck were you just standing there gawking? There was an opponent with the ball right in front of you! Run!" He just called out the players for not giving their all. And as they listened, the players' expressions started to shift.

"You too, you dumbfuck bastards! Press harder! Run more! One step more than the opponent, you sons of bitches! If any prick is still standing on two legs at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, I'll personally shatter your kneecaps."

Valverde, cautiously eyeing the players' faces, suddenly turned to me.

He looked at me with the desperate expression of a man at the end of his rope seeking a god.

"Jesus, time to be the hero."

I graced his words with a merciful smile.

"Deo volente (God willing.)"

As Real Madrid's players emerged onto the pitch with grim determination, the Madridistas clapped and belted out chants, thrilled their team hadn't thrown in the towel.

Score: 3-0. Most folks were sensing Real Madrid's defeat.

The miracle began in Jesus' head.

75th minute.

Jesus headed in a cross from Rafael Obrador on the flank for a goal.

Jesus grabbed the ball and dashed to the center circle, gesturing wildly for the Real Madrid fans to sing even louder.

"I wear your jersey, pressed to my heart!"

Fired up by Jesus' antics, the fans roared the chant louder.

"The days you play are all I am!"

The goal reignited hopes of a comeback, electrifying the stadium.

"Fuck, wake up you bastards!"

The once-relaxed Liverpool players' faces started to harden.

Five minutes later.

Jesus got the ball near Liverpool's penalty box.

"The arrow flies, my Madrid attacks!"

Madridistas began rising from their seats.

"I am fight, I am beauty, the cry I learned!"

Fans with hands clasped in desperate prayer watched as Jesus beat even the keeper for another goal.

"Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, Hala Madrid!"

Real Madrid fans in the stands teared up at the sight of their unyielding players.

Subs complete, Liverpool kicked off to restart. Real Madrid threw everything into equalizing.

Sergio Pepe headed away a long-range shot from Hobérto Costa. Spotting the second ball heading to Luka Savic, Sergio Pepe yelled,

"I'm fine, go attack you bastards!"

Fearing a stoppage, he jumped right up from the turf and signaled to the ref he was good.

Tweet!

Before Sergio Pepe even finished shouting, Luka Savic lofted a penetrating pass to Iker Bravo breaking down the flank.

The veteran Iker Bravo showed his class.

With a silky first touch, he controlled it, then chipped a lobbed through-ball to Jesus surging forward.

Jesus calmly trapped the ball dropping into space ahead, then rifled it precisely into the top corner beyond the keeper's reach.

A massive roar erupted with Jesus' goal.

"Vaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!!"

Jesus sprinted straight to the corner flag. He thumped Real Madrid's crest, then flung his arms wide, urging fans to chant even louder.

"Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, Hala Madrid!"

The moment Jesus completed his hat-trick to tie the game, Liverpool fans flooded their community with rage posts.