THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
The Six - Minute Finale II

*FREEEE*

The referee blew the whistle, and the game restarted after the goal.

NF Academy started the game, but the VfB Stuttgart players quickly regained possession. They attacked more aggressively than ever. The goal seemed to have revived them, prompting them to perform at a much higher level than their peak. They fully utilize their numerical advantage.

Phillipp Mwene, left winger, played better. In the 95th minute, he dribbled past the exhausted Kasongo— and sent a brilliant overpass into the packed NF Academy box.

Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forward, leaped over the defence inside the six-yard box and slotted a header past Kendrick into the back of the net.

3:2.

VfB Stuttgart burning.

The NF Academy was under immense pressure.

Zachary felt helpless. The red card effect is already starting to show. VfB Stuttgart almost chased them, thanks to that. However, he rejoiced because the sixth minute of injury time was about to pass. They 'just' have to defend for a few seconds, and they will be champions. So, he went around, yelling at his team-mates to focus on the game at the last minute.

**** ****

In the stands, Emily's back muscles were numb to the nervous tension as she watched the last minute of the match. He was confident the NF Academy would win the match six minutes ago. But at the time, he felt VfB Stuttgart were the team most likely to emerge as Riga Cup champions after the final.

"Six minutes of extra time is over" he heard Ricardo Andres, the commentator, speaking in his heavily accented English. "However, the referee did not blow the final whistle. VfB Stuttgart is still attacking, knocking on the door of the NF Academy. They intend to level before the final whistle. What a match!" He breathed a heavy sigh.

"The referee only added in the few minutes the NF Academy players spent restarting the game after they conceded two goals" Vincent McManaman added. "Serve them right for trying to waste time at the end of this game." To Emily, the commentator seemed a bit overzealous.

"Geez!" Andres shouted excitedly. "Timo Werner, the VfB Stuttgart— attacker who missed the penalty, masterfully passed the penalty box. He shoots. Unfortunately, a defender managed to block the shot. He turned him away from the goal. The ball is out of the game. The referee first looks at his watch before giving a corner kick." He recited the words so quickly as he delivered a comment.

"Geez! What do we have here?" Andre continued. "Odysseas, goalkeeper of VfB Stuttgart, advanced forward to participate in the corner kick. VfB Stuttgart fully intend to score the equaliser in the 97th minute. They're deploying their entire army to advance."

Emily felt her heart thump as she watched every VfB Stuttgart player swarm in front of the NF Academy box.

[Who will emerge victorious?] He wonders.

**** ****

"Guys," Zachary shouted at his other team-mates. "We're almost there. Just one more minute. Let's hold. Man-on-man's. Don't leave anyone unmarked in the box. Kasongo, you mark Kimmich on the edge of the box. Magnus marks the middle of that high-back there. Robin, stick with their goalkeeper. Don't give him even an inch of space. yvind, mark the goalpost." Words came out of his mouth at the speed of a machine gun as he tried to set up his teammates and prepare them for a corner kick.

He never expected more for the final whistle of his life. He does not want the game to go to extra time. If that happens, VfB Stuttgart will crush them because of their numerical superiority.

What's more, his teammates were already exhausted after enduring relentless attacks from the German team throughout the second half. They have to defend against corner kicks successfully, or they will lose in the final. Zachary was sure of that.

*FREEEE*

Mwene, left-back, delivers a tempting high pass into the box. Odysseas, the goalkeeper of VfB Stuttgart, set his running time perfectly to connect with the ball as he swung Robin for air superiority. He managed to plant a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

But luckily, Kendrick, the NF Academy goalkeeper, got up on the occasion. He jumped flamboyantly acrobatic and punched the ball away from the goal, towards the outside of the box.

However, the threat from VfB Stuttgart is still at large. Joshua Kimmich greeted the ball on the edge of the box and fired a missile into the net.

But then again, luck was on the NF Academy's side.

Zachary had traced the trajectory of the sphere with a high level of spatial awareness. Without fear, he jumped into the line of fire and deflected it away from the box.

But he didn't relax even after the block was successful. Instead, he chased after the ball as it floated in the air. He fully intends to do so before any other player. He noticed that the VfB Stuttgart keeper was still inside the NF Academy box, trying his luck in scoring. Zachary intended to punish him for leaving his net.

**** ****

Emily sighed as Zachary blocked Kimmich's shot. But his heart grew faster when he saw Zachary following the ball at his incredible pace.

"Geez!" He heard Ricardo Andres yelling, his tone changing. "NF Academy survived the corner kick. However, it was VfB Stuttgart's turn to worry. Zachary Bemba chasing the ball. Odysseas Vlachodimos, the goalkeeper of VfB Stuttgart, started running back to his half. Are we going to see another quick counterattack? from the captain of the NF Academy? What a changed event..."

Emily's skin was tingled with excitement as she watched Zachary skillfully dodge defender VfB Stuttgart and continue chasing the ball. He did it faster than any other player, only a few dozen yards from his box.

He controlled it skillfully with his legs outstretched and glanced at the other end of the field. The fans around Emily fell silent as the NF Academy captain lifted his leg and swung the ball high— towards the other half of the pitch.

"Geez me!" Andres, the commentator, shouted loudly. "Zachary has fired a shot towards VfB Stuttgart's goal from inside his half. Odysseas, the goalkeeper of VfB Stuttgart, was still running across the pitch. Will Zachary's long-range efforts find a target? Or will Odysseas return first? It's amazing. ..." His voice reached its peak.

Emily closes the sound as she alternates between following the trajectory of the ball, in the air, and watching VfB Stuttgart's goalkeeper, on the ground, running back into his net. A few seconds felt like thousands of years when he tried to gauge if Zachary's efforts were on target.

The ball arrives at the peak of its flight and begins to descend at an ever-increasing speed— as gravity works on it. Without a surprise, it reached Stuttgart's VfB box before the goalkeeper could retaliate.

Emily suddenly stood up from her seat as she watched the ball bounce once—two times—last three times before going into the empty net. TARGET.

4:2:

In the 98th minute, Zachary managed to score one more spectacular goal from over 80 yards.

The crowd exploded in cheers and applause.

The smile of victory was on Emily's lips. This time NF Academy had 'definitely' won the final. There's no doubt about that.