Volume One: Our Own League 100: We Truly Gave It Our All to the Very End

Xu He covered his face with both hands and knelt down inside the penalty area defended by the Sixteenth Class football team.

He was truly devastated, and deeply remorseful.

At the same time, he felt so ashamed that he could not face his hometown elders, his heart tangled and aching.

He had once had the chance to deliver the killing blow, but he had wasted it.

He felt he had let his teammates down.

They had worked so hard, and had created such a perfect opportunity for him. Yet he had failed to seize it. He truly felt sorry to everyone.

Xu He simply knelt there in silence, full of regret.

After finishing his celebration with his teammates, Zhuo Jun walked over to Xu He and patted his shoulder, comforting him. “You played very well. Excellent, in fact. Not scoring was not your fault. Their goalkeeper, Xu Donglai, has been possessed today!”

Hearing Zhuo Jun’s consolation, Xu He gave a faint, bitter smile.

Today’s Xu Donglai really was unstoppable.

Seeing that Xu He still did not respond, Zhuo Jun patted his back once more before turning and walking toward the sideline.

At a time like this, Zhuo Jun could not afford the slightest relaxation.

The match was not over yet, and they were about to face an even harsher test.

After all, there were still twenty minutes of extra time to play.

Yes, they were only middle school students, and their bodies and stamina could not compare with professional players or even high school students. That was why their regular league time was eighty minutes in total, forty minutes for each half. Extra time lasted twenty minutes, ten minutes per half.

With the Tenth Class football team’s frantic attacking strength, they would surely come under enormous pressure in extra time, and might not be able to hold out.

So they still could not relax.

The moment he returned to the sideline, Zhuo Jun began to rally his teammates.

“Everyone, do not relax. The real test has not even arrived yet. I hope you can all settle down and stay focused. If we stand together, we can hold off the Tenth Class football team. As long as we survive these twenty minutes, the penalty shootout will be ours.”

As he said that, he looked toward Xu Donglai.

Xu Donglai was Zhuo Jun’s greatest source of confidence.

All the players of the Sixteenth Class football team looked toward Xu Donglai as well, and confidence rose in their hearts. Today’s Xu Donglai was invincible.

One after another, the players of the Sixteenth Class football team turned back and nodded firmly at Zhuo Jun.

They would give everything in this extra time.

On the other side, the players of the Tenth Class football team were in low spirits.

Still, Zhu Ge, Mu Yang, and the others came over to Xu He, patted his shoulder, and comforted him. They could tell that Xu He was badly hurt and under tremendous psychological pressure.

At a time like this, they had to comfort Xu He.

Besides, with the match developing like this, it was not Xu He’s fault.

Xu He had already played very well. If he had not been facing Xu Donglai today, he would have scored at least two goals in this match, perhaps even completed a hat trick.

Moreover, even Zhu Ge and Mu Yang had failed to score against Xu Donglai.

Today’s Xu Donglai really was too remarkable.

Still, at this point, they had to cast these thoughts aside and prepare properly, striving to land a fatal blow to Xu Donglai in extra time.

Zhu Ge said directly, “Forget it, Xu He. This is not your fault. Hurry up and rest. There is still extra time. Play well in extra time. We must finish them off there!”

Xu He immediately looked up at Zhu Ge and nodded firmly.

Xu He then turned to look at Xu Donglai on the touchline, his gaze resolute, and thought to himself, “In extra time, I will definitely break through the goal you guard!”

Only then did Xu He turn and walk toward the sideline.

As he stepped off the field, Xu He saw that his teammates were all in low spirits as well. It was obvious they had been deeply affected too. Xu Donglai had put immense pressure on them.

Zhu Ge immediately said, “Xu Donglai really is extraordinary today, but I do not believe he can stay this extraordinary forever. Besides, he has spent a lot in this match, so he definitely will not keep up that form in extra time. If we push harder in extra time, we will surely break through their goal and win!”

The players of the Tenth Class football team nodded in unison, their eyes hardening with resolve.

Yes, they also believed that Xu Donglai could not possibly remain miraculous forever.

In this extra time, they would surely break through the goal Xu Donglai guarded.

Zhu Ge quickly called Mu Yang over, and the two discussed their tactics for extra time before telling the players of the Tenth Class football team that it was time to charge.

Very soon, the rest period ended, and both sides returned to the pitch.

The first half of extra time was about to begin.

In the stands, Principal Wang looked at Song Yu beside him and asked, “Coach Song, who do you think will win this match?”

Song Yu paused slightly, then said, “I still think the team wearing the Chinese national team shirt will win. They are more proactive and have had more chances. They are actually very close to scoring. The other side barely had any chances at all; everything relied on their goalkeeper and their captain, especially the goalkeeper. If not for him, they would have lost long ago.”

Principal Wang nodded slightly. He thought the same.

Song Yu continued, “That goalkeeper is excellent, but the other side’s attacking force is too strong. He cannot possibly hold them off every single time.”

His meaning was already very clear.

The goalkeeper was extraordinary, but there was no way he could stay that extraordinary forever.

Xu He stepped onto the field, staring tightly at the Sixteenth Class football team’s goalkeeper, Xu Donglai, his eyes full of fighting spirit.

At that very moment, the referee blew the whistle to start the first half of extra time.

The Sixteenth Class football team took the kickoff as before, but this time they did not press forward aggressively. They advanced casually, and before long they lost the ball. The moment they did, they immediately fell back, tightened their line, and parked the bus.

It was obvious that the Sixteenth Class football team no longer had any hope for their attack.

Their task in extra time was defense.

The players of the Tenth Class football team naturally saw what the Sixteenth Class football team was thinking. They attacked at once, surging wildly toward the Sixteenth Class penalty area.

It could be said that from the very start of extra time, the Tenth Class football team had taken over the match and seized control of the rhythm.

The players of the Tenth Class football team pushed all the way past midfield, and even the center backs crossed the halfway line. It was practically a full-pitch offensive drill.

On the wing, Lin Xuefeng received Li Jie’s pass, but instead of driving forward immediately, he carried the ball laterally, pressing toward the center.

The defending players of the Sixteenth Class football team tensed instantly. Dangerous.

The Sixteenth Class team compressed their defense and braced themselves.

But Lin Xuefeng suddenly pushed the ball backward toward the byline. Li Jie surged forward at speed, reached the ball before it crossed out, and whipped in a cross. The ball flew quickly toward the area near the penalty spot.

Zhang Zhen, who had followed up, met it with a powerful header. The ball shot toward goal.

With a sharp crack, Xu Donglai suddenly stretched out a hand and palmed it beyond the end line.

Extra time had begun, and Xu Donglai was still performing at a high level.

Zhang Zhen glanced at Xu Donglai, speechless.

This Xu Donglai really was hard to deal with.

From the corner kick, Lin Xuefeng curled the ball into the box, but Zhuo Jun headed it clear. At the edge of the area, a Sixteenth Class player received the ball and immediately saw Mu Yang and Zhu Ge rushing toward him like madmen. Without a second thought, he swung his leg and blasted the ball long into the Tenth Class half.

Even though there was no one on that side, he still had to do it.

As long as the ball was kept far away from their own penalty area, that was enough.

That was how the Sixteenth Class football team played in extra time. They had practically given up on counterattacks and focused entirely on defense.

Clearly, the Sixteenth Class football team had great faith in their defense, and even greater faith in Xu Donglai.

The Tenth Class football team immediately regained possession and attacked again, continuing to besiege the Sixteenth Class goal. They firmly believed they could break through Xu Donglai’s guard.

Xu He and Zhang Zhen attacked in waves, and Xu Donglai and Zhuo Jun worked together brilliantly, truly doing everything possible to preserve a clean sheet. Just moments ago, Xu He had met a square pass from Zhang Zhen inside the box and obtained a superb shooting chance. He drew back his leg and fired, but Zhuo Jun threw himself across the line and blocked it with his body.

The Sixteenth Class defenders immediately cleared the ball with a long kick out of play.

United in purpose, the Sixteenth Class football team defended fiercely and held their goal with all their strength.

The first half of extra time ended, and the score remained nil-nil.

The players of the Sixteenth Class football team were ecstatic, shouting and cheering one after another, as though they truly could drag the match to penalties.

Xu He frowned slightly. It was not that he was not trying; it was simply that the opposing defense was too good.

Hardly any time had been given to rest before both sides launched into the second half of extra time.

As soon as the second half began, Xu He won a splendid chance. Near the edge of the box, he suddenly pulled back, then curved his run and burst into the Sixteenth Class penalty area. Zhu Ge’s through ball arrived immediately, placing the ball right in front of Xu He.

Xu He accelerated to his utmost, so fast that even Song Yu in the stands was stunned. Xu He was unbelievably quick.

Yet even at such speed, Xu He still missed the ball by a hair.

Xu Donglai charged out and, in a single decisive motion, stole the ball from under his nose, clutching it tightly to his chest.

Xu Donglai could not stop in time, and Xu He was carried down inside the penalty area.

The players of the Sixteenth Class football team all raised their hands, calling for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

And indeed, it was not a penalty.

Xu He shook his head in frustration. He had been just a fraction too late. If only he had been a little faster, he would have reached it first and poked it home.

Zhu Ge immediately waved his hand, signaling that it was his fault.

After that, the Tenth Class football team attacked furiously, but their stamina was beginning to fail them as well. Even if they wanted to attack, it was becoming difficult to produce anything meaningful. Still, they kept charging forward in desperation.

Xu He and Zhang Zhen both worked hard, but in front of Zhuo Jun and Xu Donglai, they still could not break the opponents’ goal.

In this match, Xu Donglai’s performance was truly too outstanding.

By now, the second half of extra time was already drawing to a close, and the score on the pitch remained nil-nil. It seemed that the Sixteenth Class football team’s tactics were really about to succeed.

The players of the Tenth Class football team grew ever more anxious and attacked with increasing frenzy.

Lin Xuefeng cut inside from the wing and suddenly unleashed a thunderous shot, but the ball flew wide of the goal.

Then, after several consecutive combinations with Li Jie on the wing, Lin Xuefeng reached the byline and suddenly cut the ball back with a low diagonal pass. Zhu Ge followed up and struck a ferocious shot, but it was too central, and Xu Donglai saved it and pushed it beyond the end line.

The Tenth Class football team had missed their final chance.

The referee blew the whistle to end the second half of extra time. The score remained nil-nil. A draw.

At last, they had to go to a penalty shootout. The league championship of their season would be decided from the spot. This would be their only penalty shootout of the entire season.