Chapter Two: Eight Minutes at Twenty-Seven

Gu attacked the near post, but the center back easily held him off and cleared. The veteran stumbled as he turned. The chanting weakened. Coach Han said, “Wait any longer and it'll be too late.” Shen studied Southport's shape. With the lead, their wingers had stopped tracking back, while their holding midfielder followed the ball by habit. Whenever Luo received on the right, space opened in the left channel for three seconds. The present Gu could not reach it. “Luo!” Shen shouted. “Next time, cut back inside!” In the seventy-second minute, Luo received again. He beat the fullback, but instead of charging toward the byline, he cut sharply toward the center. Southport's midfielder followed. The left channel opened.