Isaac watched with hopeful eyes as the ball drew closer, and closer to the goal. Then...
Ter Stegen stopped it.
Isaac kicked the grass in frustration, before he sprinted toward the box. The ball had gone out for a corner, so he had to be in the box for the corner.
He was so focused, that he didn't notice the awe-filled gazes of the other players, or the fans. They were wondering how it was possible that one player entered the game, and made so much of a difference.
Two of Antwerp's big chances came from him, they were amazed by his performance.
Isaac was too focused to care.
The ball was placed down, as their team's corner taker, prepared to take the corner. There was chaos in the box, as players fought for superiority.
Isaac slowly moved around within the box, baiting the defenders here and there. The player on him stuck to him, Barcelona had grown wary of him.
The referee blew the whistle.
FWEE!
The ball curled into the box, and players began wrestling each other.
But Isaac could see.
He had Gerd Muller's killer instinct, he could smell the chance. He was like a football anime's main character as he calculated where the ball would fall.
Then he saw it.
Isaac ran toward the far post before suddenly darting to the near post. He lost the defender.
The ball began to drop, and the players in the box realized it was low, and it seemed to be going quite near the keeper. It looked like the opportunity was lost until...
Isaac ran forward and dived.
He dived toward the ball, and he felt his head strike the ball.
Thud.
The ball was sent past the line and the stunned keeper. Isaac got up and ran into the net, picking up the ball.
'Another one.' He thought to himself. he turned to his teammates.
"We need another one!"
Like a battalion of soldiers, his teammates trailed behind him. Some congratulated him and hit his back in encouragement. However, all of them had one thing in common.
They were hopeful.
Isaac's two goals had made them dare to dream. They believed that maybe... That just maybe they could overcome the European giants.
That's why they were ready to fight again, they would do anything to win. Isaac realized the coach had called him to give him instructions. Isaac ran to Coach Van Bommel and waited for instructions.
"You can drop deep to collect the ball and carry it forward. You can also play long passes to the striker, who will make runs behind. From now on, the defense will be marking you tightly, so if you can't get the ball, you can try to find space. Come on, go on and show the world who you are!" Van Bommel said, before patting his back.
As the winger ran back to his position, his coach watched him with hopeful eyes. Truthfully, the coach had witnessed how amazing the boy was in training. He was calm, intelligent, fast, skillful and strong. He could pass and had world-class shooting. He also had a personality.
He was trying to give the player gametime little by little, so he could get used to the feeling of playing professionally. Otherwise, with experience, he'd be in discussions with players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
For now, The coach knew one thing.
Like Messi, and Ronaldo in their prime. This was a player who could be subbed in extra time, and he could change a whole game. Isaac Adams was such a player.
That was why he trusted him to win the game.
Isaac readied himself for play to continue, and it did. Barcelona began searching for a goal, as they tried to retake the momentum.
Chance, after chance, the hardworking Antwerp defense kept being penetrated by Barcelona, time and time again.
A very dangerous chance came in the 87th minute when Inigo Martinez played a long ball to the right flank where Lamine Yamal, the young la Masia talent was making his Champions League debut.
Lamine controlled the ball impeccably, by receiving it on his chest. He let it fall to his foot before he took on the defender. He danced to and fro, before cutting inside. He struck the ball.
It lifted into the air, and it took a beautiful curling trajectory to the goal. It looked like a goal for the youngster.
Isaac felt his mood beginning to dampen.
Then, he realized something.
It was wide.
The ball missed by just a few inches and went into. the stands, making Lamine grimace at the missed chance. Isaac didn't mind, however. This was a chance.
Isaac fought with Sergi Roberto, as he tried to find space to receive the goal kick. He had no space; he was not given any.
Then he had to make it.
"From now on, the defense will be marking you tightly, so if you can't get the ball, you can try to find space."
It was as the coach said. He had to drop deep.
Isaac suddenly sprinted to his half, dropping into the midfield. The keeper saw him and sent the pass.
Isaac had space, and he had time. He looked to and fro. He could see that their team striker, Vincent Janssen seemed ready to run I'm behind. Isaac would not disappoint.
Isaac leaned back a little and cushioned the ball on his chest. He threw a look behind him to see a player closing him down. Then he did something he didn't need the system's cards for.
Isaac leaned to the right while whipping his left foot over the ball. The player reacted. Then, he darted to the left and pushed the ball into space.
Isaac looked up, and he made eye contact with the Captain.
Nothing more needed to be said; only done.
Isaac pulled back his leg and swung it. He felt his foot wrap around the ball and felt the sensation as he made contact.
Thuk!
The ball became a bird, soaring through the sky. It was like a missile, as it shot into the air, and it did not seem to be able to miss its mark.
Janssen had already made a brilliant run, catching the defense asleep.
The ball landed in front of him, and he kicked it forward as he ran. He was like a truck as he charged forward, and the defenders could only chase his trail of dust.
Soon, he met Ter Stegen.
The striker smashed the ball, trying to squeeze it past the keeper.
Chance!
Ter Stegen however, was ready.
He outstretched his leg, and the ball deflected off of it. It lifted into the sky, and just as Isaac thought the chance was missed, he realized there was still a chance.
It seemed to be flying toward the goal.
Isaac watched earnestly, as the ball dropped, and dropped. But it did not drop enough.
FWEE!
It was a corner.
Isaac realized that the usual taker was shouting something at him.
"Take it!" That was what he said.
'What?' Isaac was surprised by the request, but he didn't waste time. He ran to the corner flag and placed the ball down.
Isaac watched, and he searched.
Then he saw.
Isaac ran forward and curled a cross in. It was beautiful, as it spun in the air. Then it descended.
The players fought for superiority in the box, each trying to outmuscle their opposition. Finally, the ball reached Toby Alderweireld. The captain rose to the occasion and with a bullet of a header sent the ball to the back of the net.
He ran into the goal and picked up the ball before their team sprinted to their half.
It was happening! They were making a comeback!
The few Antwerp fans were loud as they went crazy, and the players grew more confident and more determined.
The stadium was filled with shouts, and the bright lights lit up the arena. Isaac felt a strange feeling well up within him as he witnessed the scenes.
What was this?
Desire, a burning desire to win. He had to savor all of this, but he could only do that if they won. Isaac narrowed his eyes.
That would have to be the case.
6 minutes remained.
Play started, and it was soon a Barcelona attack. A bullet shot from Ferran Torres surprised the keeper, but he managed to deal with it. The defender cleared the loose ball, which Barcelona rewon.
5 minutes remaining.
Isaac grew more anxious with time. It seemed to fly past, every valuable second spent without his team moving toward their goal.
It was torturous.
Another Barcelona attack followed, and Toby Alderweireld won the ball. Immediately, he sent a pass to their defensive midfielder who instantly smashed a pass to the midfielder.
The team began to attack Barcelona, determined to get one back. A pass reached Isaac, who was on the left flank, in Barcelona's half.
Isaac used a single touch to push the ball to his left into the field, away from the defender. Oriel Romeu closed him down, and Isaac realized he had to act quickly. He smashed a pass to Abnor Muja, who was the Antwerp attacking midfielder.
He immediately ran in behind Romeu, and the return pass was sent. Jules Kounde was immediately on him, ready to intercept the ball.
Isaac pulled the ball toward him, before spinning around while using his other leg to again pull the ball.
He escaped using a roulette.
From the front, Christensen was about to tackle him, and from behind was Oriel Romeu. Isaac immediately used the inside of his right leg to smash the ball into his left foot. The ball bounced off his foot and behind his right leg. It bounced into space.
Isaac ran to the ball, he looked up and saw that the coast was clear.
This was a chance. It was a real chance. Isaac did not like wasting, so he decided to make the best of it.
Isaac kicked the ball, sending it through the air. The ball followed an erratic trajectory, as it curled abnormally. Ter Stegen seemed unsure where to dive.
37 yards out, another long shot. It was as beautiful as the others. Once again, Isaac was threatening the Barca defense.
The ball drew closer, and the crowd grew silent. It was a real chance... Would it be worth it?
Find out next time on dragon ball...(Nah I'm kidding.
The ball dropped. It header to the top left corner, and Ter Stegen tried to stop it.
The ball struck the post.
Kerplang!
Into the back of the net!
Isaac punched his fist into the air, as he watched the ball sitting in the back of the net.
Now...1 more goal to win. 3 minutes remaining.
Could they pull off a miracle?