The moment the referee's whistle echoed throughout the stadium, a wave of stillness washed over the players. Kabir felt a surge of anxiety sweep over him. A yellow or red card for Matin at this juncture could spell disaster for his team.
Matin, dusting himself off, rose to his feet and cast a glance at Shin, who was dramatically clutching his right leg, feigning immense pain. Matin merely rolled his eyes at the spectacle, thinking that Shin deserved an Oscar for his over-acting. The tackle was firm but not powerful enough to cause such anguish. He was acting as though his leg was shattered.
The referee, maintaining his stern demeanor, issued a warning to Matin and awarded South Korea a free kick. Matin offered no protest, acknowledging his transgression. A sigh of relief spread through the Bangladeshi side as the South Korean player miraculously recovered from his theatrical performance, stood up as if nothing had transpired.
An air of suspense hung heavy as the fans held their breaths. This free kick could swing the pendulum of the match. Failure to score would exponentially increase the pressure on the South Korean players. However, a successful strike would equalize the score, thus relieving some of their mounting tension.
"I will take the free kick." Son's voice echoed with resolve. It was an unfortunate fact that the South Korean team lacked proficient free-kick takers. Given this scenario, Son volunteered, banking on his past experiences with such kicks.
The crowd's attention was now fixated on Son, ready to perform the free-kick. Son had to make his shot from the penalty arc, a challenge in itself. The air was heavy with anticipation.
Whistle!
At the referee's signal, Son paced slowly towards the ball. Then, in one swift motion, he struck it with the top of his right foot. All eyes followed the ball's trajectory as it soared above the heads of Kabir's teammates. The ball took a right curve, prompting the goalkeeper to leap to his right. However, his heart dropped as, despite managing to touch the ball, he couldn't prevent it from finding its way into the net.
Booooom!!!!!
[South Korea has scored. What a beautiful free kick by Son.]
The moment the ball slipped past the goalkeeper and nestled in the net, Son and his fellow Korean players erupted in jubilant celebration. The South Korean contingent, which had remained hushed until now, exploded in triumphant cheers. The exhilaration of equalizing was reflected in their untamed delight.
A wave of disappointment swept over the goalkeeper as he slumped onto the field. He had made a vow to himself to put his best foot forward for this crucial match, but it seemed as though he had faltered. His perceived failure gnawed at him, making him feel like he had let his team down, yet again.
Nevertheless, Kabir, the team captain, stepped in to lift his spirits. "There's no need for disappointment or worry," he consoled. "Have faith in your abilities. We're still in this game and will score another goal. Remember, we've overcome far greater obstacles before."
His reassuring words had a noticeable impact. It inspired them, rekindling the fire that had momentarily dimmed. The confidence that Kabir exuded and the belief he placed in his team was contagious.
"We've come too far to lose now," Kabir declared, his eyes gleaming with determination. This sentiment echoed in the hearts of his team. They were prepared to give it their all, even if it meant risking injury, pushing their bodies to the brink. The AFC Asian Cup wasn't just another tournament, it symbolized their hopes and dreams, a chance to etch their names in history, especially since Bangladesh had never claimed a major sports trophy before.
As the game resumed, the overall tempo of the match had shifted dramatically. The South Korean players, now relieved of the burden to equalize the score, appeared more composed and made fewer mistakes. They took their time, meticulously scanning for opportunities to strike.
However, the dynamics were different for Bangladesh. Kabir launched into offensive mode, while the other midfielders fortified their defensive stance. Kabir's focus was singular: create chances for his forwards to score. But this was easier said than done.
The South Korean team had recognized the role Kabir played in the Bangladeshi side. As long as they could stop Kabir from setting up his teammates, they would have control over the game's pace. This realization marked the beginning of a trying phase for Kabir on the pitch. He was now the main target, with the Koreans making every attempt to tackle, intercept, and even physically impede him.
The clock had struck the 34th minute when Ahamad fed the ball to Kabir. Standing at the center line, Kabir controlled the ball with his left foot. He sensed a player rushing towards him from the right, his instincts on high alert. With a swift maneuver, Kabir evaded the incoming tackle by drawing his body back along with the ball.
Unfazed by the failed tackle, Kabir forged ahead, skillfully maneuvering the ball. Soon, Son and Kim Shin-Wook were on his heels, with Son closing the gap quickly, thanks to his remarkable pace. From his side, Son lunged to snatch the ball. But before he could make contact, Kabir performed an acrobatic jump. Shifting his right foot forward, he used his left to guide the ball past a bewildered Son.
Unable to halt his momentum, Son missed Kabir, who had promptly changed direction. Before Son and Kim Shin-Wook could catch up, Kabir made a quick pass to the right winger, Matin. Instead of taking the ball forward, Matin controlled the ball, allowing Kabir to sprint past him towards the penalty area. He then skillfully fed the ball back to Kabir.
Just as Kabir received the ball, he noticed a looming shadow under him. And before he could respond, he felt his legs swept from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.
A sharp cry of agony escaped Kabir's lips as he clutched his thigh in pain. It was apparent that the South Korean player had deliberately aimed to inflict harm.
The Bangladeshi attackers, outraged at the blatant disregard for fair play, appealed to the referee, "It's a foul!" Their plea fell on deaf ears as the referee chose to ignore the incident. Meanwhile, the South Korean defenders claimed possession of the ball and resumed play.
The blatant disparity in the referee's decision-making incensed the Bangladesh team and its supporters alike. They were seething with anger. The South Koreans were awarded a free kick for a similar offense, yet the referee turned a blind eye when Kabir was brutally tackled.
"Motherf**ker!" The usually composed Yukina lost her cool, letting out a stream of invectives towards the referee, a sentiment shared by the other passionate fans.
On the sidelines, Coach Jaime clenched his fists in fury. The referee's omission was inexcusable; it was a clear foul that should've resulted in a free kick for Bangladesh. As he calmed himself, his concern shifted towards Kabir's well-being.
A serious injury to Kabir would be catastrophic for the team. Fortunately, Kabir managed to rise to his feet, although the sight of blood trickling down his left knee suggested he had been hurt. Despite his injury, Kabir chose to disregard the pain and gave chase to the ball. Surrendering at this point was not an option for him. He had come too far to allow himself to stop now.
"Looks like Kabir is hurt, and I must say, Bangladesh was surely entitled to a free kick there." The impartial commentators too observed the injustice.
The sight of Kabir being fouled had a noticeable effect on the Bangladeshi players. They became more aggressive, their attacks intensified. It was a clear signal to the South Koreans that they had ruffled the wrong feathers.
When Son, having received the ball from his teammate, attempted to move into the penalty box, he was abruptly interrupted. A towering figure materialized from his right and booted the ball away, deliberately knocking into Son, and subsequently dismissing him.
Son let out a sigh. Outwardly, he chose not to respond. Inwardly, however, he was seething and vowed to respond by scoring another goal. A similar resolve burned within Kabir, but it was amplified, it was fiercer. His eyes were blazing with determination and a slowly building fury.
In the 39th minute, Son once again received the ball from Kim Shin-Wook. He noticed the same player who had deliberately knocked into him. Son strategically passed the ball back to Kim Shin-Wook, then swiftly darted past the defender to reclaim the ball.
At this juncture, Kabir realized the looming danger. There were no defenders in place to thwart Son. With a swift strike of his right foot, Son sent the ball soaring towards the top right corner of the net. The eyes of every spectator traced the trajectory of the ball as it flew into the net, well beyond the reach of the helpless goalkeeper.
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