Since it wasn't an official match, the Sports Department arranged that if the game ended in a draw, a penalty shootout would determine the winner, with sudden death rules applying.
Given Xu Xiuwen's goalkeeping skills and Yang Baishan's shooting abilities, if it came to a penalty shootout, it would be tough to predict the outcome for the Computer Science team.
Now, as long as the Management and Engineering team could hold out until the end of the match, victory would tilt in their favor!
Just when everyone thought the Management and Engineering team would play for a draw, Xu Xiuwen made a bold decision.
He never intended to drag the game into a penalty shootout.
Even though he knew their team was at a disadvantage compared to the Computer Science team, his inspired decision to switch to goalkeeping had kept them in the game until nearly the end.
Xu Xiuwen had been waiting for this opportunity. He hadn't told anyone his plan to avoid any slip-ups or lack of effort from his teammates. If the Management and Engineering team didn't give their all, it would be hard to push the Computer Science team to do the same, and his plan could end up as a joke.
But who would have thought he would actually pull it off?
Single-handedly, he had kept the Management and Engineering team's goal safe. Hard work paid off, and now the opportunity Xu Xiuwen had been waiting for had arrived.
As the game was nearing its end, the Computer Science team's attack failed, and unlike before, they didn't retreat quickly to defend.
Xu Xiuwen stood up and shouted, "Old Yang, catch the ball!"
Yang Baishan, his legs cramping from exhaustion, was ready to take a breather.
Hearing Xu Xiuwen call his name and seeing the ball fly towards him, he was stunned. Was Xu Xiuwen expecting him to make a long run and then shoot?
If it were the first half, with his energy still high, it wouldn't be difficult. But now, he was so tired that he didn't want to move at all.
Having run all over the field, acting as a firefighter, he was utterly exhausted.
After kicking the ball, Xu Xiuwen sprinted towards the Computer Science team's backfield. Their forwards quickly realized Xu Xiuwen had abandoned his goal and guessed what he was up to.
Liu Liang shouted anxiously, "Defend! Defend! Don't let him shoot!"
The Computer Science team reacted quickly: their forwards chased Xu Xiuwen, midfielders fell back, and defenders prepared to block him.
Yang Baishan, noticing Xu Xiuwen's actions, was momentarily stunned but quickly understood Xu Xiuwen's plan. Everyone in the stands was shocked by this scene!
A goalkeeper who had guarded the net for the entire second half was now sprinting towards the opponent's goal at the last moment. It was unbelievable!
Everyone held their breath, watching the field intently, afraid to miss a moment.
Xu Xiuwen sprinted rapidly, reaching midfield in no time. Yang Baishan used his last bit of strength to pass the ball to him.
Xu Xiuwen received the ball near midfield. Two midfielders from the Computer Science team rushed towards him, but he paid them no mind, dribbling past and leaving them behind.
Only four defenders remained in front of him now. The two center-backs, positioned higher up, came forward first.
Xu Xiuwen, having just shaken off two midfielders, now faced the center-backs blocking his path. Knowing time was running out, he charged ahead despite the odds.
As they met, one of the center-backs tried to slide tackle, while the other blocked Xu Xiuwen's path. Xu Xiuwen quickly flicked the ball over their heads and sprinted past them, evading a grab at his jersey.
Now, only two fullbacks remained, closing in from left and right, nearly sealing off his path.
But they had a timing gap. Xu Xiuwen seized this chance, faking a move to mislead the left back and then performing a step-over to trick the right back, successfully breaking through the middle.
Without pausing, he used all his strength to charge towards the goal. Five meters from the goal, Xu Xiuwen unleashed a powerful shot!
In middle school, Xu Xiuwen had been a star player, skilled at soccer. Now, he found that familiar feeling once again.
The white ball soared into the goal from over the Computer Science goalkeeper's head, hitting the back of the net!
Goal!
The next moment, the whistle blew, ending the match.
After ninety minutes of fierce competition, Xu Xiuwen had, in the final moments, made a solo run from his goal to the Computer Science goal, beating six players and finally scoring!
The ball had just crossed the line!
This took everyone by surprise. The second half had been dominated by the Computer Science team's offense. No one could have predicted that in the final moments, the Management and Engineering team would score!
1-0
The Management and Engineering team defeated the powerful Computer Science team, becoming the champions of Jiaotong University's 2005 soccer tournament!
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands. The Management and Engineering students went wild with excitement, shouting and cheering, unable to calm down.
The four girls from dorm 601 were among the spectators.
Su Yanyan's eyes sparkled with admiration, Bai Yue'er was left speechless with surprise, Tang Weiwei's eyes welled up with tears of joy, and Shen Minyao felt her heart pounding and her face glowing with excitement.
At the back of the stands, Xiao Youran, hugging An Shishi, jumped up and down, cheering, "We won! We won! My Xiao Xu won!"
Seeing An Shishi's calm reaction, Xiao Youran asked, "Aren't you happy, Shishi?"
Your Xiao Xu?
An Shishi smiled, hiding her feelings, and said, "Of course I'm happy."
Xiao Youran beamed, "Xiao Xu has always been the best at soccer since he was young. I knew he would win! He's never let me down!"
Tears of joy welled up in Xiao Youran's eyes as she spoke. Song Siyu, watching the celebrating Management and Engineering players on the field, especially Wang Juncai, sighed softly.
On the field, after his long run and final shot, Xu Xiuwen was exhausted, lying on the grass, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling like a drum. But inside, he was ecstatic!
Xu Xiuwen had loved playing soccer since he was a child and always wanted to be a hero on the field.
But as he grew older, he realized that while he was good, it was only among ordinary players.
Compared to those trained professionally from a young age, he fell short. Not to mention the teenage prodigies in Europe.
In his previous life, Xu Xiuwen hadn't played soccer since starting university.
Who would have thought that over a decade later, after being reborn, he would pull off a solo run, beating six players to score in a university soccer match?
Xu Xiuwen had only one thought: pulling off this stunt in front of so many people was worth it, no matter how exhausted he was!
The other ten players from the Management and Engineering team, including the four substitutes, were stunned for a moment.
Having been under pressure the whole match, they now felt like they were dreaming.
Realizing they had truly won, everyone rushed towards Xu Xiuwen, lifting him up and throwing him into the air, shouting and celebrating, releasing all their pent-up emotions.
In stark contrast to the jubilant Management and Engineering team, the Computer Science players were in shock. Xu Xiuwen, a goalkeeper, had made a solo run in the last minute to score!
Even having witnessed it, the Computer Science players could hardly believe it.