Even though Antonio Pereira sat on the bench like an old monk in deep meditation, it didn't mean he was unaware of what was happening around him.
At first, when Su Dong got up and walked away from the bench, Pereira thought nothing of it, assuming he was heading to warm up. But after waiting a while and realizing Su Dong hadn't returned, Pereira grew suspicious. He stood up, turning to look behind him, only to find Su Dong in the stands, chatting with two people as if he had forgotten about the game entirely.
Pereira squinted.
What on earth is that guy doing?
But then, something else caught his eye—one of the people sitting with Su Dong.
Wait a minute…
Cristiano Ronaldo!
Pereira's heart skipped a beat. The talented youth player from Sporting Lisbon? Here, watching this match?
His mind raced.
How did he end up here?
Pereira's surprise deepened as he observed the interactions between Su Dong, Cristiano, and the other dark-skinned young man beside them. They seemed close—laughing, gesturing to the pitch, and pointing to one of the players. It was clear from their body language that they were more than just casual acquaintances.
What is going on here? Pereira wondered.
Why would Cristiano Ronaldo, one of Sporting Lisbon's brightest young talents, come to a third-division match to watch Su Dong?
Pereira's gaze shifted back to Su Dong, and suddenly, he saw the player in a new light.
As a football coach in Lisbon, even though he only managed a third-tier team, Pereira kept tabs on the city's top footballing talent, especially those from the three Primeira Liga teams. Most fans only knew the likes of Ricardo Quaresma and Edgar Marcelino—young players recently promoted to Sporting Lisbon's first team—or perhaps Lorenzo, who had impressed on loan at Bristol City. But Pereira had heard about Cristiano Ronaldo, the highly gifted boy from Madeira, whose potential rivaled any of those players, including Quaresma.
But what perplexed Pereira now was how this Madeira prodigy, rumored to have a touch of arrogance, seemed to know Su Dong, who, by contrast, appeared humble and hardworking.
There must be something more to this Su Dong than I realized, Pereira thought, his eyes narrowing as he reassessed the Chinese player on his team.
The unexpected connection between Su Dong and Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly made Pereira reconsider the potential he had in his hands. Clearly, this wasn't just any ordinary youth player.
...
The first half ended in a stalemate, 0-0.
Atlético de Portugal had managed to hold firm with a tenacious defensive display, while Louletano had struggled to create any real danger. Despite controlling possession for much of the half, they hadn't produced a meaningful threat. Atlético, on the other hand, had only managed one shot, and it wasn't even close to testing the goalkeeper.
The home team's attack had been toothless, unable to break through Louletano's defense, and the ball rarely reached the forward line. The lack of creativity meant they had hardly posed a challenge.
As the players headed into the locker room, head coach Antonio Pereira didn't remain seated as he had during most of the first half. Instead, he called the team over and walked with captain Matello, discussing the team's lack of offensive output.
"Our attack isn't threatening them at all, and if we keep playing like this, our defense won't hold out forever," Pereira remarked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Matello nodded in agreement. "Yes, if we keep playing this way, it's only a matter of time before they break through."
Pereira paused for a moment before asking, "What do you think about bringing Su on? Do you think it's time?"
Matello looked at the coach, surprised. As the captain and someone who had worked closely with Su Dong, Matello knew the young player's strengths. He had wanted Su Dong to feature in the first match of the season, but Pereira had been hesitant. The head coach had even mentioned before this game that he only planned to give Su about 15 minutes in the second half.
But now, something had clearly changed.
"I trust your judgment, Marco," Pereira added, offering a rare vote of confidence.
Though it seemed out of character, Matello didn't question it. The truth was, the starting forward had been ineffective, unable to hold up the ball or create any chances.
"What changes are you thinking of making?" Matello asked.
"I'm going to sub a midfielder out and push Su forward. What do you think?"
Matello hesitated. It was an aggressive move, but given the way things were going, it might be the spark they needed. Continuing with the same approach would only lead to more frustration. Bringing Su Dong on earlier than planned could change the dynamic.
"I think it's worth a try," Matello agreed. "Su has been working hard, and his shooting has improved a lot recently. Maybe he can give us that cutting edge we're missing."
...
Meanwhile, Su Dong was on the training pitch, warming up as usual, when he was unexpectedly called back to the locker room. His heart raced—he had a feeling something exciting was about to happen.
When he entered the locker room, Matello approached him with a serious look on his face. "Coach Pereira wants to bring you on. You're going in."
Su Dong's excitement grew, but he listened intently as Matello continued.
"Your job is simple: focus on the two central defenders. Get yourself into good positions, and when the ball comes to you, take every chance you get to shoot. We'll handle the rest. The team's going to pass the ball to you."
Matello's tone was firm, and the rest of the team stood by, offering no objections. They all knew how ineffective their attack had been in the first half and were ready to try something different.
The reality was that Atlético had managed just one shot in the entire first half—a wild effort from a midfielder that had sailed harmlessly over the bar. Even at this level, having only one shot on goal after 45 minutes was unacceptable.
Matello put a hand on Su Dong's shoulder and offered some final encouragement. "No pressure, Su. Just play the way you do in training. Stay calm, and everything will come naturally. Got it?"
Su Dong nodded, his excitement barely contained. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the chance to prove himself in a real match.
He had been preparing for this for a long time, and now his opportunity had finally arrived.
...
...
"Su Dong!!!"
"Come on, Su Dong!!!"
As Su Dong emerged from the players' tunnel alongside his teammates, he was immediately greeted by the loud shouts of Cristiano and José Semedo from the stands.
The ever-flamboyant Semedo even went so far as to scream, "I love you, Su Dong!"
Su Dong, halfway through the tunnel, nearly tripped over his own feet. In response, he flashed a middle finger in Semedo's direction, only for the shameless Cape Verdean to shout even louder, "If you score tonight, I'll treat you to dinner at Hippy in Indenton!"
Before Su Dong could react, Cristiano gave Semedo a hard shove, laughing as he asked, "Have you gone completely mad?"
Several of Atlético de Portugal's nearby fans glanced over at Semedo with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by the scene. Semedo's antics were far from subtle, and it seemed like everyone in the stands had heard him. What exactly was he up to?
Meanwhile, Su Dong, now on the pitch, was utterly confused.
Indenton? Isn't that just a station on the Green Line? he thought. It's not far from the Marquis de Pombal Square. And Romario, the restaurant where I treated them to seafood, is nearby.
Was Semedo really just offering to take him out to dinner?
"Your friend is playing a risky game," Captain Matello laughed, standing next to Su Dong as they prepared for the second half.
Su Dong nodded, agreeing. "Definitely. That meal cost more than seventy euros," he said, recalling their last dinner. "Semedo is really doing this?"
Matello chuckled, shaking his head. "Wait, you don't know?"
Su Dong blinked, confused. "Know what?"
Matello gave him a sly grin, clearly enjoying the moment. "Score a goal, and I'll tell you."
With that, the captain waved him off and walked away, laughing all the way back to his position.
Su Dong stood there for a moment, watching Matello, then glanced back at Semedo in the stands, still utterly confused.
What is going on with these two?
...
As Su Dong slowly made his way over to the center circle, Louletano's two central defenders exchanged glances, sizing him up. They looked amused.
Who's this kid? they seemed to be thinking. He looks too young, too green. Is this really the best Atlético de Portugal could put on the field?
Meanwhile, Su Dong's mind was still preoccupied, trying to figure out what was so special about Indenton. He stole another quick glance over at Cristiano and Semedo in the stands, who were waving and shouting at him like madmen. Distracted, he absentmindedly wandered into Louletano's half of the field, much to the defenders' amusement.
Only then did he realize his mistake—he wasn't supposed to be there yet.
Feeling the contemptuous stares from Louletano's defenders, Su Dong flushed with embarrassment. What am I doing? he thought. He had completely forgotten the protocol. The second half was about to start, and as a forward, he was supposed to be standing in the center circle, ready for the kick-off.
Rookie move, he thought with a sigh, knowing he had just outed himself as a newcomer.
No matter, he thought. Time to focus on the game.
But the defenders on Louletano's side clearly weren't impressed. They exchanged smirks, shaking their heads as if to say, This kid's going to be easier to deal with than the guy from the first half.
Once Su Dong made his way to the center circle for the kick-off, he hesitated briefly. Then, he made a decision.
It's my first real game, he thought. Better not take any risks.
He decided to activate the buffs from his system.
Thanks to his recent training sessions with Cristiano, he had accumulated enough Glory Tokens to afford a boost. While using a potion worth 10,000 Glory Tokens stung a little, Su Dong knew it was worth it. This was his chance, and he couldn't afford to hold back.
He activated three bottles of potions in his system, immediately feeling the effects. Three buffs appeared on his personal attribute panel, each increasing his stats by 10%.
With his attributes boosted, Su Dong felt more confident, more at ease. He was ready.
…
...
The second half kicked off.
Su Dong quickly passed the ball to his teammate and sprinted forward. Standing at 1.86 meters, he looked the part of a center forward, albeit a bit on the thinner side. The two central defenders from Louletano eyed him with little concern, assuming he was inexperienced and easy to handle.
However, just moments after the kick-off, Atlético de Portugal made a mistake in midfield. The ball was intercepted, forcing Su Dong to turn and rush back to help. They regained possession shortly after, but couldn't push past the halfway line. Two consecutive turnovers made the team's issues clear to Su Dong: they weren't able to transition effectively from defense to attack.
When they managed to recover the ball again, Su Dong changed his approach. Rather than staying up front waiting for a pass like in the first half, he dropped deeper into midfield and raised his hand, calling for the ball.
Under pressure from Louletano, the ball seemed like a hot potato—no one wanted to hold onto it for long. It soon found its way to Su Dong's feet. Before the central defenders could close in on him, he passed it safely to a teammate on the opposite flank. It was a simple transition, but at least this time, the ball wasn't lost.
Su Dong sprinted forward, and the ball came to him again. This time, he passed it back to the center. With each touch, he played more steadily, a testament to the hard training he'd put in over the past few months.
Each touch of the ball earned him 50 Glory Tokens. Su Dong was pleased to see that official matches gave him the same rewards as training sessions.
The two Louletano center-backs were tall and powerful but clearly didn't enjoy having to chase Su Dong, who was constantly on the move. At first, one of them tried to keep up, but after a few moments, they both resigned to simply marking him from a distance.
Then, the ball came to Su Dong again—an awkward pass from a nervous teammate. He quickly realized that no defenders were closing in on him. The Louletano center-backs hadn't bothered to track him. Without hesitation, Su Dong controlled the ball, turned, and gestured for his teammates to follow up.
Quick, everyone move forward! he urged silently.
The central midfielder, a former Benfica youth product, responded immediately, surging forward to support Su Dong.
As Su Dong took two steps forward, one of the center-backs finally charged toward him. But before the defender could get close, Su Dong sent a quick, precise pass to his advancing midfielder. As the ball left his foot, Su Dong flashed a grin at the incoming defender and, without missing a beat, launched himself into a full sprint.
The Louletano defender was caught off guard. He had assumed Su Dong, with his 1.86-meter frame, would be a typical power forward, relying on strength rather than speed. But Su Dong's sudden burst of acceleration left him trailing in the dust.
Su Dong bolted forward, his speed a surprise to everyone on the pitch.
The ball was passed through the midfield, and a teammate sent a lofted pass toward the edge of Louletano's defensive line. The ball wasn't perfect, slightly off-target, but Su Dong was first to reach it, though the opposing center-back had recovered enough to close him down.
With no other options, Su Dong made a sharp, emergency stop, controlling the ball as the defender scrambled to match his movement.
Then, with a feint, Su Dong pretended to drive forward again, causing the defender to lunge to block him. In that split second, Su Dong smoothly dragged the ball to his right, cutting inside past the defender, leaving him flat-footed.
Suddenly, Su Dong was through on goal.
At the edge of the penalty area, he shifted the ball across his body, throwing off the nearest defender, and wound up for a shot. This was a move he had practiced countless times—the same shot he had perfected over hours of extra training, the same one he had even used successfully against Cristiano in their one-on-one sessions.
The technique came naturally now, his body following the rhythm ingrained in him from those countless repetitions.
With his left foot firmly planted, Su Dong leaned slightly to the left, like a crossbow being drawn back. Every muscle in his body tensed, focusing all his power into his right leg.
Then, with a fluid motion, he unleashed the shot.
The ball rocketed off his foot like a bolt from a crossbow, flying with incredible speed and power. It streaked toward the right side of Louletano's goal, slicing through the air and crashing into the net with the force of a thunderbolt.
The goalkeeper stood frozen, dumbfounded.
The stadium fell into stunned silence for a split second, as if everyone in the crowd needed a moment to process what had just happened.
Then, the referee blew his whistle. The goal stood.
The sound of the whistle seemed to snap the crowd back to life. The stands erupted with cheers, the noise rolling across the stadium as more than a thousand Atlético de Portugal fans leaped to their feet, shouting in celebration.
They didn't even know the name of the player who had just come off the bench, the young forward wearing the unfamiliar number 36 jersey. But they knew one thing for sure—this goal was nothing short of brilliant.
"Wow, beautiful, Su Dong!" Cristiano leapt out of his seat in the stands, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"You're so handsome, Su Dong! I love you!" José Semedo joined in, cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling playfully.
On the pitch, Su Dong slowly began to process what had just happened.
Did I just score?
He stood still for a moment, his mind completely blank. The buzzing roar of the crowd seemed distant, and all he could think of was a single, overwhelming doubt.
Is this real? Did I actually score a goal?
Before he could fully comprehend what had happened, his teammates rushed toward him, arms outstretched, hugging him one after the other.
The first player to reach him was the midfielder who had played the pass. Despite it being slightly off-target, Su Dong had made it work, turning the pass into a brilliant goal.
"You nailed it, man! That was like Batistuta!" his teammate shouted excitedly, slapping Su Dong on the back.
More and more teammates joined the celebration, piling around him. It didn't matter that many of them barely knew him—this was football, and when a goal was scored, everyone celebrated. It was tradition.
"That was beautiful! Just like Batistuta!"
"That goal was something else, man—so exciting!"
"You've been holding out on us, haven't you? That was a stunner!"
"Hey, you're not just a rookie after all! That was incredible!"
Voices of congratulations and admiration filled Su Dong's ears, but he still stood there, stunned.
For years, he had dreamed of this moment. He had imagined scoring in an official match so many times. He had fantasized about how he would celebrate—maybe a dramatic backflip, or sliding to his knees in front of the fans?
At the very least, he had thought about mimicking his idols with a celebration. Maybe pretending to have a girlfriend and kissing his finger, or pulling off some slick gesture.
But now, with the goal behind him and the crowd cheering, Su Dong found himself frozen. His mind was blank, and he couldn't remember a single one of those celebrations he had dreamed about.
Instead, he stood there, grinning like an idiot, accepting his teammates' hugs and high-fives while the fans—who didn't even know his name—cheered for number 36.
It wasn't the roaring, stadium-wide adoration that Jardel received when he scored. There was no booming commentary echoing through the stands. It wasn't the majestic moment he had imagined.
It was just him, standing there, smiling like a fool.
So this is what it feels like to score a goal, Su Dong thought, his heart swelling with a mix of disbelief and joy.
He hadn't expected it to feel this way—so surreal, yet so wonderfully real.
"It's a bit strange, isn't it?" came a familiar voice. Matello, the last to join the celebration, gave Su Dong a hearty hug before walking back with him toward their positions.
"A little," Su Dong admitted, still grinning despite himself. "I feel kind of... stupid."
Matello laughed. "That's normal for your first goal. It just means you haven't scored enough yet."
"Yeah, I guess so." Su Dong chuckled.
He vaguely remembered someone once telling him that scoring a goal was like experiencing something indescribable for the first time—nervous and exciting at first, but over time, you'd get used to it. Eventually, it might even become routine.
Turns out, they were right.
But for now, Su Dong wasn't thinking about the future. He was simply savoring the moment. This feeling, the exhilaration of scoring his first goal, was one he would never forget.
...
Louletano's two central defenders were both frustrated and embarrassed.
Earlier, they had dismissed the young forward who had come off the bench, assuming he was inexperienced and easy to handle. But Su Dong's goal had shattered their confidence, leaving them both feeling like the real fools.
With that single goal, Su Dong had turned the game on its head, putting Louletano in a passive position.
In the lower leagues, where the quality of play is limited, chances are scarce, and often, the team that capitalizes on one or two key opportunities will come out on top. It was rare to see teams consistently create scoring chances, so every goal mattered immensely. Su Dong's strike had all but destroyed Louletano's hopes of leaving with three points.
Their head coach, furious on the sidelines, shouted orders in frustration.
Like many of the professional players on his team, Louletano's coach had previously worked in the Segunda Liga and was well-regarded in Portuguese football circles. However, that experience made him slightly dismissive of the competition in the Segunda Divisão B. Facing a team like Clube Atlético de Portugal, which he considered mediocre, he had come into the match fully expecting to walk away with three points.
But Su Dong's unexpected goal felt like a slap in the face, and his frustration showed. His team had the upper hand in terms of talent and experience, yet they had failed to break down the defense. Instead, they had been hit on the counter and conceded. His annoyance was palpable as he barked orders at his players.
Now, Louletano found themselves chasing the game. They had no choice but to press forward, increasing their offensive efforts in hopes of equalizing. At the same time, the coach ordered the two central defenders to keep a close eye on Su Dong, making sure they didn't lose track of him again.
But Atlético de Portugal was no fool.
Head coach Pereira, who had seemed calm and reserved throughout much of the first half, was now animated on the sidelines. Energized by the lead, he shouted commands to his team, urging them to remain compact and disciplined in defense. At the same time, he signaled to Su Dong to stay alert and position himself for potential counterattacks.
It was as if Pereira was personally taking credit for Su Dong's goal, his demeanor entirely different from the laid-back attitude he had displayed earlier.
With a one-goal lead and the advantage of playing at home, Atlético de Portugal tightened their defense, growing more resilient as Louletano's attacks became increasingly desperate. Louletano, despite making two substitutions to bolster their attack, struggled to create meaningful chances. The more they pushed forward, the more anxious and disorganized they became.
As time ticked on, the pressure continued to mount. One side was resolute, digging in and defending their lead, while the other side, growing more frustrated by the minute, failed to break through.
The outcome seemed inevitable...
...
There was an opening on the right!
Louletano's left-back had pushed too far forward to support the attack, leaving a gaping hole behind him, and there was no time for him to recover. Sensing the opportunity, the midfielder of Clube Atlético de Portugal quickly played the ball down the right side. Su Dong reacted instantly.
Seeing Louletano's left central defender shifting over to cover, Su Dong pointed forward and shouted, "Go forward!"
Without waiting for a response, he exploded into a sprint, surging into the open space as fast as he could.
Louletano's right center-back, who had been watching Su Dong closely, immediately matched his movement. As Su Dong took off, the defender followed, one hand pressing on his shoulder and the other grabbing at his arm, determined to stop him at all costs.
Su Dong felt the resistance but reacted swiftly, shaking off the defender's grip with his left hand. However, the center-back wasn't done yet. His next move was to grab Su Dong's jersey, trying to pull him back.
This wasn't new to Su Dong. He had faced similar situations while defending Cristiano in training, and he knew that sometimes, defenders resorted to desperate tactics. Whether it was a foul or not didn't matter—what counted was whether the referee noticed.
Su Dong could feel the fabric of his jersey stretching, almost tearing from the force, slowing him down. But he saw his moment. With a swift motion, he slapped the defender's hand off his shirt, taking advantage of the sweat-soaked fabric. The defender's grip loosened, and Su Dong broke free.
He timed his run perfectly, darting into space to meet a diagonal pass from his teammate just outside the penalty area.
His first touch brought the ball under control, but the Louletano defender was already charging back, and the goalkeeper had abandoned his line, rushing out to close down the angle.
Su Dong knew he had no time to hesitate. His first touch wasn't as clean as he wanted, and the shot opportunity was slipping away. He quickly adjusted, chasing down the ball, and with his right foot, he unleashed a powerful volley.
The ball rocketed low toward the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Louletano's goalkeeper bent down, desperately trying to block it, but he wasn't fast enough. The ball skimmed past him and found the back of the net.
2-0!
Su Dong had barely finished his shot when he lost his balance, slipping on the grass. But as he looked up from the ground and saw the ball hit the net, his heart soared.
He jumped to his feet, elation rushing through him, and sprinted toward the sidelines, shouting at the top of his lungs, "I scored! I scored! I scored again!!!"
The fans in the stands erupted into cheers, louder than before. Many leapt from their seats, their shouts echoing around the stadium as they called out to Su Dong, who was running along the touchline, beaming with excitement.
"Well done, kid, fantastic job!"
"That was beautiful—what's his name?"
"That volley was incredible!"
"Brace! He's scored twice!!!"
Su Dong ran all the way to the section where Cristiano and Semedo were sitting. He stopped just below them, hands on his knees, panting but grinning from ear to ear.
"Cut it out," Cristiano teased, pretending to be unimpressed. "So what if you scored twice? Don't get too cocky."
Semedo, on the other hand, laughed and gave Su Dong a huge thumbs-up. "You did great, man! That's my brother—massive progress!"
He meant it. Semedo knew all too well how much Su Dong had improved over the past month. It wasn't long ago that Su Dong hadn't shown anywhere near this level of ability.
"Of course," Cristiano added, smiling proudly. "Who do you think has been training him this whole time?"
As Su Dong's teammates ran over to celebrate with him, some of them recognized Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands. Whispers spread quickly—Su Dong's friendship with the Sporting Lisbon star became the talk of the moment.
Matello was among those surprised.
He knew Su Dong had been practicing outside of regular training, and he had noticed the player's improvements. But he had no idea that Su Dong was being mentored by Cristiano Ronaldo, one of Sporting Lisbon's brightest young talents—right up there with the highly-touted Quaresma.
Reflecting on Su Dong's recent development, Matello felt reassured.
Of course, what Matello didn't know was that Su Dong's improvement wasn't only thanks to Cristiano. He had also been working with top youth coaches like Pontes and Naray from Lisbon's best academies.
Had Matello known that, his surprise would have been even greater.