As his teammates hurried toward him to celebrate, Benjamin stood frozen in the moment. Luka put an arm around his shoulders and a smile came to his face.
"I told you you had it," Luka said as he laughed.
Unaware that he was holding his breath, Benjamin released it and answered, "Yeah,"
He was still amazed at how cleanly the ball had hit the post and entered. It was... instinctive.
With the score now at 3-0, Team A appeared to be well on their way to victory. Nothing could stop them right now.
Benjamin's spectacular free-kick left Team D looking completely defeated and lost.
They were clearly frustrated by the goal, and Lars in particular was unable to conceal his annoyance anymore. He had been outplayed throughout the game by the person he had tried to stop all game.
He scowled at Benjamin, who was jogging back to his half with a smug look on his face.
Lars's face contorted with a mix of hopelessness and rage as his hands clenched tight. He was getting frustrated that he couldn't stop Benjamin.
Sensing the animosity, Benjamin jogged back to his half and grinned at Lars. Instead of being intimidated, he was now more focused than ever on increasing the gap on scoreboard.
He was pleased with himself for riling up his opponent, and he sensed that the tide was turning in their favor so there was no need to ease on the gas.
Three of Team D's defenders were spread thin at the back, and Luka didn't hesitate to release the ball. The ball skimmed the ground as it moved toward Benjamin after he executed a long pass.
The ball gained speed as it moved across the field.
Benjamin took off as he ran to meet it. One of Team D's defenders charged at him as he got closer, trying to close him down.
Without thinking, Benjamin executed a feint. He opened his legs, feinting a touch, and let the ball slip underneath both his and the defender's legs, leaving both himself and the defender in a dead sprint.
He spun to his right, leaving the defender chasing shadows, unable to stop his momentum.
The defender was taken by surprise and tripped, unable to stop his run as Benjamin darted around him with ease, leaving him dumbfounded.
With the ball still rolling a few feet ahead of him, Benjamin swiftly caught up. The din of the crowd was blurring in his ears as he ran forward, feeling the surge of excitement.
Benjamin looked up to see Lars and another defender rapidly approaching from his right.
After making a quick decision, Benjamin kicked the ball a few meters ahead of his pursuers, relying on his speed to outrun them.
The two defenders lunged after him in vain, but he barely made it past them as his legs pounded and his pulse raced. His eyes focused solely on the ball.
In seconds, he reached the edge of the 18-yard box, the goalkeeper rushing out of his 6-yard box, leaving the goal vulnerable and attempting to narrow the angle.
Benjamin's mind screamed for a chip. 'Chip him,' he thought.
It was instinctive, just like the kind of moves he'd practiced hundreds of times. But just as he readied himself to execute the shot, he felt a sudden force collide with his legs from behind.
The impact was brutal.
The world flipped as he was sent crashing to the ground, the rough grass scraping against his skin.
Pain exploded in his left leg.
His breath left him in a painful gasp, and for a second, everything went black. Nothing but searing, unbearable pain radiating from his knee.
'No... Not this... Please, not again,' he thought, panic creeping in. Tears welled up, but he forced them back.
'Pain.'
It was the only thought he could register. His leg throbbed with a searing intensity, radiating up his body. He clenched his fists, trying to breathe through it, but the pain only grew sharper.
'I can't cry,' Benjamin thought, fighting the tears that pricked his eyes.
But the pain was relentless, and his breath hitched. It felt like his leg was on fire. His hands reached instinctively for his left leg, but the slightest touch made him grit his teeth in agony.
Coach Jansen stood motionless on the sidelines. His biggest fear had came true, his heart fell and pulse accelerated.
He cursed at himself that he hadn't replaced Benjamin sooner. He had thought of pulling Benjamin out earlier, but decided against it. The repercussions of that choice now glared at him.
His mind rushed through the doctor's warnings, and now he feared the worst. He hurried to the edge of the field with his eyes focused on Benjamin's still form.
Players swarmed around the fallen Benjamin as the referee's whistle blew loudly, stopping the game.
His ears picked up worried murmurs, but he was only able to concentrate on the searing pain in his leg. His breath was coming in ragged breaths as he curled up on himself, gripping his knee. 'Not again.'
Benjamin's mind was a swirl of thoughts. He could barely register what was happening around him. All he could feel was a sharp and throbbing pain.
The medics stabilized his leg and began to lift him onto a stretcher. Benjamin closed his eyes, fighting back the tears. His teammates gathered around him, their expressions a mix of anger and concern.
"We've got you," Luka said, his voice low and full of sympathy. "Just hold on."
Benjamin nodded, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay calm, even as the stretcher carried him off the pitch.
The game continued without him, but for Benjamin, everything seemed distant, muffled. His mind spun, not just from the physical pain but from the fear of what this could mean for his future.
His leg throbbed, but worse than the physical pain was the sinking realization that his journey might be far from over, but not in the way he had hoped.