"Phew."
"Phew."
"Phew..."
A cold north wind howls across Liverpool, sweeps toward Wembley, and surges into Wembley Stadium, brushing past the faces of every standing fan.
Leo Lin can no longer tell whether the sound in his ears is the wind or his own ragged breathing, but he forces himself to steady it.
He looks up at the goal.
Ederson is rubbing his hands repeatedly, getting ready. Manchester City have set up the tallest possible wall.
A textbook wall.
Leo Lin thinks it through calmly. The wall is slightly to his left. If he goes to the right, Ederson will likely save it.
But if he goes left, the ball will struggle to clear the height of the wall.
It has to be precise. It has to dip fast. It has to spin hard. The angle has to be perfect.
He knows he has to execute it flawlessly to score.
The wall towers in front of him.
Every player is ready to jump.
The broadcast cuts to a young Liverpool fan in the stands, already in tears.
No one knows why he is crying. He wipes his eyes, staring at Leo Lin. At this moment, every Liverpool fan is utterly focused, almost prayerful.
Leo Lin exhales deeply, as if emptying everything from his body.
The whistle sounds.
Leo Lin moves.
A small angled step, then two quick strides into the run-up.
His dominant foot is his right, and he strikes with it.
His left foot plants firmly. His ankle twists to an extreme angle, while his knee stays locked straight.
Then his right leg swings through.
The inside of his foot strikes the lower middle of the ball.
A sharp crack.
The wall leaps.
Laporte and Otamendi strain upward, faces twisted, trying to get a touch.
Laporte is sure he barely grazes the underside of the ball with his hair, but only just.
Ederson guesses that side, diving early, his body fully stretched in the air.
He sees the ball dropping.
Everyone sees it.
Manchester City fans hold their breath.
Liverpool fans' clenched brows loosen, hands opening unconsciously.
Barnett rocks forward in his wheelchair, ready to spring up.
In the next instant.
As if lifted by the gaze of tens of thousands of Liverpool fans.
The ball dips.
Drops sharply.
It flies into the net.
"Swish!"
Leo Lin sprints into the wind.
In the vast Wembley Stadium, the man in red is the center of the world.
Every eye follows him.
The camera zooms in, tracking him closely.
Leo Lin charges forward like a man possessed, leaps onto the advertising board, and plants his feet shoulder-width apart.
He throws his arms wide.
His eyes burn with intensity, as if nothing else exists.
He roars and slams his hand against the club crest.
"Come on!"
"Come on!"
His teammates rush in. Some lift him up, others jump beside him, punching the air.
The Liverpool fans erupt.
In the South Stand, they surge forward in waves, fists pumping toward Leo Lin.
"GOAL!"
"Oh my God!"
"Unbelievable!"
"I can't believe it!"
Gerrard roars wildly, completely losing control.
Carragher covers his face, crying.
Derek Rae shouts, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"It's been so hard!"
"So hard!"
"Liverpool have fought their way to this point. It has not been easy!"
"Leo Lin scores in the 100th minute!"
"A direct free kick!"
"Unbelievable technique!"
"What a strike!"
"After seeing this, how can any other free kick compare!"
Derek Rae is almost overcome, his voice breaking as he shouts.
Beside him, Jon Champion says nothing at first.
As someone who greatly admires Liverpool, he is even more emotional, but he forces himself to stay composed. A commentator must remain neutral.
After steadying himself, he finally speaks, though his voice trembles.
"Leo Lin..."
"What more can you ask of him?"
"With stoppage time included, he has run over 13 kilometers in this match."
"In a game of this intensity, at the very end of extra time, he still produces a goal like this."
"A decisive free kick that kills the match and extinguishes Manchester City's last hope."
"I would call this the most important goal in FA Cup history."
Leo Lin is still celebrating, but the exhaustion hits him all at once.
His legs begin to cramp.
He pats Firmino urgently.
"Firmino, put me down."
Firmino is still holding him up, confused.
Then both of Leo Lin's legs seize up.
"Firmino!"
"Damn it!"
"I've got cramps!"
Firmino quickly sets him down and starts stretching his legs.
The cramps are severe. Leo Lin lies on the ground for a long time, recovering, while his teammates take the chance to catch their breath.
Klopp makes a substitution. Lucas comes on for Leo Lin.
The entire stadium rises in applause, sending off their hero.
Leo Lin taps the badge and waves back to the fans.
Play resumes.
Liverpool throw everything into defense.
Every player's eyes are bloodshot. They cannot allow the lead Leo Lin created to slip away.
If Manchester City's desire for the title has reached its peak, then Liverpool's effort now burns at the very limit of their bodies.
"Agüero turns with the ball, looking to shoot!"
"Lovren throws himself in to block!"
"It deflects to the right. Still a chance!"
"Moreno dives in! He blocks Sterling's cross with his back! That's total commitment!"
118th minute.
"Ederson pushes forward with the ball! Manchester City flood into the penalty area!"
"Firmino presses desperately. Ederson is forced to launch it early into the box!"
"Milner goes up for the header but can't clear it far!"
"Loose ball in midfield!"
"De Bruyne controls it and shifts it right!"
"Yaya Touré has space!"
"He shoots!"
At the moment of the shot, Lallana closes in from the center.
Henderson slides in at the same time.
Both make the same decision.
They throw their bodies in front of the ball.
It smashes into Henderson.
His face turns red instantly from the impact.
But he still forces himself back up, continuing to organize the defense.
The broadcast cuts to Liverpool's bench. Coaches and substitutes are all breathing hard, waiting for the final whistle.
122nd minute.
Even the added time in extra time is over.
Klopp is on the sideline, shouting furiously.
"Enough!"
"That's enough!"
"Ref! Time's up!"
"End it! This game has had enough already!"
The referee checks his watch.
Every commentator senses it.
Then the whistle goes to his lips.
The sound rings out.
"Beep."
"Beep."
"Beep!"
Jon Champion roars with everything he has left.
"It's over! It's over!"
"Liverpool are double champions!"
"We are double champions!"