Lin Wanxing stood at the sideline.

The students swarmed around Qin Ao, ruffling his hair.

Even Chen Jianghe, who usually appeared the most detached, rushed over, hugged Qin Ao, and patted his shoulder forcefully.

The field erupted with excitement.

The students were enthusiastically celebrating this goal that came after nearly 80 minutes of gritted teeth and perseverance.

Lin Wanxing was also waving cheerfully at the sideline. She grabbed an arm beside her and shook it several times.

Then, the firm feeling of muscle against her palm registered, and Lin Wanxing looked to her side. The young man still maintained his posture with his hands in his pockets, appearing very calm.

She gave an awkward smile, released her grip, and smoothly placed her hand on the young man’s shoulder, patting it firmly. “Well done.”

At that moment, Qin Ao also rushed to the sideline, haphazardly picking up a mineral water bottle from the ground to drink, while shouting at her, “Am I awesome or what?”

The student grinned arrogantly, even the scar below his eye corner appearing radiant.

Several other students followed, running over.

Upon reaching the sideline and hearing Qin Ao boasting, Qi Liang said, “To be fair, that long pass—anyone with legs could have scored that.”

Qin Ao had just taken a big gulp of water, his cheeks bulging. Upon hearing this, he almost spat the water in Qi Liang’s face.

Fu Xinshu patted Qin Ao, signaling him to swallow the water before speaking.

Chen Jianghe finished an entire bottle of water. “If we score another goal, we can tie the game.”

“Haven’t played this tournament in a long time. After a tie, is there extra time?” Lin Lu asked, panting.

“It depends on the organizing committee’s arrangements, but we won’t be eliminated immediately,” Fu Xinshu answered.

The students became even more excited. They put down their water bottles and immediately wanted to return to the field.

Before going back on the field, Qin Ao said one last thing, “Then let’s score another goal!”

After the brief celebration, the match resumed.

The students took their positions again at the center circle.

Each of them was excited, eager to score another goal.

And the students from An’ning Experimental were the same.

After the kickoff, An’ning Experimental immediately launched a fierce attack.

Their coach continuously waved and shouted at the sideline, signaling the students to keep pressing forward.

Lin Wanxing heard the faint roars of the opposing coach and couldn’t understand, “Has An’ning Experimental gone crazy? They’re still leading. Why continue attacking?”

“So what if they’re leading?” the young man suddenly asked.

“The match is about to end. Wouldn’t it be better to defend?”

“Why defend?” the young man countered. “They’re well-trained, their team is organized, they’re fully staffed, and their strength is quite good for a high school team. Both the players and the coach are proud and confident. The upcoming schedule is long. If you were the coach of such a team, would you choose to defend and show weakness after conceding a goal to a weak team in the first match?”

“I…” Lin Wanxing wanted to refute but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Finally, she could only say, “Maybe not. Retreating into a defensive shell after conceding to a weaker team would affect morale for future matches.”

“Congratulations, you’ve made the wrong choice.”

Lin Wanxing stared, not understanding why the young man had changed his tune so abruptly. “You would choose to have the team defend?”

“I would.”

“Why?”

“Because victory is very important.”

Lin Wanxing didn’t understand what the young man meant at that time.

From her perspective, An’ning Experimental quickly reversed the situation on the field. Their massive forward press and fierce attacks would only continue to expand their advantage and secure victory.

In the 82nd minute, Fu Xinshu was knocked to the ground.

In the 83rd minute, An’ning Experimental’s number 10 received the first yellow card of the match for a dangerous sliding tackle.

Just minutes ago, her students had been full of confidence, but now they were completely pinned in their half, unable to move.

The whistle suddenly sounded, its shrill cry piercing the air above the field.

An’ning Experimental’s forward took a tricky shot from a tight angle, fortunately missing the goal.

87th minute.

Lin Lu collapsed from exhaustion for the third time while being broken through.

The boy was soaked as if he’d been pulled from the water, his face sunburned so red it almost appeared purple. He lay on the ground for a moment, but unwilling to give up, he struggled to his feet.

The ball was intercepted, but the referee didn’t blow his whistle, meaning the attack continued.

Before returning to the field, Qin Ao had said they’d score another goal.

But at this moment, he could only struggle to defend his position, yet their entire defensive line had already become as soft as tofu.

In an instant, An’ning Experimental’s forward had pierced into the penalty area like a sharp knife. He adjusted his posture and raised his foot to shoot.

The ball traced a light arc, flying toward the far corner of the goal.

Lin Wanxing again felt the pressure of a sudden heart stop.

In front of the goal, goalkeeper Feng Suo leaped high.

He stretched his body to the fullest in mid-air, reaching for the ball.

The next moment, with a heavy thud, the ball’s trajectory changed, forcefully deflected and bouncing out of the goal line.

It was a spectacular save, and the referee’s whistle sounded for a corner kick.

“Alas!” A long sigh came from An’ning Experimental’s coaching bench.

On the field, her students all stood frozen in place, more like they had lost the ability to react immediately due to fatigue.

They stood there for a while.

An’ning Experimental’s coach quickly adjusted his emotions and began shouting from the sideline, directing his team’s corner kick attack tactics, requiring them to continue pressing forward, execute immediately, and not delay.

Beside Lin Wanxing, the young man finally moved. He lowered his head to check his watch, picked up an unopened bottle of mineral water from the ground, and looked toward Fu Xinshu.

Fu was positioned slightly closer to them on the field and immediately understood, jogging over.

As he approached, Lin Wanxing could feel the heat radiating from him.

Fu Xinshu had already lost control of his breathing rhythm. His breath was heavy, and his movements were stiff due to exhaustion.

Fu Xinshu opened his mouth, but due to his depleted energy, he didn’t even have the strength to speak.

“Still want to score?” the young man asked.

Fu Xinshu suddenly looked up, his voice hoarse, “Do we still have a chance?”

The young man unscrewed the bottle cap and handed the water to Fu Xinshu. “Defend this corner kick, try to gain possession, and continue with long passes to the forwards.”

Fu Xinshu was somewhat anxious, “All their players are too close to our half, so our forwards also have to move back, otherwise it’s easy to be offside. The space for passing and receiving is too small.”

“There’s a rule in the offside regulations that states: If at the moment of the pass, the receiving player is in his half, it doesn’t count as offside regardless of whether there are opposing defenders in front of him. So, have our forwards position themselves behind the midline.”

“Will their defenders make such a mistake?” Fu Xinshu asked.

“If your luck is good enough,” he answered.

88th minute.

At the sideline, the fourth official indicated 2 minutes of injury time.

The match would end in 4 minutes.

On the field, Fu Xinshu walked over to Qin Ao and Chen Jianghe and said a few words.

Both had their heads lowered. Upon hearing him, they seemed to argue back for a couple of sentences.

After Fu Xinshu finished explaining, they both appeared stunned and simultaneously looked toward the sideline.

Qin Ao extended one finger and nodded firmly at them.

“2011-2012 season, UEFA Champions League semi-final, Barcelona versus Chelsea. The score was 2:2, and Barcelona desperately needed a goal to advance.”

The young man’s calm voice sounded in her ear.

Lin Wanxing looked toward the field.

On the green pitch, the whistle blew, and An’ning Experimental’s midfielder took the corner kick, sending the ball toward the edge of the penalty area.

Players from both sides leaped up fiercely. In the scramble, the ball was headed out of bounds by Chen Weidong, and the referee awarded An’ning Experimental a second corner kick.

89th minute.

“During injury time, Barcelona pressed forward in force, leaving their defense empty.”

The second whistle sounded, and An’ning Experimental’s midfielder took the corner kick again.

The ball flew toward the penalty area.

All An’ning Experimental players had pushed past the halfway line. No one could accept a 2:1 scoreline. The psychological momentum of the attack made them still want to score a crucial goal in the final moments.

The ball flew up.

The second hand ticked, the minute hand slowly moving toward the end.

Lin Wanxing’s gaze fixed on mid-air.

At the moment of the header contest, an An’ning Experimental player headed the ball out.

The ball changed trajectory, falling toward the near goal post, bouncing once.

The ball rebounded, both sides scrambled for it, and a football boot flew up as if using all the strength in the body, creating a slight depression where the ball and boot made contact.

Then, for the countless times in this match, the ball flew skyward.

The ball spun and descended in the wind, finally landing at a pair of black cleats.

On this side of the white midline were all 21 players; on that side was the entire half of the field.

An’ning Experimental’s players raised their hands, signaling to the referee that the attacking side was offside.

But the referee’s whistle didn’t sound. The match continued.

The sounds of running and breathing grew heavier.

An’ning Experimental’s goalkeeper’s figure became infinitely small in front of the goal.

Lin Wanxing heard the young man beside her say, “Barcelona was broken through by Torres on a breakaway from the halfway line. Chelsea advanced to the final with an aggregate score of 3-2.”