LOVE AT ISTANBUL (İSTANBUL'DA AŞK)

Chapter Nineteen: The Finals 🏅

The stadium was crowded with fans chanting vigorously. The crowd shouted as the two teams make their way into the field.

I was quite nervous, I have never seen a crowd as large as today; we stand quietly staring at the fans while they sang the melodious Turkish national anthem.

We shook hands with the opponents and took our positions. The referee adjusts his stopwatch before he blow the whistle for kick up.

I made few dashing moves, leaving the crowd chanting. Ferhat our right back defender throw the ball toward, I flicked it up and pass it to Burak, he shoot the ball toward the net but was saved by the keeper.

The first half ended goalless, we walked down the tunnel into dressing room, coach Dogan ginger us to go for a win, we stormed back into the field with reborn energy, we got a free kick 30 meters to the post, I flick the ball but unfortunately it went and hit the bar.
Ohhhh...! Our fans shout in disappointment. 

We conceded a corner around 78 minutes, the ball was kick into our box, Wael quickly clear it out, the ball landed on the opponent leg, he shot the ball toward the post, the ball hit Gurkan on his back, the referee wrongly awarded a penalty.

Their striker made no mistake, we are now one goal down, I can clearly see the gloom in our fans faces as the match reached 86 minutes.

Wabel make a sharp move, he sprinted with the ball toward the opponent side, he flicked up the ball to my direction, I adjust and curved it into the net using my left leg. Gurkan ran quickly and lift up.

The match went into extra time, we almost conceded a goal if not for the heroic save made by our goalkeeper Serhat.

The referee blown the final whistle, giving us five minute to prepare for penalty kick, coach Dogan brought out a piece of paper and wrote the names of those who will take the kick, I made to take the final kick.

Nathan first grabbed the ball and adjust it on the spot, he flexed the ball into the net. We all scored our first three kicks, Wabel took the fourth kick and scored, the ball was narrowly saved by the keeper.

We held each other's hand and prayed as the opponent player dropped the ball on the spot, he tap the ball into the right corner, it flew and hit the cross bar, our fans went wild.

Is now my turn to make history, I looked at the sky and whisper a prayer. Afet eyes were fixed on me, she clanged her hands together and placed them on her forehead.

As I placed the ball on top of the penalty spot kick, the crowd became quite, I took few steps backward, I took a breath, sprint and shoot the ball to the far right edge of the net while the goalkeeper jumped toward the left.

My team mate rushed and hugged me, I almost fainted. Our fans began to chant my name. Coach Dogan couldn't hold his tears; he came and embraced me tightly.

The officials yanked into the field with golden medals and the cup, we lined up as the official hanged the medals on our necks, the sport minister grabbed the cup and hand it to Gurkan, we converged together before Gurkan lift up the cup.

I received the best player and golden boot award; I walked to the fan's stand and dragged Afet into the field. I gave her the golden boot; we posed by the camera and snapped few shots.

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