There were 20 minutes left, and tension filled the air. With both teams scoreless, fans from both sides screamed for a goal. This was their chance for gold, an opportunity to prove their team's superiority. After a missed corner from Sailsworth F.C, a goal kick was given to Verdant City team. They knew what they had to do; they had worked hard to reach this moment. The goalkeeper scanned the field and spotted an opening on the left side where Reinhart, their left winger, was waiting. Their team had intentionally played from the back all game, lulling Sailsworth F.C into a false sense of security. This was their moment to strike.

The goalkeeper dropped the ball onto his feet, ignoring the pressure from the Sailsworth F.C forwards. His focus was on one thing: delivering the ball straight to the left side. He swung his right leg, striking the ball with force and causing it to curve slightly to the left. It wasn't the best shot, but it landed where it needed to be. Reinhart quickly reacted, sprinting towards the goal while the defenders struggled to keep up. He skillfully caught the ball and dribbled forward without delay. The attack caught Sailsworth F.C off guard.

The Sailsworth F.C midfield reacted too late, unable to backtrack and cover Reinhart. With the high defensive line they had held all game, there was a wide opening for Reinhart to exploit on the left wing. However, the Sailsworth F.C right back, Fernandes, quickly matched Reinhart's speed as they moved down the sides. Reinhart knew what he had to do: run as deep as possible and then cross the ball into the box for someone to shoot. They had practiced this countless times and executed it successfully in many matches. Looking towards the center of the field, Reinhart saw their forward, Bradley, moving up quickly, but Sailsworth F.C center backs were flanking him.

Reinhart managed to outpace the right back, knowing he had the space to make the cross. The success of the play depended on whether Bradley could beat the two defenders. With his trademark flair, Reinhart abruptly stopped, leaving the right back, Fernandes, behind and giving himself ample time to line up his shot. With precision, he struck the ball with his left foot, aiming just outside the penalty box for Bradley to catch and shoot. The cross was perfect as it quickly flew towards Bradley's position.

Bradley reacted instantly, his speed increasing as he surpassed the two defenders chasing him. With the ball at his feet, he looked at the goal and saw the goalkeeper rushing towards him, arms outstretched. The goal seemed smaller and smaller with each passing millisecond. Trusting his instincts, he kicked the ball to his right and moved with it, catching the keeper off guard as he failed to reach it. The goal was wide open, and all Bradley needed to do was maintain his balance and deliver the goal for his team.

However, a searing pain in his left knee caused Bradley to collapse on the ground. Clutching his leg in agony, he groaned on the grass. The whistle blew, and the game paused as Reinhart rushed over to check on Bradley, while the team confronted the referee. Bradley had been badly tackled by Sailsworth F.C center defender, resulting in a foul in the penalty box. The referee instructed both teams to wait as doctors and medics entered the field, with Verdant City's physiotherapist among them, along with a few medics carrying a stretcher.

The game had shifted in favor of Verdant City. Sailsworth F.C’s desperate and reckless challenge had awarded Verdant City a penalty that could secure them the victory. The doctor examined Bradley's injury, feeling the muscle and bone in his knee. With a grim expression, he looked at the physiotherapist, indicating that it did not look good. The medics then loaded Bradley onto the stretcher and carried him off the pitch, watched by the entire stadium. Verdant City's manager turned to the bench and selected their newly signed backup striker, a friend of Bradley's and a former youth academy player for the team. Harry glanced at Bradley's figure on the stretcher for a moment, then quickly looked away and nodded to the manager. He understood the opportunity he was being given and was determined not to waste a single second of it.

The game resumed in the penalty box, with Harry standing behind the ball. It was only him and the goalkeeper, with the game-winning goal within his reach. The crowd grew anxious seeing a player who had just come off the bench. They wondered why someone like Reinhart wasn't taking the penalty. But it didn't matter now; the manager had made his choice, and it was up to Harry Steele to fulfill the task. He took a deep breath and stepped back from the ball. Locking eyes with the goalkeeper, he exhaled and ran up to strike the ball with his right foot. The ball sailed towards the right side of the goal. The goalkeeper reacted quickly, pushing himself off the ground and stretching as far as he could to the right. The ball was racing towards the goal, but the goalkeeper's fingertips were enough to divert its course. The ball collided with the white post, creating a loud crash as it bounced into the goal. With a stroke of luck, Harry had scored the goal they had been working towards the entire game.

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The crowd erupted into cheers as Harry ran across the field to celebrate, followed by his teammates chanting his name. Sailsworth F.C looked on with disappointment and shame as their manager attempted to encourage them, but the pressure they felt was insurmountable. The game continued, but with no further chances for either side, it ended in a 1-0 victory for Verdant City. They proudly held the trophy high, celebrating their first league title in the club's history.

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Back in the dressing room, Bradley lay on the physio table while the doctor conducted a checkup. Amidst the cheers of the fans and the rumble of the stadium, he glanced over at the team's assistant trainer, who was engrossed in his phone.

"So, did we win?" Bradley asked, hoping for a distraction from the pain.

"Yeah, we won with a one-nil victory. We clinched the league title."

"Good... that's good then," Bradley replied, shifting his gaze to the ceiling.

The doctor finished the checkup and cleaned his hands with alcohol wipes before turning to the assistant trainer.

"It's likely a Patellar Fracture, but I can't determine its severity. We'll need to conduct a scan before we can provide a definitive assessment. However, my initial assessment is that you'll be out for a while," the doctor explained, looking at Bradley. "Walking, let alone playing, will likely be challenging for you in the near future."

"...Months?" Bradley muttered, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling.

"I'm afraid it may be even longer than that, Bradley. We'll need the scan to provide a more accurate diagnosis. Based on my experience, it typically takes more than a few months to recover and return to playing condition."

"Thank you, doc, but for now, we'll handle things here," the assistant trainer interjected, escorting the doctor out of the room.

With the doctor gone, only Bradley and the assistant trainer remained. The cheers from the stadium continued as Bradley imagined his teammates lifting the league trophy. It was the title he had worked so hard for, alongside his team, but he couldn't be there with them.

"The manager will want to talk to you later. You did well out there, Bradley."

"But I'm not out there, am I?" Bradley replied, tears streaming down his face. "All of that effort, just for someone else to take over..."

"He won't exclude you from the first team, Bradley. We know how vital you are."

"Who took the penalty, Frank? Because no one deserved it more than Reinhart."

"The manager chose Harry..."

"Well, that settles it then," Bradley said, wiping away his tears with his shirt. "I guess I wasn't good enough for that bastard."

The dressing room door bursts open as Reinhart enters, covered in sweat and still panting from running. He looks around and spots Bradley lying on the table.

"Bradley! We won!" Reinhart exclaims, rushing over with his hands raised.

"Yeah, I could hear it from here," Bradley says with a smile, turning towards Reinhart. "They didn't choose you for the penalty?"

Reinhart's face drops as he pauses, glancing towards the assistant trainer who nods.

"No, Harry took the spot. He said he could do it, and the coach agreed..." Reinhart scratches his head. "But forget about that, man. We won! We finally did it. You and I are champions!"

Bradley smiles, looking at Reinhart. After years of playing together, they have achieved what they had been working towards. Bradley feels that all the effort was worth it, just seeing the joy in Reinhart's face.

"Reinhart, I think I want to leave the stadium. Let the guys enjoy the victory."

"Huh? What do you mean, Bradley? You're one of the guys. This club wouldn't be here without you."

"No, I'll just bring down the mood. Come on, just let me have this one. Frank can call a cab for me and I'll get myself checked out. You enjoy the celebration with the team."

"Seriously? Don't tell me you're giving up..."

"It depends on what the doctor tells me next. But it's been a long time coming, don't you think?"

"Fuck no, we're going to keep playing at the top until we drop dead, Bradley. You're going to get healed up and I'll keep passing you those goals, you hear?"

Bradley shifts himself off the table and sits up, his legs touching the ground. But the pain in his left leg prevents him from standing any further. With a crutch provided by Frank, he manages to stand and move. His movement is awkward as he leaves the dressing room. The team has worked so hard to get to where they are, and this moment is what they all dreamt of. Bradley doesn't want to be there when the team arrives; he didn’t want to dampen their mood by lying on the table.

"Thanks, Reinhart. I'll see you later, okay?"

"You’ll get healed up, Bradley. Ya ain’t going down just like that. I’ll bring over ya favourite drink later."

After Frank calls the manager, he helps Bradley into a private car they have hired and they leave the stadium. Bradley doesn't want to stay any longer. They immediately head to the team's headquarters, which is just down the road, where Bradley can undergo a thorough checkup. Some of the fans outside the stadium notice Bradley leaving on the private car and took photos, Soon word gets out and the papers start picking up the scoop.

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[Substitute Harry Steele shines with debut goal]

[Verdant City F.C. star striker seen leaving stadium early]

[Verdant City F.C. raises league title for first time in club history]

[Harry Steele speaks on winning goal]

[Bradley Stone injury, possibly out for next season?]

[Steele to replace injured Stone?]

[Verdant City F.C. sings praises for newly debuted Harry Steele]

[Harry Steele, deep dive on newest transfer star for Verdant City F.C.]