On the court, Kai was celebrating excitedly with his teammates.
He wasn't celebrating because he had scored an own goal or equalized the score. He was using this moment to awaken the fighting spirit of his teammates.
Throughout the game, the Panthers had been severely suppressed by Figo's team. The players' morale was low, and their performance had suffered.
But now, under Kai's leadership—and with the aura of an equalizer in the final minute of regular time—the Panthers' morale began to surpass Figo's.
This ability to control and adjust his teammates' emotions made Triguera extremely satisfied.
This was advanced leadership, a skill usually mastered only by senior head coaches. It was completely different from random attempts at leadership.
It was hard to believe that a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old kid could understand this.
Perhaps it was this morale boost that allowed the Panthers to dominate the next few minutes of stoppage time.
Their players ran with energy, while Figo's team struggled to respond.
Ninety-four minutes.
Figo's Almeida demonstrated the fulcrum role expected of a big center.
He dropped back to midfield to link with teammates, then sent the ball forward under the pressure of two Panthers players.
Ronaldo controlled the ball.
At the same time, the entire Figo team launched their final attack.
With less than a minute remaining, they no longer worried about defense.
And it was Ronaldo holding the ball—his dribbling and speed were absolutely reliable. Everyone just needed to support him and wait for the shot.
Boom!
Kai completed a crucial steal against Ronaldo.
Figo: …
Eusebio: …
Rui Costa: …
Guardiola: "Got it! Kai really stole from Chris! Four times in total, and every time he grabbed Chris—the hardest player to steal from!"
It stunned everyone. Ronaldo could have easily broken free if his teammates supported him. But Kai had made a determined move to prevent Ronaldo from passing.
As expected, Ronaldo dribbled stubbornly, only to deliver the ball straight to Kai.
The scene was so magical that many spectators didn't react immediately.
After stealing the ball, Kai pushed Ronaldo aside and directed it toward Figo's penalty area.
Ronaldo stumbled and gestured for a foul, but the referee saw it as normal physical contact.
Honestly, Ronaldo's acting was poor.
Kai was only 1.4 meters tall. A gentle push on someone 1.65 meters tall would make them look as if they'd been hit—who could fake that?
Ronaldo was speechless. He really wasn't acting!
Has everyone forgotten Kai's grenade serve? He was short, but far from weak.
Ronaldo shook his head helplessly and chased Kai.
After receiving the ball, Kai and his right-back teammate Pereira hit the wall again, advancing past midfield to just outside the penalty area.
From behind, it was clear Ronaldo was catching up. The frustrated sounds escaping his throat could be heard several meters away.
During this period, Ronaldo's speed was superior not only to his peers but also to almost any young player in Portugal. Many claim Messi is talented and Ronaldo works hard—but in reality, Ronaldo's natural talent was terrifying, and Messi's effort equally unmatched.
If Kai's panel speed was 50, Ronaldo's was at least 75.
Seeing Ronaldo about to overtake him, Kai said, "Sorry, Ronaldo, this is football!"
At the critical moment, Kai changed the ball's direction, blocking Ronaldo's path.
A "traffic accident" occurred.
Ronaldo rear-ended Kai.
Kai flew forward, hit the ground, rolled twice, and wailed in pain while clutching his ankles. The scene was horrific.
After braking behind him, Ronaldo looked at Kai in shock. If he hadn't been certain, he might have felt intense guilt.
Chris Acres—how could you hit someone like that?
"No! I didn't…he fell on his own…really…you have to believe me…" Ronaldo kept explaining to the referee. It was the truth.
But the referee grew less sympathetic by the second.
After hitting someone like that, and then claiming the other person fell—you really think that would fly?
Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated but couldn't speak. He was being accused of diving!
"Get up, Kai! Get up!" the crowd shouted.
The team doctor rushed in with a stretcher to examine Kai.
The commentator said, "Kai seemed badly hurt. That wailing sounded serious, even through the microphone from so far away."
"Of course, we shouldn't blame Chris too much. He didn't mean it. He's just too fast, tall, and strong—he couldn't brake in time."
"This is why some argue a player of Chris's level should play U14 instead of U12. He's so strong he can disrupt the game balance and even endanger other children."
"Oh! The referee touched his chest. Chris is in trouble!"
"Yellow card! The referee booked Chris—his second yellow in this game."
"And both yellows were against Kai…wait, penalty kick!"
"The referee awarded a penalty!"
"Oh my god! Kai did seem to enter the penalty area when Chris knocked him down. The replay was blurry, but judging from where Kai landed, he clearly did."
Only then did Ronaldo understand why Kai rolled so dramatically. It wasn't just to touch him—he was cheating for a penalty.
Chris swore that when he collided with Kai, it was barely a touch.
Mutual force, minimal contact. Ronaldo was certain he hadn't pushed hard.
No matter how he argued, he couldn't escape two yellows and a red card. He was furious, staring at Kai as if he wanted to eat him alive.
Figo intervened and pulled Ronaldo away.
Meanwhile, Kai's pain seemed relieved after the referee awarded the penalty.
The referee's decision was more effective than ibuprofen.
Kai sat holding his ankle with his left hand, the football in his right, communicating with the team doctor.
"So cunning! I wonder if he studied at La Masia," Guardiola laughed in the stands.
Those nearby looked confused. La Masia is Barcelona's youth academy.
Guardiola explained, "This was a clear dive. Chris had no intention of colliding. His route didn't change—it was Kai who altered his movement to stick to Chris."
"In this case, Kai's initiative triggered the penalty. The scale of contact isn't static; the ball-holder's intention matters. If Chris had changed his route and collided, a penalty would be fair. But here, Kai's intentional contact made it so."
"The fall was too dramatic. This shouldn't be a foul on Chris."
"It should count as Kai losing the ball during the confrontation."
"Players seriously injured scream but don't roll violently like this. This proves Kai flopped."
"Since the team doctor intervened, and he held the ball, his intent was clear—he wanted the penalty."
Guardiola's explanation stunned everyone.
What a bastard!
Normally, the team's first-choice penalty taker—usually the center or the captain Fonte—would take it. Not Kai.
But if Kai insisted, no one could stop him. He was standing at the penalty spot, injured but determined.
Who could refuse such persistence? No one.
For a moment, Rui Costa and others sighed with admiration.
Where was the football spirit?
This was a conspiracy—a blatant, cunning one.
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