Chapter 24: The Hero Within the Arena

The referee blew the whistle once more, signaling the restart, and Guangzhou Evergrande sent the ball back into play with a throw-in.

Affected by Zhang Linpeng’s injury and departure, Guangzhou Evergrande did not continue to mount a fierce assault on Seongnam FC’s goal. Instead, they patiently circulated the ball in midfield, probing and pulling at the opposing defense, searching for an opening.

In knockout matches such as this, conceding goals at home is a heavy blow, so Guangzhou Evergrande could not afford the slightest carelessness. Likewise, Seongnam FC, playing away from home, did not wish to surrender a goal early and thus refrained from aggressive advances.

Dai Zhiwei joined the passing game in the attacking midfield for Evergrande. Although his preferred position was near the edge of the penalty area, he knew that if he did not drop back, he would scarcely touch the ball, let alone impress Zhong Luchun.

During the first fifteen minutes, neither side managed any clear scoring opportunities; there were only two or three shots in total. Such is the nature of knockout rounds—rarely do you see lopsided scores. Most teams prioritize stability, shoring up their defense before seeking to attack.

Throughout this period, Dai Zhiwei proved to be the most active player on the pitch. His repeated link-up play and dribbling in the attacking third thrilled fans who longed for excitement and made him the sole bright spot in Evergrande’s offense.

Receiving the ball again outside the penalty area, Dai Zhiwei glanced into the box—no teammates to support, plenty of defenders—so he attempted a lobbed shot from distance. For someone not known for his long-range efforts, the quality was surprisingly high, but Seongnam FC’s goalkeeper Park Junhyuk leaped to make a spectacular save.

Evergrande regained possession and initiated another passing sequence near the midfield line. Kim Chulho from Seongnam FC rushed to press, prompting Zheng Zhi to pass back to Huang Bowen. Dai Zhiwei, meanwhile, had sprinted into the penalty area, and Huang Bowen wasted no time, lofting a long pass toward the right flank where Goulart awaited.

Goulart spotted Dai Zhiwei’s run—the outcome rested on his shoulders. Yet he was tightly marked, with Park Tae-min sticking close. Both braced themselves for Huang Bowen’s delivery.

Goulart angled his body, controlled the ball, and nudged it forward, attempting to break free. But Park Tae-min, Seongnam FC’s main defender, was no easy opponent; he quickly closed in again. Goulart, after a sharp change of pace to shake Park Tae-min, prepared to send a diagonal pass, but Park Tae-min grabbed his jersey and managed to get a foot to the ball.

“It’s off target!”

Goulart was startled. He had aimed for Dai Zhiwei’s sprinting position, but Park Tae-min’s interference slightly altered the ball’s trajectory, raising its arc and sending it closer to the goalkeeper. Even with Dai Zhiwei’s speed, it seemed unlikely he could reach it.

That slight deviation was crucial. Dai Zhiwei had already used his quick start and acceleration to shake off two Seongnam FC defenders, charging into the box. If the ball’s placement wasn’t too far off, and if it landed where Park Junhyuk couldn’t reach—before the other defenders could recover—Dai Zhiwei would find it easier to score than miss.

But Goulart’s pass was too strong, landing near the penalty spot. Dai Zhiwei had just entered the box, still a stride away from the ball. If he couldn’t reach it immediately, Park Junhyuk would scoop it up.

Park Junhyuk, seeing the situation, finally relaxed. Moments ago, he’d feared disaster, but now the ball was nearly a meter ahead of Dai Zhiwei, seemingly safe.

Yet this thought flickered only briefly before Park Junhyuk realized his mistake—Dai Zhiwei suddenly launched himself forward in a powerful leap.

A diving header!

Dai Zhiwei’s burst and jump were astonishing, his entire body hurtling forward like a torpedo, his forehead brushing the ball with force. Though the contact was only slight, Goulart’s pass was already fast; Dai Zhiwei needed only to redirect its path to unleash havoc.

Park Junhyuk instinctively reacted, diving to the ground, but his right hand failed to reach the ball.

After completing the header, Dai Zhiwei crashed to the turf, but quickly lifted his head toward the goal—he saw the ball nestling in the grass behind the goal line...

Was it in?

It was in!

“A brilliant goal! Dai Zhiwei scores with a diving header! What a stunning strike! What other weapons does he have in his arsenal? This is his fifth goal in the Champions League this season!” The commentator’s roar was almost drowned out by the jubilant crowd in Tianhe Stadium!

Dai Zhiwei leapt up, arms spread wide, rushing toward Goulart who had assisted him. His Evergrande teammates surged forward to celebrate the goal with him.

Dai Zhiwei lunged and embraced Goulart, shouting excitedly in his ear, before his teammates surrounded him in a joyous huddle.

“I feel like I forgot something…” Dai Zhiwei suddenly remembered, extricating himself from their embrace, running to one side of the pitch, and blowing a flying kiss.

He knew Zhong Luchun must be sitting in that direction!

“Is he showing love for the fans? Or is it something else?” a journalist in the press box speculated. “I haven’t heard any rumors of Dai Zhiwei dating.”

The live broadcast camera panned toward the section where Dai Zhiwei had blown his kiss, but time was short and only captured a sea of red-shirted fans.

The director spoke urgently via earpiece: “Later, focus on finding the female fan in a number 24 Evergrande jersey in that area. I’m sure Dai Zhiwei’s gesture wasn’t spontaneous.”

Today, Zhong Luchun wore Dai Zhiwei’s number 24 home jersey. Not much of a football fan, she had watched the match listlessly—despite Dai Zhiwei securing her seats in one of the best spots in the stadium.

But when Dai Zhiwei scored, Zhong Luchun finally became excited, jumping up with the Evergrande fans around her to celebrate.

“Was that flying kiss meant for me?”

Zhong Luchun laughed softly at Dai Zhiwei’s gesture, noticing the camera lens turning toward her, and her smile blossomed.

“This is what I wanted… but it’s still not enough.”

Thanks to his diving header, Dai Zhiwei gave Evergrande the lead in the twenty-second minute, 1–0!

But would Dai Zhiwei, so bloodthirsty tonight, stop there?

Within just eight minutes, he scored again!

This was, in truth, a chance that could hardly be called a chance—

In the thirty-first minute, Feng Xiaoting intercepted Jorginho’s pass and launched the ball forward. Goulart returned to the center, heading it toward Gao Lin on the left.

Gao Lin, showing no hesitation, pushed the ball sideways, muscling past Kim Chulho and charging toward the edge of Seongnam FC’s penalty area.

Kim Chulho, caught off guard and beaten, quickly closed in again. As Gao Lin lifted his foot for a long shot, Kim Chulho slid in with a tackle, hoping to block the ball.

In reality, Kim Chulho would have been better off not intervening.

Gao Lin’s hurried shot, taken while dribbling at speed, was not particularly threatening—a wild, rising shot destined to fly high, but the ball struck Kim Chulho’s leg and bounced upward. Thanks to the power of Gao Lin’s shot, the ball soared in an awkward parabola, landing to the left of the penalty spot.

That spot was completely unguarded!

At that very moment, a flash of red streaked by. The player’s left foot met the rising ball with a furious volley, sending it straight into the top right corner of the net—Seongnam FC’s keeper Park Junhyuk could do nothing!

2–0!

In the thirty-first minute, Dai Zhiwei, with a thunderous strike, tore open Park Junhyuk’s goal once more!

Tianhe Stadium erupted in another tidal wave of cheers. The ball spun in the net for a moment before finally dropping to the turf, a testament to the sheer force behind the shot!

This time, Dai Zhiwei did not forget anything. Laughing heartily, he ran toward Zhong Luchun’s position, then curled his index finger and thumb together to make a heart gesture.

Though the hand sign looked a bit silly, everyone knew exactly what it meant!

“Magnificent! Absolutely brilliant!” The domestic reporters in the press box applauded wildly, whistling toward the pitch, paying no mind to the Korean journalists nearby.

“This is his sixth Champions League goal this season—did you know?” another local Evergrande reporter exclaimed to his neighbor, forgetting the latter was Korean.

This time, the camera finally found Zhong Luchun, making the same gesture as Dai Zhiwei.

“Oh? Who is that girl?”