44:08 on the clock.
The stadium buzzed with impatience.United had the possession. The crowd had the hope.But the scoreboard?
Still frozen at 0 - 1.
🧠 SYSTEM QUEST STATUS
🎯 Quest: Strike Back Before Halftime
Time Remaining: 1 min + stoppage
Buff Active: Clutch Performer→ All critical-action stats +10% for 90 seconds
Mateo's breath slowed.The chaos around him blurred.This was it.
🔁 UNITED BUILDS FROM THE BACK
Varane to Martínez.Out to Luke Shaw.
Mateo dropped from the right wing — deep — pulling both Zaïre-Emery and Moscardo with him.
Shaw spotted it.
A quick pass inside.
Mateo let the ball roll across his body.
One touch. Spin. Burst.
🎮 SYSTEM SKILL ACTIVATED
🚀 Explosive First Step
→ Acceleration surge + precision body control
Status: ACTIVEDuration: 3 seconds
He split them.Zaïre-Emery tried to grab him — too late.Moscardo lunged — missed.
Old Trafford rose to its feet.
"Go on, Mateo!"
He was flying.
Midfield — clear.Bruno made the supporting run.Rashford peeled left. Højlund held the line.
Mateo didn't pass.
He carried it.
He drifted diagonally toward the box — Hakimi tracking now, Donnarumma stepping up.
Then it happened.
🎯 SYSTEM SKILL CHAIN DETECTED
Activated: Creative Dribbling Lv.1+Activated: Finishing Instinct Lv.1
🎮 Combo Bonus: Signature Breakthrough Chain
Mateo faked the shot.Hakimi slid — whiffed.
Another touch.Now he was square to goal.
One defender left — Beraldo.
He chopped inside hard.Donnarumma tried to rush…
Too late.
Mateo chipped it — not high, not flashy.
Surgical. Precise. Deadly.
⚽ GOAL — MANCHESTER UNITED1 - 1
🧨 OLD TRAFFORD ERUPTS
The noise was thunder.The chants shook the rafters.
Mateo sprinted to the corner flag and dropped to one knee.Arms wide. Head up.
A moment.
His moment.
🎙 COMMENTARY
"That… is why the world calls him the new prince of Europe."
"He exploded through the press. Took them on. And finished with the calm of a surgeon."
"Donnarumma didn't even move."
🧠 SYSTEM REWARDS
✅ Quest Completed: Strike Back Before Halftime
Buff: Emotional Anchor Reinforced
Confidence Surge: All core stats +2 (Temporary)
Hidden Tracker Progress: Golden Boy Ballot Impact +++
As he jogged back to midfield, Bruno slapped him on the back.
"You waited for your moment."
Mateo smirked.
"No. I made it."