The ball, struck by Leon's last-minute substitute, was arcing towards the Manchester City goal.
Did it go in? Did they win? Did they draw?
Leon stood on the sideline, his heart hammering against his ribs, utterly powerless. He had made the call, the gamble, but the outcome was now out of his hands. He finally, truly understood the beautiful, terrible torture of being a manager.
The ball dipped... and cannoned off the crossbar, bouncing away to safety. A collective groan went through the small crowd. A draw. 1-1.
The young Liverpool players collapsed, a mixture of exhaustion and disappointment. They had played their hearts out. They had deserved the win. But football, as Leon was learning, was not always fair.
