The players returned to the pitch for the second half, the Dark Clawd Stadium trembling with energy.
The fans of Night Phantom still chanted, their voices defiant despite being a goal down. On the opposite side, the Fire Milan supporters waved their red banners proudly, their drums thundering like warbeats.
Kick-off play was taken by Night Phantom to start the second half.
Krüger, ever composed, tapped the ball to Hoffman. They immediately pressed forward, looking sharper than before.
The first few minutes were all Night Phantom,short, tight passes that stretched Fire Milan's defensive line.
Adrien Pierre found space and slipped a ball toward Wagner Braun, who turned brilliantly past Matteo Leonardo and shot from range.
The crowd held its breath,but García González was alert, diving low to punch the ball away.
"Another close one!" the commentator shouted. "Night Phantom are pressing hard early in this half, they seem to really want that equalizer!"
Fire Milan, however, refused to sit back. On the counter, Julien Dubois and Kofi Owusu combined with terrifying precision.
Dubois passed right to Sander Hansen, who sprinted down the flank before cutting a low cross toward Leon Laurent.
Laurent tried a first-time strike, but Giovanni Rizzo anticipated it perfectly, blocking with his knee.
The rebound landed at Conti's feet,he dribbled past Rossini and shot, only for Mayer to smother it at the near post.
---
The match phase quickened, the intensity growing by the minute.
By the 59th minute, both sides were fighting for control in midfield. Tackles flew in, and the referee's whistle became a familiar sound.
Krüger, maintaining his poise, began orchestrating play with precision. He passed to Omar, who dashed down the right and swung in a curling cross.
West Harry got his head to it,the ball bounced inches wide.The Night Phantom fans erupted in collective frustration.
"Keep going!" Krüger shouted. "Pressure them!"
Meanwhile, Fire Milan made their first substitution:Andreas Weber out — Riccardo Lenz in (63')
Lenz's introduction added fresh legs to midfield, immediately helping Fire Milan regain balance.
In the 66th minute, they nearly doubled their lead.Adefensive slip by Rossini allowed Owusu to intercept and storm down the center.
He passed to Laurent, who faked a shot, sending Hoffman the wrong way, then blasted toward the far corner.
Gruber Mayer made a phenomenal diving save, his gloves deflecting the shot just wide!
"Gruber Mayer keeping Night Phantom alive!" the commentator roared.
Deo, watching from the Devertary United lounge, whistled softly. "If not for Mayer, this could've been 3–0 already."
Ness nodded. "Yeah… Fire Milan's rhythm is scary tonight."
---
70th minute.
The game shifted again. Night Phantom pushed higher, forcing Fire Milan to sit deeper.
Krüger intercepted a pass and immediately fed Pierre, who slipped between Müller and Dubois, drawing a foul.
The referee's whistle pierced the noise,free kick to Night Phantom, 25 yards out.
Pierre stood over it. The crowd fell silent. He curled the ball perfectly toward the top corner —
—clang! The shot hit the post!
Braun pounced on the rebound, shooting instantly, but González somehow stretched across goal, parrying it away with one hand.
The stadium erupted in disbelief.
"Unbelievable reflex from García González!".Krüger clutched his head. "How did that not go in!?"
---
75th minute.
Tempers began to rise. Fire Milan slowed the tempo, trying to frustrate their opponents. Laurent and Owusu stayed up front, waiting for any loose ball to counter.
At the same time, Night Phantom made a change:Jorge Héctor out — Kazuki Arai in (76')
Arai's introduction brought renewed pace on the left flank. Immediately, he made an impact, controlling a long pass from Rizzo and darting down the sideline.
Matteo Leonardo met him, but Arai skipped past with a feint and crossed toward Braun.
Braun chested it down and fired, deflected by Marco!
The loose ball bounced dangerously near Pierre, who was taken down by Lenz just outside the box.
The referee blew his whistle and motioned for calm. Night Phantom's players surrounded him, demanding more.
"It's outside the box!" shouted Marco, gesturing furiously.
Krüger, meanwhile, pulled his teammates back, urging focus.
Pierre took the free kick quickly, passing short to Omar, who returned it immediately. Pierre crossed into the area, a scramble ensued.
The ball ricocheted between Harry and Müller and suddenly, Braun was shoved from behind by Alessandro Marco while attempting to shoot.
Braun hit the turf hard.
The whistle sounded.
The referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.
The stadium erupted — half in joy, half in outrage.
"Penalty! Night Phantom are awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute!" the commentator shouted over the roar.
Marco threw his arms up in disbelief, surrounded by his teammates protesting the call. Laurent ran over, trying to calm them down, while Krüger gathered his side at the edge of the box.
Braun slowly stood, clutching his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the ball resting at the penalty spot.
The camera zoomed in on García González, adjusting his gloves, staring down the striker.
The tension was thick enough to silence the entire stadium.
82nd minute:
Night Phantom 0 – 1 Fire Milan,With a Penalty awarded to Night Phantom (Braun fouled by Marco)
The referee backed away, blowing his whistle once for silence.
Wagner Braun took a deep breath, stepping toward the ball…
…and the scene froze.
---
The stadium stood still. Every fan, every coach, every player fixed their eyes on the penalty spot.
Wagner Braun took three slow steps back, inhaling deeply. The pressure was immense, the weight of Dark Clawd Stadium on his shoulders.
Across from him, García González crouched low, his eyes cold and unblinking.
The referee raised his whistle,a sharp blow cut through the silence.
Braun sprinted forward with a right foot, clean strike!
The ball curved low to the left corner as González dived the opposite way.
GOAL!
The stadium erupted with thunderous cheers.
Night Phantom 1 – Fire Milan 1 (83')
Braun ran to the corner flag, fists clenched, roaring to the heavens as his teammates swarmed him.
Krüger and Pierre grabbed him by the shoulders, shouting in triumph, while the Night Phantom fans lit up the stands with banners and blue flares.
"Wagner Braun levels it!" the commentator's voice soared above the chaos. "An ice-cold finish from the young striker and Dark Clawd Stadium explodes back to life!"
On the Fire Milan bench, Thomas Benoit stood with his arms folded, expression unreadable.
He gave a slow nod, calm, composed, already thinking of what came next.
85th minute.
The game reignited with fierce tempo. Fire Milan restarted aggressively, determined to reclaim the lead.
Julien Dubois threaded a pass toward Owusu, who surged down the right wing. He crossed low for Laurent, but Rizzo intercepted again, sliding cleanly to clear the danger.
Krüger collected the loose ball and switched play left to Arai, who took off in full sprint. Matteo Leonardo matched his pace, forcing him to cut inside.
Arai found West Harry, who danced through midfield with quick touches before releasing a curling pass to Omar.
Omar's shot, blocked by Marco! The rebound bounced out to Pierre, who unleashed a thunderous strike from 25 meters straight into González's gloves.
The Fire Milan keeper fell to the turf clutching the ball as the clock ticked toward 88 minutes.
Fatigue began to show. The tempo slowed, but tension gripped every blade of grass. Both sides now played carefully, afraid to make the mistake that could cost them points.
Fire Milan tried once more, Conti and Laurent linking up beautifully near the left edge of the box.
Conti slipped a neat pass between Rossini's legs, Laurent dashed in and fired but Mayer stood tall, blocking it with his chest before smothering the rebound.
The Night Phantom goalkeeper immediately leapt up, waving his team forward. "Go! Go!" he yelled, launching a long throw toward Krüger.
Krüger nodded it down to Braun, who turned sharply, skipping past Müller. The home fans roared as Braun sprinted into the final third.
Alessandro Marco, still fuming from the penalty call, lunged in with perfect timing, poking the ball away.
Braun fell, but this time the referee waved play on.
90th minute — three minutes of stoppage time.
Every touch now mattered. The noise inside Dark Clawd was deafening.
Krüger, sweating and shouting orders, dropped deep to anchor the defense. Fire Milan, refusing to settle for a draw, pushed forward with all they had.
Dubois chipped a pass over the top,Owusu sprinted after it, leaving Hoffman behind. He controlled the ball mid-stride and went for a low strike.
Gruber Mayer, once again, denied him with a reflex save at the near post. The ball rebounded out for a Fire Milan corner.
The crowd's chant turned anxious.
Laurent jogged to take it. The ball curled in menacingly toward the six-yard box,Marco jumped, getting a touch, but it sailed just wide of the post.
Goal kick.
Mayer took his time, catching his breath before launching the ball upfield.
By the 92nd minute,Night Phantom still pressed, desperate for a miracle finish. Arai cut inside from the left, sliding the ball to West Harry.
Harry flicked it behind Fire Milan's backline Braun chased, but González was quick off his line, diving low to smother it.He held the ball tightly, glancing at the clock one minute to go.
At the 93rd minute of the game it was certain that Gruber Mayer had claimed the title of man of match.
Fire Milan attempted one last break. Owusu sprinted down the right, but Rizzo body-checked him fairly, winning possession.
He passed to Krüger, who calmly slowed the pace, keeping the ball moving between Hoffman and Omar as the clock wound down.
The referee checked his watch and with three long blasts from his whistle.
Full time.
Night Phantom 1, Fire Milan 1
Laurent (38'), Braun (83' pen)
Players collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Wagner Braun, breathing heavily, looked toward the sky, relief washing over his face. Krüger patted his back proudly.
"Well done," he said. "You kept us alive."
Across the pitch, Laurent and Owusu exchanged a quick handshake with Rizzo and Krüger, mutual respect passing between them.
Thomas Benoit, though slightly disappointed, smiled faintly. "A draw away at Dark Clawd, I'll take it," he muttered to his assistant.
Meanwhile, the crowd applauded both teams, Fire Milan for their strength, Night Phantom for their resilience.
As the players walked off the field, the scoreboard glowed brightly one last time under the sky:
Night Phantom 1 – Fire Milan 1
A battle of endurance, speed, and pride