The locker room.
The sour smell of sweat mixed with the scent of anxiety filled the cramped space.
Paco Jémez slowly walked up to Lu Chuan, his deep-set eyes fixed on the young man.
Lu Chuan's face was pale, sweat beaded on his forehead like rain, but his eyes were unusually bright.
There was a fierce determination in those eyes, as if he was wrestling with his body, which was strained to its limit, refusing to give in.
"Are you sure?" Paco Jémez lowered his voice, every word filled with concern.
Lu Chuan nodded vigorously, his voice hoarse: "Coach, I won't let the team down."
Paco Jémez took a deep breath and turned to face the other players: "José! You're on, replace Comesaña!"
José Pozo suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He was the fittest player on the bench, with delicate technique and active running.
"I need you to keep running in midfield, winning balls, and passing!" Paco Jémez's voice was firm and powerful, "Create opportunities for Lu Chuan!"
As the second half began, the atmosphere at Anoeta Stadium grew even more fervent. Real Sociedad fans waved their blue and white scarves, their cheers deafening.
Ødegaard once again took possession in midfield, his footwork as fluid as flowing water.
Every touch he made drew cheers from the home fans, and every pass sent shivers down Rayo Vallecano's defensive line.
In the 53rd minute, Portu received the ball at the edge of the Penalty Box. Faced with a triple-team, he calmly took a shot.
The ball flew like a cannonball towards the top-left corner of the goal, with a tricky angle and powerful force.
Dimitrievski dove to save, his fingertips touching the ball, tipping the certain goal over the crossbar. Rayo Vallecano's goalkeeper braced himself with his hands on the ground, gasping for breath, sweat dripping down his cheeks.
In the 61st minute, Ødegaard delivered a brilliant over-the-top pass from midfield. The ball sailed over Rayo Vallecano's defense and straight into the Penalty Box. Isak sprinted forward, creating a one-on-one situation.
Dimitrievski decisively rushed out, using his body to narrow the angle. Isak's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper's chest, and the ball bounced towards the sideline.
Real Sociedad fans in the stands clutched their heads and sighed, regretting the missed opportunity.
He stopped his aimless sprints and began to play with his eyes and brain. The entire defensive formation of the opponent was broken down into individual modules in his mind.
He observed the Spanish midfielder's defensive habits, calculating the opponent's reaction time. Zubeldia was 1.85 meters tall and a fierce defender, but his turning speed was slightly slow.
In the 78th minute, the opportunity finally arrived.
Mikel Merino received a pass in midfield. He looked around, preparing to organize the next attack. Teammates around him spread out, waiting for his distribution.
Merino made a horizontal pass, the ball speed not fast, the arc gentle. He thought it was a safe pass to reorganize the attack.
José Pozo had been eyeing this opportunity for a long time. His position was just right, his anticipation accurate. The moment the ball rolled past, he decisively intercepted it.
"Ball stolen!" The Rayo Vallecano bench erupted in excited shouts.
Pozo didn't hesitate at all. He followed Lu Chuan's instructions from the first half, sending a precise ground pass into the empty space in front of Zubeldia.
The ball rolled quickly across the grass, passing between several Real Sociedad players and heading straight for the edge of the Penalty Box.
The moment the pass was made, Lu Chuan accelerated.
He forcefully squeezed the last bit of energy from his body, initiating a side-on run, pushing his way between two defenders. The football rolled perfectly into his sprinting path.
Le Normand turned to chase, but it was too late. Lu Chuan's timing was perfect; he didn't even stop the ball, instead, he continued his run with a touch, creating a semi-one-on-one situation.
Goalkeeper Alex Remiro quickly rushed out, spreading his arms, trying to block the angle with his body. The distance between them rapidly closed; it was a life-or-death confrontation.
Lu Chuan's heart pounded like a drum, but his focus was intense. Time seemed to slow down; he could clearly see every movement, every expression of the goalkeeper.
The Penalty Box Finisher skill came into play at the critical moment, making Lu Chuan's shooting choice exceptionally clear.
He didn't opt for a powerful shot, but instead, with an extremely calm push-shot, he sent the ball past Remiro's legs into the far corner of the goal.
The ball slowly rolled over the goal line, and the net trembled slightly.
1-1!
Rayo Vallecano miraculously equalized the score away from home!
Anoeta Stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a tremendous noise. Rayo Vallecano fans in the away stands celebrated wildly, their shouts piercing through the entire stadium.
Lu Chuan didn't roar. He simply ran to the corner flag and kissed the lucky bracelet Esther had given him on his wrist.
The red thread sparkled in the sunlight, carrying the deep affection between the two of them.
Then, he pointed to his chest.
This celebration was simple yet profound, his response to Esther, and a declaration to the world: I fight for myself.
Teammates swarmed him, surrounding Lu Chuan. Trejo's eyes glistened with tears; the old captain saw true warrior spirit in Lu Chuan.
"You did it!" Trejo patted Lu Chuan's shoulder, his voice trembling, "You f***ing did it!"
Real Sociedad players were stunned. They couldn't believe that this Chinese striker, hyped by the media, had managed to equalize the score under such difficult circumstances.
In the final ten minutes of the match, the entire Rayo Vallecano team stood united. Everyone fought for this draw, everyone built a defensive line with their flesh and blood.
Catena cleared with a header, Savić blocked shots with his body, and Dimitrievski made miraculous saves to avert danger.
The final whistle blew, and the score was fixed at 1-1.
This away goal kept Rayo Vallecano's hopes of reaching the final very much alive. Returning home, they only needed to win to make history.
"Ding! A victory of will!"
"Match Rating: 9.0"
"LP Gained: 100 (Draw) + 200 (Crucial Equalizer) = 300LP!"
"Current LP Balance: 2130 + 300 = 2430LP"
In the locker room, Lu Chuan slumped in a chair, gasping for breath. Sweat soaked his jersey, but his eyes were still bright.
His phone vibrated; his father was calling.
"Son!" his father's voice trembled, "We all saw it! It was amazing!"
Lu Chuan's eyes were a little moist; his family's support was his greatest motivation.
"Don't pay attention to all those messy voices back home!" his father continued excitedly,
"Now, all the young fans see you as a hero! They say you are a lone brave, someone who dares to challenge the darkness! We are proud of you!"
After hanging up, Carlos's message also came through:
"Lu, your father is right. Your popularity among young people has reached its peak.
The executives of Brand China contacted me overnight. They said your 'lone brave' image,
perfectly aligns with their 'Anything is Possible' Brand spirit. They want to offer you an unprecedented endorsement contract!"
Lu Chuan looked at his phone screen, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
After the storm, there will always be a rainbow.