Chapter 31: You Just Said His Dominant Foot Was His Right?
Although Bayern had conceded, the reaction inside the stadium was surprisingly positive. Many fans applauded the goal rather than expressing frustration. Spectators who had watched decades of European football understood just how rare it was to witness such individual brilliance—dribbling, creativity, and confidence combined into one seamless moment.
The match restarted, and Bayern's attitude visibly changed. The earlier relaxed tempo disappeared. Their pressing became sharper, their passing quicker, and their defensive attention toward Ken increased dramatically.
Schweinsteiger, in particular, now followed Ken closely, rarely letting him receive the ball without immediate physical pressure. The experienced midfielder clearly had no intention of being embarrassed twice.
Ken, however, no longer felt the earlier tension. That opening goal had changed everything. Facing one of Europe's strongest teams had initially brought a moment of hesitation, but now the realization was clear—these players were not untouchable legends. They were opponents, and opponents could be beaten.
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Tactical Adjustment
São Paulo gradually shifted into a more compact shape, waiting for counterattacking opportunities. Bayern dominated possession, circulating the ball across midfield while probing for openings. Kroos dictated the rhythm with precise passing, while Robben and Ribéry constantly stretched the defensive line with dangerous runs.
Yet every time Bayern lost the ball, Ken immediately sprinted forward, positioning himself for the next transition. His teammates understood the tactic well: once possession was regained, the first pass should look for him.
In the 27th minute, São Paulo finally executed a clean buildup. A series of short passes moved the ball from defense to midfield before Denílson slipped it forward toward Ken. Schweinsteiger instantly pressed from behind, attempting to prevent him from turning.
Ken didn't try to hold the ball for long. Instead, he used a quick heel touch combined with a spin, allowing the ball to roll through the defender's legs before accelerating into space. The crowd reacted with an appreciative murmur—every touch carried confidence.
He quickly released a diagonal pass toward Aloísio, then sprinted forward to support the attack. Aloísio returned the ball to the penalty area, where Fabiano had an excellent opportunity, but the striker's rushed shot flew over the crossbar, drawing groans from São Paulo supporters.
Ken simply clapped his hands, encouraging his teammate. Opportunities would come again.
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Bayern's Rising Pressure
As the half progressed, Bayern intensified their offensive pressure. Lahm overlapped repeatedly on the right flank, delivering crosses into the penalty area, while Mandžukić's aerial presence forced São Paulo's defenders into constant physical battles.
In the 32nd minute, Mandžukić's header struck the post, narrowly missing the equalizer. Minutes later, Müller fired a low shot just wide of the target. The tension inside the stadium continued to build.
Ken remained positioned slightly higher than the rest of his midfield line, resisting the urge to drop too deep. He understood that counterattacks required at least one forward outlet. Without that, São Paulo would be trapped permanently in defense.
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The Counterattack Moment
The decisive moment came in the 43rd minute.
Robben attempted a diagonal pass toward the center, but Denílson anticipated the move perfectly, sliding in to intercept the ball. Before the Bayern players could reorganize, Ken had already started his sprint.
"Here!" he shouted, pointing forward.
Denílson delivered a long, accurate pass into open space. Ken accelerated, his first touch pushing the ball beyond the nearest defender. Alaba tried to catch up, but Ken's speed gave him a slight advantage, enough to keep control while approaching the penalty area.
Boateng stepped forward to stop him. As Ken attempted to push past, the defender made contact, bringing him down just outside the box.
The whistle sounded immediately.
The referee awarded a free kick and issued a yellow card. São Paulo players briefly protested for a red card, but the decision stood—another defender had been covering behind, preventing it from being considered a clear last-man foul.
Still, the free kick position was extremely dangerous.
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The Free Kick Setup
The ball was placed slightly left of center, approximately twenty-three meters from goal. Bayern quickly formed a defensive wall under Neuer's instructions. Denílson stood beside the ball, while Ken positioned himself slightly to the left.
Spectators in the stands watched carefully. Some observers speculated that Denílson might take the shot, assuming Ken preferred using his right foot.
"His dominant foot should be the right," one scout remarked quietly. "That first goal earlier suggested it."
Nearby, another observer nodded, though uncertainty remained.
On the pitch, Denílson began his run-up, stepping over the ball without touching it—a classic decoy move.
Ken followed immediately.
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The Strike
He planted his right foot firmly beside the ball and swung his left foot with precision. The contact produced a sharp, clean sound. The ball rose quickly, spinning over the defensive wall and curving toward the top-left corner.
For a brief moment, time seemed suspended.
Neuer reacted late due to the decoy movement, launching himself toward the ball at full stretch. His fingertips reached upward, but the shot was already beyond reach.
The ball struck the net with a crisp sound.
Goal.
For the second time in the match, the stadium fell silent before erupting into mixed reactions—astonishment, applause, and disbelief. Even neutral spectators recognized the technical perfection of the strike: power, curve, and placement executed flawlessly.
Ken raised one arm calmly as teammates rushed toward him in celebration. There was no excessive celebration, only a focused expression—he knew the match was far from over.
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Reactions in the Stands
High in the stands, several observers exchanged glances.
"You said his dominant foot was the right?" one asked.
His companion shook his head slowly, eyes still fixed on the pitch.
"Now I'm not so sure. That left-foot strike was just as precise."
Elsewhere, another club representative leaned toward his colleague and whispered, "A player who can score like that with either foot… we should monitor him closely. Versatility like this is rare."
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Momentum Shift
The second goal significantly changed the psychological balance of the match. Bayern increased their attacking tempo even further, determined to recover before halftime. Their passing sequences became sharper, forcing São Paulo into deeper defensive positions.
Ken, however, continued working tirelessly—pressing when necessary, retreating to help defensively, and sprinting forward again whenever a counterattack became possible. Each successful action seemed to strengthen his confidence further.
As the halftime whistle approached, São Paulo still maintained their unexpected lead. Players exchanged brief glances of determination; they understood that holding such an advantage against a European powerhouse would require complete concentration.
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Closing Moments of the Half
In stoppage time, Bayern created another dangerous chance through Ribéry, whose cross narrowly missed Mandžukić's header. Rogério shouted instructions, organizing the defensive line until the referee finally blew the whistle for halftime.
Walking toward the tunnel, Ken took a deep breath. Leading by two goals against such an opponent felt surreal, yet he knew the second half would be even more difficult. Bayern would not accept defeat easily.
Behind him, faint conversations continued among scouts and executives:
"A seventeen-year-old performing like this…"
"His composure is exceptional."
"If he continues like this, every major club will be interested."
One observer smiled faintly and adjusted his notes.
"And some of them," he murmured quietly, "will move very quickly."