The eighty-second minute began with a roar that seemed to vibrate the very foundations of the Coastal Arena. The equalization had changed the chemical makeup of the match.
The Northcastle Rising Stars players were no longer just running; they were gliding, fueled by the sudden realization that the giants were bleeding. Hastings Coastal Academy, once so arrogant and composed, were now a collection of frantic individuals, their eyes wide with the fear of a total collapse.
[> "The momentum is a tidal wave now," <] Michael Harrison shouted over the noise. [> "Rising Stars are sensing blood in the water. Hastings look absolutely spent." <]
Robert Hayes, the Hastings manager, was screaming from his technical area, his face a deep shade of purple. He was trying to organize a mid-block, but his players weren't listening. They were too busy looking at the clock, praying for the end.
