Outside Benfica's Training Base — A Café
"So I need you to perform," Violante said seriously. "If you can't show your own style against strong opponents, it will be very difficult for me to bring you into the Portugal U16 training camp."
Sitting across from him were Benfica midfielder Rúben Amorim and right-back João Pereira.
Benfica's other attacking midfielder, Vilela, was no longer in serious contention. His spot had effectively been squeezed out by Kai and Igor.
Compared to attacking midfielders, Violante currently needed more defensive midfielders and holding players.
Although he had begun studying the dual attacking midfielder system, he would only experiment with it when Hugo Viana and Kai were on the pitch together.
No one else warranted that setup.
"We understand. Thank you for giving us this opportunity," Amorim and Pereira said respectfully as they saw Violante off.
Then both sighed.
Four consecutive losses.
Benfica U15 had been considered one of the four strongest teams in the league this season.
Now they were being labeled the weakest.
If they couldn't win even a single match in the championship round, their chances of earning professional contracts in the future would shrink dramatically.
Damn it.
Maybe they shouldn't have even qualified for the championship stage—at least then expectations wouldn't crush them.
Back at the training base, both players were fired up.
"Guys, I need to say something," Amorim called out. As one of the team captains, he gathered everyone together.
"We've lost four in a row. I bet some of you are already planning your summer vacations."
A few players looked away.
"I don't know about you," Amorim continued, "but I can't accept being called the worst."
"And I definitely can't accept hearing that from one of our own."
He was clearly referring to Nuno Gomes.
"Let's prove Nuno Gomes wrong. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" João Pereira shouted first.
"Agreed!" The others followed.
If you don't explode in silence, you rot in silence.
Under Amorim's leadership, the young squad found a spark again.
His leadership qualities were already visible—traits that would one day help him become the head coach of a major European club.
May 15 — Portuguese U15 League, Penultimate Round
Sporting CP vs FC Porto (Away)
This match was crucial for both sides.
Meanwhile, Camares were expected to beat Benfica.
If that happened, Camares would reach 10 points.
If Sporting lost or even drew, they could be overtaken.
Porto had to win this match—and then defeat Benfica in the final round—to have any chance of stealing the title from Camares.
If Porto only drew today, their path to the championship would become extremely complicated, relying on goal difference and other results.
In this three-way battle, every team still had a chance.
The Portuguese U15 league had never been this intense.
Benfica?
At this point, they were just cannon fodder—either losing to Camares or losing to Porto.
Wasn't that just bullying the honest kid?
Before Kickoff
The live broadcast camera zoomed in on a middle-aged man in the stands.
Most fans didn't recognize him.
But commentator Huang Jianxiang, speaking in the live broadcast room with information from Jiang Yunzhu, was confident:
"Ahem, you might not know the man on screen, but his presence gives this match special meaning."
"He is the head coach of Portugal U16—António Violante! He will lead Portugal in this year's European Junior Championship!"
"Almeida, Igor, Organista, Bruno Leiva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Miguel Veloso, Semedo, and Kai are all under his observation today!"
"Yes! There's a strong chance that Kai will wear the Portugal shirt this summer!"
"If selected, he would become the first Chinese-descended player to represent Portugal at youth national level!"
The commentary sent fans into a frenzy.
Is Kai that insane?
National team level already?
Some fans even wondered—since he's of Chinese descent, couldn't he join China's national team instead?
But the thought quickly faded.
Paperwork is paperwork.
And at his current age, China had no comparable stage like the European Junior Championship—maybe just a domestic Nike youth tournament at best.
Back to the Match
The first thirty minutes were intense and evenly contested.
This was the second time Kai had faced Igor and Sérgio Organista in midfield.
Their coordination—one attacking, one defending—was seamless.
In the 32nd minute, unable to break through with standard passing combinations, Kai chose something different.
He dragged the ball behind his standing foot, slipping past Igor, then drove directly at Organista.
In a narrow duel, Kai performed an inside-step feint, pretending to cut left—then instantly pushed the ball forward to the right and accelerated.
Organista wasn't fully beaten at first.
But Kai subtly used his upper body strength to unbalance him during the burst.
Kai's core strength and ability to disrupt an opponent's center of gravity were exceptional.
Organista was left behind.
Porto's center-back stepped out to challenge.
Kai delivered a sharp diagonal through-ball.
Cristiano Ronaldo met it cleanly and fired.
1–0.
45th Minute
Porto shifted their approach.
When they couldn't break through centrally, they moved the ball wide and looked to exploit Hugo Almeida's aerial dominance.
That tactic had secured them victory over Camares earlier in the tournament.
As the first half neared its end, Sporting dropped deep to defend.
That caution allowed Porto to complete a clean cross.
Almeida rose like a lion and smashed a header past Sporting's keeper.
1–1.
Halftime.
Second Half
57th minute.
Kai launched a long pass to Marcelino, who broke forward and found Lourenço.
Lourenço shot under pressure, but it lacked power and was saved by Porto goalkeeper Valle.
66th minute.
Almeida scored another header.
But the linesman's flag was already raised.
Offside.
Goal disallowed.
74th minute.
Kai drifted to the right flank.
After a quick wall pass with Marcelino, he made a decisive choice.
Boom.
A high, curling cross into the box.
Ronaldo judged the landing point perfectly.
His leap was outrageous—even jumping early, he still reached the ball cleanly.
The header skimmed the underside of the crossbar and dropped into the net.
Three parts strength.
Seven parts luck.
2–1.
Sporting CP led again.
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