When he stepped onto the field, Ramsey lifted his arms, urging the crowd to roar louder and they did.
"Give 'em hell," Jeremy said as he went past Ramsey.
"Oh, I intend to," Ramsey replied, adjusting his gloves.
The referee's whistle pierced the air. From the restart, Ramothwala slipped the ball to Ramsey, and his teammates surged into the Caribbean Pirates' half, holding their defensive line high.
Ramsey carried the ball forward, the Pirates sat in a mid-block. Gremorè stepped up to challenge, but Ramsey slid the ball neatly through his legs. Gremorè could only grin.
Two midfielders pressed in, but Max appeared on Ramsey's right. Ramsey laid it off, darted between the pair, and Max returned it.
Piercing through the midfield, Ramothwala sprinted down the left, dragging the right wing back, with him and opening space in the half-space. Ramsey drove into it, reaching the edge of the box. The centre-backs closed in, leaving Max wide open on the right.
"He's free… should I pass? No. Passing is just not my cup of tea," he thought.
He curled a finesse shot toward the far corner. The ball flew, smashing into the right side of the net.
Anna went crazy, throwing her arms around Jaden.
"I'm not the one who scored, let me go!" she laughed, clinging to him anyway.
Coach Anderson sprinted down the touchline, celebrating like a man possessed.
Up in the stands, Mr. Tau rose to his feet, his applause echoing above the roar of the crowd.
"My vision is coming true… Nobles are rising. We are coming for cup."
High above the pitch, in the VIP section, Ramsey's daughter sprang up from her seat, clapping wildly.
"Mommy, mommy! Daddy scored!" she squealed, her voice full of pride.
Her mother smiled, brushing a hand through her hair. "Yes, he did."
Ramsey glanced toward the VIP box, his eyes locking on his wife and daughter. For a fleeting second, he blew kisses their way.
The Majesty Arena erupted, vuvuzelas blared, drums thundered, and fans raised their voices to a deafening roar.
Time went on as Nobles pressed forward relentlessly, forcing the Caribbean Pirates back. Ramsey drifted into a false nine role, abandoning his central attacking midfield position.
By the 70th minute, Nobles launched another attack. In the final third, Ramothwala cut inside while Ramsey shifted wide to the left, swapping positions seamlessly. Sarr, holding possession in the half space, spotted the movement of Ramsey and passed him the ball.
Ramsey's cross was inch perfect. Ramothwala rose, but sensing he couldn't generate enough power, he cleverly redirected the header across to Max, arriving from the half‑space.
Max struck first‑time, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner.
"Zwiiiiiiiide! Max Zwide scores! It's 4–3 in the Majesty Arena!" Decent roared.
"This kid continues to impress, my word, he's so young, and in his debut season. Just unbelievable," Shakes added.
The fans erupted, vuvuzelas and drums shaking the stadium.
"That's how it feels to score against the favorites of the competition. But my question is where's Grimorè? Njabulo? Noah?" Shakes asked.
"They've been forced into defending. Ramsey's presence has overshadowed them completely," Decent replied.
Back at Sosh Plata Jioh Pub, Nobles fans went wild until the owner intervened. "Hey! What did I say about respect?" Silence fell instantly.
On the touchline, Jaden smirked. "I love it when a plan comes together."
Wirtz hurled his bottle in frustration.
Moments later, Grimorè collapsed, raising his hand for the medical team. Ramsey rushed over.
"How bad is it?"
"Terrible. My right foot… I can't go on."
"You've been playing through pain all this time?"
Grimorè nodded. "Nobles FC… I longed to face this new version of you. Now I have, and I'm happy. Next time, you'll meet another version of me."
Ramsey squeezed his shoulder. "Get well soon. I'll look forward to it."
The stretcher carried Grimorè away to a standing ovation from both sets of fans.
Gremorè covered his eyes, trying to hold back the tears.
"You see Decent, this is what football is all about, that's what we call good sportmenship" Shakes said.
"It's so sad to see a player, leave the pitch on a stretcher," Decent added
Moments later, the match resumed. Until the final minute, when the referee blew the whistle, and Nobles secured a 4–3 victory.
Some of the Caribbean Pirates' players sank to the ground, unable to hold back their emotions after the defeat.
Ramsey moved among them, offering quiet words of comfort, while the rest of the team exchanged handshakes.
"He's grown," Jaden murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Is that a smile?" Anna teased.
"No, it's not. Go bother someone else," Jaden shot back.
Anna's tone sharpened. "Excuse me? Care to repeat that? I didn't hear you."
"Nothing. I said nothing," Jaden replied, slipping away toward the pitch to join the handshake line.
Ramsey intercepted him, extending a hand. "Thank you for the opportunity, coach."
Jaden clasped it firmly. "Gratitude doesn't suit you."
"Well, sometimes you have to put your ego aside."
"You played well today. Keep it up."
"I will," Ramsey replied, walking off with a smile.
Mr. Tau strode onto the pitch, his eyes gleaming. "You did it, kid. We're in the final. Another giant has fallen."
"Yeah… my first final," Jaden said, locking eyes with him.
"Yes. Against Skyland FC. They've made it too. Are you afraid?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I wouldn't be human if I wasn't."
"But those eyes of yours say something else," Mr. Tau observed. "And about Ramsey, you should've kept me in the loop. But I suppose leaving me out was part of your plan too. I'm amazed. Truly blown away."
"Sorry," Jaden said quietly.
"It's fine," Mr. Tau replied, glancing past him at a figure approaching.
Jaden turned. It was Wirtz.
"You've surpassed my expectations," Wirtz said coldly.
"That's what happens when you underestimate me. Let that be a lesson."Wirtz's eyes narrowed. "I'll crush you next time we meet. Don't let this little win swell your head… boy." He walked away, his words lingering like smoke.
"Seems you struck a nerve," Mr. Tau remarked.
"Yeah," Jaden muttered, watching Wirtz disappear.
Meanwhile, in Skyland FC's dressing room, Savio sat grinning at his phone, eyes fixed on Nobles FC's score.
"So he made it to the final," Savio whispered. "Destroying him won't be easy… but I'll do whatever it takes."