By the Rostock bench, manager Akama stared in amazement at Su Bai, who was being swarmed by his teammates.
He had seen every second of Su Bai's sensational strike.
The substitutes around him shouted that the kid had just gotten lucky — but Akama thought differently.
The boy had glanced up to scan the attack in the blink of an eye before shooting.
And that split second was what made him terrifying.
This was no random fluke. If luck could pull off shots like this, the world would be full of David Beckhams.
Especially the technique he used:
he struck the ball diagonally downward, using the outside of his right boot — a skill far from easy to master, let alone over such a long distance.
The spin he generated was precisely to make the ball drop sharply at its highest point.
Glancing at a smug Daniel on the Schalke sideline, Akama felt a stab of envy.
That man had stumbled onto an incredible talent.
At 41, Akama had taken over Rostock after their relegation the previous season.
Though he had no senior managerial experience, his background was remarkable:
he had worked on the coaching staff of the legendary Manchester United since age 25, and seen exactly how United's golden generation turned into the feared Red Devil across the globe.
In recent years he had been rising through the ranks of United's youth teams.
Only his hometown roots in Rostock and the club's urgent plea had convinced him to drop down to the 3. Liga.
As the teams reset for kickoff, Akama watched Su Bai with sharp curiosity.
With technique this good, what other surprises could the young midfielder deliver?
The game restarted, and the midfield battle turned fierce once more.
Scoring with his very first touch had instantly earned Su Bai his teammates' trust.
When Whit Benedict won the ball back, he immediately turned and slid it to Su Bai.
Su Bai controlled it smoothly, laid it off to Ben Kersey, and sprinted forward.
Even in training, Su Bai rarely held possession, so Ben Kersey was unfazed.
He took a touch and charged upfield.
Rostock's playmaker Beinlich rushed to close him down — but before he could challenge, Ben Kersey flicked the ball back to the supporting Su Bai and burst past Beinlich.
Su Bai didn't even take a touch.
He caressed the ball with the instep, lifting it perfectly over the sliding Bartels, who had raced over to cover.
The ball sailed right in front of Bartels' face and dropped directly into Ben Kersey's path, no adjustment required.
"Great ball!"
Daniel couldn't help shouting from the touchline.
Even Akama, on the opposite bench, let out a quiet murmur of admiration.
The height, weight, and timing of the pass were pinpoint, as if calculated to the centimeter.
Ben Kersey's pace carried him deep into Rostock's final third, nearing the penalty area.
Rostock's defensive midfielder Raschgeb moved in to block him.
But Ben Kersey, already in sync with Su Bai from training, didn't engage.
He played a quick outside-of-the-boot pass to Su Bai, who was overlapping on the left.
Su Bai brought the ball down neatly — but Cetkovic had read the pass and lunged at him, with Bartels also closing in for a double team.
Daniel's excited raised hand dropped in disappointment.
Su Bai was too inexperienced; he should have released the ball instantly instead of taking a touch.
Now he was trapped.
On the pitch, facing the onrushing Cetkovic, Su Bai didn't hesitate.
It was a move as natural as instinct.
He shifted the ball left with his right foot to dodge Cetkovic's tackle,
dragged it back with his left to skip past Bartels,
then poked it through Cetkovic's legs with his right — a seamless La Croqueta.
Cetkovic froze, staring in shock at the boy who had glided past him.
He knew this move all too well.
A former La Liga player, he had faced Barcelona during his time at Mallorca.
He had watched Iniesta toy with his midfield using the exact same trick.
How was he seeing shades of Andrés Iniesta in a young Asian midfielder in the 3. Liga?
Su Bai burst onto the edge of the Rostock box in an instant.
Daniel was stunned. The Schalke fans in the stands leaped to their feet screaming.
"Beautiful! Chinese kid, that's brilliant!"
"Take it to these Rostock hicks! Show them Schalke's power!"
"Another one! Send them home!"
Su Bai wasn't done.
He side-footed the ball sharply into the penalty area.
Waiting there was Whit Benedict, who had peeled away from the Rostock defense.
Without hesitation, the striker lashed a first-time volley toward goal.
Hankster stretched every inch of his frame, but the ball screamed into the net.
Whistle!
The referee pointed straight to the center circle. Goal!
2–2!
In less than five minutes on the pitch, Su Bai had one goal and one assist to drag Schalke level.
The Schalke supporters erupted into wild, deafening cheers.