Van Gelder's voice carried across the airwaves, heavy with emotion as he tried to capture the magnitude of what had just occurred. "What scenes we're witnessing here at the Galgenwaard! Utrecht have reached their first cup final since 2003/04! Nine years of waiting is over, and it's all thanks to the heroics of sixteen-year-old Amani Hamadi!"
The pitch was chaos. Players, coaches, staff, and supporters had all merged into one massive celebration that seemed to encompass the entire stadium. But through the mayhem, Amani found himself being lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates, carried like a conquering hero toward the corner where the most passionate Utrecht supporters were gathered.
The noise was indescribable. 24,000 voices raised in unison, singing songs that had been waiting nine years to be sung again. Flares painted the night sky in red and white, while banners proclaimed the end of the drought: "NINE YEARS TOO LONG - BUT WORTH THE WAIT!"
