Apex United players milked the victory for all it was worth.
Ethan just stood on the sideline, soaking it all in, a serene, deeply satisfied smile on his face. He had faced his brilliant rival and won.
His team had faced a moment of adversity and responded with a performance of breathtaking, chaotic beauty.
It was a good day to be the gaffer.
The dressing room was a happy, humming hive of activity.
The wild, post-match celebrations had given way to a calm, professional buzz.
The players were rehydrating, getting treatment from the physios, and quietly basking in the glow of a hard-earned, dramatic victory.
"That bicycle kick, Vik," Josh Sargent was saying to the young Danish striker, a look of genuine awe on his face.
"I'm a 30-year-old professional striker, and I don't think I've ever even attempted that in a real match. You're 16. It's just not fair."
Viktor just shrugged, a shy but proud smile on his face. "The ball was just... there."
