Old Trafford was shaking.
Amid the deafening roars of the Manchester United faithful, Zlatan Ibrahimović wrapped his massive arm around Ling's shoulder, excitedly pumping his fist in celebration.
"The ball is in! It is absolutely bedlam in Manchester!" Martin Tyler screamed, his voice straining against the noise.
"Manchester United didn't give Bayern a chance to equalize! They went for the jugular!"
"Ibrahimović, who had injuries for weeks, showed no signs of rust," Gary Neville added, his voice thick with emotion.
"Instead, he rediscovered the form that carried this club last season, calm as a bomb disposal expert to slot that home!"
Neville took a deep breath, trying to slow his heart rate. "Bayern were pushed to the brink. They had no choice but to commit everyone to the attack, especially Arturo Vidal. But once he left his defensive zone, the pressure on Ling dropped sharply. That split-second decision to attack was the difference."
"The replay shows that young Ling and Kimmich were almost level," Tyler analyzed. "Kimmich was maybe even slightly closer to the ball. But he hesitated. On this pitch, at this level, if you blink, you die. Ling went all out."
@RedDevil: "We are going to the semis! I can't breathe!"
@Tactico: "Heynckes got tactically undressed. Bringing on James weakened the defensive structure. Vicious cycle."
@SpeedMerchant: "Ling's acceleration is a cheat code. Kimmich looked like he was running in treacle."
...
On the sidelines, Rui Faria couldn't contain himself. He was clenching his fists and waving them like a madman.
"Boss!" Faria shouted over the noise. "What adjustments? Do we park the bus? Do we bring on Smalling?"
"No," Mourinho shook his head gently, his eyes scanning the pitch with cold precision. "We control the midfield. If we shut down James, Bayern struggle to advance. Our weakest point is the backline. We cannot afford to let them penetrate the box. Never underestimate the Germans. They fight until the bus leaves."
Mourinho didn't smile. He knew the job wasn't done.
2-0 is a dangerous lead.
In the opposing dugout, Jupp Heynckes looked like he had aged ten years in ten minutes. His usually perfect hair was disheveled.
He sighed, a heavy sound. "Making a substitution now holds no tactical significance. It's up to their hearts now."
His assistant looked at the bench, then at the pitch.
The Bayern players looked shell-shocked. Having clinched the Bundesliga so early, their competitive edge had dulled.
Joshua Kimmich stood near the center circle, head lowered, lost in a private hell.
"Joshua!" Thomas Müller's voice cut through the despair.
With Manuel Neuer sidelined, Müller was the heartbeat.
He clapped his hands forcefully.
"Wake up! Be more decisive! If you think you can't win the ball, you definitely won't!"
"Don't be afraid!" Robert Lewandowski roared, stepping up. "Are they unbeatable? Absolutely not! We are Bayern Munich!"
The match resumed. Ling walked back to the center line, wiping sweat from his eyes.
"Forty-five minutes," he shouted to his teammates. "Hold the line! Forget the final! Focus on the now!"
Phil Jones nodded firmly, his jaw set.
He recalled Sir Alex Ferguson once saying, "Phil has immense influence, natural instinct." For years, he had been a meme, a joke, a "leech."
Today, he was a wall and he would not let this slip!
Bayern stabilized.
They stopped panicking and started playing football. They circulated the ball, probing, waiting.
68th Minute.
Javi Martinez received a pass, turned, and laid it off to Franck Ribery on the flank.
The scarred warrior faced Marcus Rashford, who was charging back to defend.
Ribery calmly nudged the ball through Rashford's legs.
"Nutmeg!" Tyler shouted. "The old dog still has new tricks!"
Antonio Valencia stepped up.
THUD.
The two collided with a sickening sound of bone on bone.
Both stumbled, but Ribery, fueled by pure desperation, kept his balance. He drove forward, a high-speed tank.
Lewandowski dropped deep, pulling Chris Smalling out of position. Muller and Robben flooded the box.
Ribery whipped in a cross. A rainbow trajectory, aiming for the back post.
"Brilliant ball!"
Thomas Müller ghosted in. He rose above Phil Jones and headed it down.
CLANG!
The sound was metallic and cruel. The ball struck the outside of the right post and bounced out for a goal kick.
Old Trafford gasped, then roared.
The woodwork was the 12th man today!
"Bayern's luck has deserted them!" Neville yelled. "That was inches away! If that goes in, it's panic stations!"
On the pitch, Müller looked at the sky, laughing bitterly. Unbelievable.
"Stop sighing! Get back!" Ribery growled, wiping sweat from his bald head. "It's not over until the whistle goes! I am not retiring on a loss!"
70th Minute.
Mourinho made his move.
"I don't want to see you concede after I'm off," Zlatan warned the huddle before walking off. "Stay focused."
"Don't worry, Zlatan," Pogba grinned, breathless. "Maybe we score another one for you."
77th Minute.
Ribery broke through again but was cynically hauled down by Valencia.
Yellow card.
"Cross incoming!"
Lewandowski rose high. He powered a header toward the bottom corner.
"De Gea!"
The Spaniard stretched like a cat, his left hand clawing the ball away.
84th Minute.
Kimmich overlapped, desperate to make amends. He received a pass from James and sprinted down the line.
Ling turned on his afterburners. He tracked back forty yards, lungs burning.
Kimmich crossed. Ling threw his body in the way.
Thump.
Blocked. Throw-in.
Five minutes later, Ling carried the ball out of defense. He played a one-two with McTominay.
Just as he prepared to break away, Kimmich wrapped his arms around Ling's waist and wrestled him to the ground.
Yellow card. Kimmich didn't complain. He just stared at Ling with exhausted respect.
94th Minute.
Stoppage time.
Every player was running on fumes. Lungs were screaming.
Martinez stole the ball from McTominay and fed James Rodriguez.
The Colombian gritted his teeth, held off Matic, and lofted a desperate ball into the box.
"Muller!"
"Volley!"
Phil Jones threw his face in front of the shot.
Thwack.
He blocked it with his cheekbone.
"The referee is checking his watch! This is it! The final corner!"
Sven Ulreich sprinted up from the Bayern goal. 22 players packed into the United box.
James took a deep breath as he struck the corner.
The ball spun viciously toward the penalty spot.
"I've got it!"
David De Gea screamed, leaping above the crowd.
Lewandowski smashed into him, but De Gea's emerald gloves clamped onto the ball like a vice.
He hit the ground hard, clutching the ball to his chest.
Beep-beep-BEEP!
The final whistle pierced the Manchester night.
Manchester United 2 - 0 Bayern Munich.