As Mark Lane scored this brilliant goal, Germany surprisingly took the lead in the closing moments of the match!
And there were still ten minutes left until the end of regular time.
The Ghanaians naturally wouldn't give up.
If they couldn't get a point, they would be eliminated early!
Thus, the Ghanaians, with their backs against the wall, began to push forward en masse, launching wave after wave of attacks against Germany's formation.
At this moment, Löw also used his last substitution, replacing Khedira with the vice-captain Schweinsteiger, who had missed the first round due to injury!
Perhaps it was the bond and chemistry between the two captains; after Schweinsteiger came on, the German Team's midfield control became even better.
Moreover, "Little Pig" Schweinsteiger possessed a sharp long pass that could directly reach the space behind the opponent's defense.
In the eighty-fifth minute, Schweinsteiger, in the midfield, along with Lahm, dispossessed Muntari, then sent a through ball to Müller on the right wing.
The latter advanced with the ball and then delivered a half-volley cross!
The ball arced through the air, perfectly bypassing the left-back Asamoah at the near post, flying towards the penalty spot area.
Unfortunately, Klose, who was trying to get to the ball, was pulled and interfered with by Ghana's center-back Mensah, and his flying scissor kick failed to connect with the ball.
However, the ball, having flown between the goalkeeper and the defenders, perfectly reached the far post of the goal.
And a white figure unexpectedly darted out from behind Ghana's right-back Afful, then quickly poked it with his foot!
The ball instantly changed direction, perfectly slipping into the near corner of the goal!
And the scorer was none other than the black-haired Mark Lane!!!
"The goal is in again!!!"
"And the scorer is still Mark Lane!!!"
"Unbelievable!"
"This eighteen-year-old youth has actually scored a brace on the World Cup stage!"
"This feat not only equaled the 58-year-old record held by the King of Football, Pelé, but it was also the first time since the 1958 World Cup that a player under 20 years old scored a brace in a World Cup match!"
"He also surpassed his great predecessor, Beckenbauer! (Beckenbauer scored a brace in the 1966 World Cup at just 20 years and 304 days old)"
In just under five minutes, the Estádio Castelão once again erupted in deafening cheers for the same person.
And that person was Mark Lane, wearing the German Team's number 23 jersey!
After scoring, Mark Lane sprinted towards the corner flag, then performed a stylish knee slide!
This goal looked like it was scored by luck.
However, only Mark Lane himself knew that he consciously ran to that position!
Because, from the moment he entered the South Tyrol training camp until today's second group stage match against Ghana, he had been observing and learning Müller's movements all these days!
Now, he finally appeared where the ball was likely to be!
He could proudly say that this wasn't luck; he ran to the position he was supposed to be in!
And as he stood up, he was enveloped in a big hug by Klose, who had run over:
"That was fantastic!"
Müller, very excited, grabbed his shoulders again and shouted loudly:
"Toi (an onomatopoeic word from driving away evil spirits, similar to 'Come on')!!!"
The sound was so loud that Mark Lane couldn't help but frown:
"Could you not spray on my face... my face is covered in spit..."
It was no wonder Müller was so excited.
This goal wasn't just about Mark Lane becoming the youngest player to score a World Cup brace since 1958.
More importantly, this goal crushed the Ghanaians' fighting spirit and ended the suspense of the match.
With seven or eight minutes left in the game, a one-goal deficit could still be chased.
But two goals?
That was a bit difficult!
Indeed, after Mark Lane extended the lead to two goals, the Ghanaians' fighting spirit deflated like a punctured ball, instantly dying down.
Even if some hadn't given up, the black guys with disunited minds couldn't organize any significant attacks.
Whistle ~ Whistle ~ ~ Whistle ~ ~ ^
The referee blew the final whistle!
Thanks to the three goals contributed by the substitute Klose and Mark Lane, the German Team completed a great comeback in the second half!
With a score of four to two, they defeated the "Black Stars of Africa," Ghana, achieving two consecutive wins and securing early qualification from the group!
"Nice!"
"We've qualified!"
The German Team players also high-fived and embraced, celebrating the joy of their early qualification from the group.
After the match, Mark Lane, who came on as a substitute for twenty minutes and scored a brace, was named Man of the Match!
Arriving at the mixed-zone interview area by the sideline, Mark Lane hadn't even spoken when he saw dozens of photographers with long lenses and short lenses aimed at him, flashbulbs popping repeatedly.
Fortunately, it wasn't his first time facing such a scene.
A Sky Sports reporter, holding a microphone, came up to him and began the interview:
"Mark Lane, congratulations, you have achieved two consecutive victories and secured an early qualification spot from the group."
"Thank you."
"In this match, you scored a brace, which makes you the youngest player to score a brace in the World Cup since Pelé in 1958! What do you have to say about this achievement?"
"Just participating in the World Cup is a dream come true, let alone scoring in the World Cup! It all feels like a dream, and I am very grateful to the head coach for his trust in me..."
"Your first goal was very spectacular, especially your celebration, which reminded people of Ronaldinho. Can you share with us the origin of that celebration?"
"It's simple, one of my idols is Ronaldinho, I grew up watching him play, and I celebrate like this to pay tribute to this great player..."
"In this match, you didn't start, but you delivered a very outstanding performance. Do you think you have a chance to be a starter in the next match?"
"That's not up to me; I will follow the coach's arrangements one hundred percent. But what's certain is that whether I start or come on as a substitute, I will give my all!"
After asking a few standard questions, Mark Lane's performance also made the reporter feel that he hadn't expected Mark Lane, despite his young age, to be so composed when facing the media, not at all like an eighteen-year-old.
At this point, he changed the subject, suddenly shifting the topic to the club level:
"Many fans are very concerned about your movements. It is rumored that many top clubs are interested in you, including Bayern Munich. And Mr. Beckenbauer admitted that he invited you to join Bayern?"
Indeed!
Mark Lane was well-prepared for the reporter's question.
"I saw that news. I just chatted with Mr. Beckenbauer for a couple of sentences in the player tunnel; there was no invitation to join. I have a contract with Wolfsburg..."
"Currently, I am only focusing on the World Cup. As for other matters, I will not consider them for now."