The atmosphere at De Adelaarshorst Stadium was heating up. The supporters of Go Ahead Eagles fueled their team's spirit with unending cheers, while the visiting supporters of Sparta Rotterdam began to feel a growing sense of anxiety.
A match that had been tight for 80 minutes was now entering its crucial phase—the final moments that would determine everything.
Sparta Rotterdam, a team competing at the top of the Eerste Divisie in the Netherlands, did not want to lose three points in this match. They had taken the lead early, but Go Ahead Eagles had managed to equalize.
The situation was becoming more difficult for Sparta, as they had already used up all of their substitutions and had even pulled off one forward to strengthen their defense.
On the other side, Erik ten Hag, the young coach of Go Ahead Eagles, stood with his arms folded at the sideline. At first, he had planned to take out Arghana, the young player who had not been performing well.
However, the equalizing goal he scored changed that plan. Instead, he substituted out the right winger and strengthened the midfield to maintain the team's balance.
Go Ahead Eagles' defense became more solid, making it difficult for Sparta Rotterdam to break through.
Time continued to tick down, entering injury time.
Sparta Rotterdam kept sending balls into the penalty box, but all of their efforts were blocked by the disciplined defense of the Eagles.
The home supporters' cheers grew louder. They sensed that something extraordinary might happen.
As the match entered its final added minute, a header duel in the Eagles' penalty box was again won by the home team. The ball fell to Deniz Türüç, their creative midfielder. Without hesitation, he sent a long pass to the middle of the field.
Arghana, who had been somewhat invisible throughout the match, suddenly became the center of attention. The ball that Deniz sent landed perfectly at his feet.
With perfect control, he turned and began to run toward the opposing goal!
Two center-backs from Sparta Rotterdam, Donovan Slijngard and Crescendo van Berkel, immediately gave chase. Donovan tried to tackle him with a sliding move, but the ball bounced ahead.
Arghana stumbled and raised his hand, asking for a foul. However, the referee allowed the play to continue.
Donovan attempted to clear the ball, but Arghana reacted faster. With a clever touch, he pushed the ball past Crescendo and then sprinted past Donovan from the other side!
De Adelaarshorst Stadium fell silent for a moment, as if not believing what had just happened, before erupting in joyous cheers.
Coach Erik ten Hag was stunned. He did not expect Arghana to pull off such a trick in such a crucial moment.
Crescendo tried to catch up, but Arghana was already too far ahead. Now, he was only facing Sparta Rotterdam's goalkeeper, Nico Pellatz, who came out of the goal to narrow the shooting angle.
However, Arghana remained calm. With full confidence, he raised his leg and took a chip shot! The ball floated in the air, soaring high before starting to dip.
Nico Pellatz leaped with his arms stretched out, but the ball still passed him!
The stadium held its breath, as if time stopped for a moment.
GOOOAL!!!
The ball found the back of the net for Sparta Rotterdam!
De Adelaarshorst Stadium exploded in excitement! The supporters, once tense, were now standing and cheering wildly.
Applause echoed throughout the stadium, accompanying the spectacular goal that had just been scored.
However, in the middle of the field, Arghana did not celebrate. He collapsed to the ground, exhausted. His breath came in short gasps, his body weak after expending all his energy in that decisive moment.
He just sat there, staring at the ball that had nestled in the net, as if unable to believe what he had just done.
His teammates quickly ran toward him. Deniz Türüç was the first to reach him, patting Arghana's back with immense pride. "You were amazing!" he shouted.
The others surrounded him, praising and hugging him, even though Arghana still looked drained.
At the sideline, Erik ten Hag signaled to the bench. He knew Arghana had given everything for the team tonight. "Substitution!" he shouted to the referee. A substitute player was ready on the sidelines, prepared to replace the exhausted Arghana.
The referee raised the substitution board, displaying the number 33.
The cheers from the crowd grew louder, this time as an appreciation for the hero of the match. Arghana slowly rose from the ground, trying to suppress his fatigue. He walked slowly toward the sideline, occasionally waving to the fans who continued to cheer his name.
When he reached the sideline, Erik ten Hag welcomed him with a warm embrace. "You did your best, son. Rest now," the coach whispered with pride. Arghana nodded weakly before sitting on the bench, soaking in all the applause still directed at him.
Meanwhile, the players of Sparta Rotterdam could only stand motionless, hands on their hips, their faces filled with disbelief.
In less than ten minutes, they had lost everything. Their eyes were fixed on Arghana, as if trying to confirm whether the young Indonesian player was real or just a shadow that had appeared in the final minutes to shatter their hopes.
For 80 minutes, Arghana had been almost invisible. But in the last 10 minutes, he transformed into a hero!
The referee blew the final whistle. The match was over.
Go Ahead Eagles won 3-2!
And now, one name would echo in the minds of the spectators: Arghana!