Swish!
The ball landed on the field, and Suk completed the goal with a beautiful chip shot.
"Beautiful!" Mlinar couldn't help but shout.
This was a connection between Suk and Modrić, a passing and running collaboration. Suk's well-timed forward insertion cooperated with Modrić's through ball to create this goal.
This goal also made Modrić look at Suk again in surprise. Previously, Suk had said that his ability to make forward runs was very good, but Modrić hadn't paid too much attention at the time. But this goal had already proved that point.
In addition to that, Suk was always able to shake off defenders, which was another impressive ability.
"Let's stop here for today!" Orić clapped his hands and shouted.
Everyone gradually walked to the sidelines.
Suk took off his jersey and casually wiped away his sweat, then scooped up two bowls of water from a bucket and handed one to Modrić.
"If you were on our team, it would be great. You could definitely be promoted to League A or even the Super League."
Modrić took the water glass, remaining silent, obviously unsure how to respond.
Suk smiled and said, "This Saturday, our league will be over, and after the game, we'll prepare for work."
Modrić was surprised. "The league is over? So fast?" It was only mid-April—how could the league be over?
Clearly, Modrić didn't know the peculiarities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Second League.
After Suk explained, Modrić understood and nodded slightly, then fell silent.
Suk didn't say anything more; he was still very much looking forward to the final battle on Saturday. Besides testing his current abilities and new tactics, the card drawing opportunity after the game and the rich season reward card draws were extremely attractive to him. Based on his last experience, the season reward card draws often gave some very good cards.
"How are you guys doing now?" Suk asked casually.
Modrić was silent for a moment before saying, "There's no chance to compete for the championship this season."
Mostar Zrinjski's situation wasn't looking good. They were being pressured by Sarajevo Football Club in the capital, the points gap was too large, and they had no hope of winning the championship.
"What about you?" Suk continued.
Modrić replied, "I'll work hard. It should be better next season."
The words indicated that Modrić wasn't doing too well.
Suk nodded. "Don't worry."
At that moment, Orić stood in front of the truck and waved to Suk, shouting, "We should go."
Suk immediately shouted back, "Coming!"
He turned to Modrić, smiled, and said, "I'm leaving. I still have to go to work later. If you have time, you can come and watch our game."
Without waiting for Modrić to respond, Suk turned and ran toward the truck.
Modrić watched Suk jump onto the truck, and with the dust flying, the truck disappeared from sight. Modrić whispered, "Saturday?"
Finding a job was especially difficult for minors like Suk.
There was a machine factory around Mostar with recruitment notices, but this kind of job was highly sought after, and Suk couldn't get in—the locals were eager to get hired.
For Suk, the best way out was the kind of work that didn't require signing a contract, what they called "black work."
Mostar's economic output was low, and its main focus was tourism. Over the past year, Suk had tried being a tour guide, a dock worker, a dishwasher, a waiter, and even a street performer. He'd done every job that could make money, but it was still very hard to make ends meet.
Fortunately, there had been more restaurant jobs available recently, especially with the World Cup approaching. Major bars would become the go-to place for locals to watch the games.
For instance, Bakic, the goalkeeper for Mostar Wanderers, had already started turning his shop into a bar. He did the renovation himself.
Dong dong dong!
The sound of nails being hammered echoed.
Suk had two nails in his mouth, a hammer in his hand, gloves on his hands, and was sitting on the beam, installing a TV support rod on the load-bearing column.
After hammering in the last three nails, Suk shouted downwards, "How's the angle?"
Bakic below looked left and right, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "Very good."
Suk smiled and said, "I used to be an apprentice of Mlinar!"
As the only carpenter in town, Mlinar was known for his craftsmanship, which was widely respected by the townspeople. Suk had worked there.
Supporting his hands, Suk moved his butt closer to the load-bearing column and skillfully climbed down, hugging it.
Pa pa!
Suk clapped his hands and said, "I'll help with the decoration for free. Don't forget your promise to hire me during the World Cup."
"Got it! Got it!" Bakic replied dismissively, pointing to the door. "Assemble the light stand outside, then wipe down all the tables. That counts as your dinner money."
When Suk heard that he could eat for free, he immediately saluted.
"Understood!"
He turned around and ran out quickly. Soon, the sound of tinkling metal could be heard at the door.
Bakic smiled as he watched Suk's retreating figure, then turned back to continue his work.
The renovation of Bakic's tavern went quickly. Under Mlinar's guidance, Bakic's leadership, and Suk's labor, the renovation was completed in just four days.
The former restaurant was transformed into a medieval tavern. The structure was made of smoked wood, the roof flickered with faint lights, and the plaque read "Bakic Tavern." Two large wooden barrels were placed at the door for decoration. You could already smell the strong rum before entering.
Looking at the results of their hard work over four days, the three of them were quite satisfied. The townspeople walking by also glanced at the tavern, clearly trying to decide where to watch the World Cup games.
"The renovation is complete. Tomorrow is the game. You all should rest early," Mlinar said, waving his hand, preparing to leave.
Suk turned to him and shouted, "Don't forget your promise to play for half a season."
Mlinar waved back, smiling, a silent acknowledgment of Suk's words.
Bakic glanced at Suk, who hadn't left yet, and couldn't help but say, "Shouldn't you leave?"
"Ruthless!" Suk turned around and teased, "Your employees are starving. Shouldn't you feed them?"
Bakic grinned. "How many meals have you already mooched off me before you even started working?"
Suk pointed to the tavern. "I've put in a lot of effort."
Bakic shook his head. "Come in with me."
Despite the lack of meat, Bakic's cooking was still good enough to make Suk eat his fill.
After eating, Suk didn't stay long, patting his stomach and heading out.
After all, there was still the final battle tomorrow.
The next day, the ranch stadium gathered fans once again. However, compared to usual, the number was smaller. It seemed like people had chosen work over entertainment as the season was winding down.
But even so, there were still more than 100 fans. This was a decent crowd for a team in the Second League.
As usual, Orić wandered through the crowd, collecting tickets. This was the main source of income for the team, covering travel, accommodation, and other expenses for the next season.
The last game was a home match, which was great news for Suk and the others. However, the bad news was that they would be facing the current first-place team in the Second League, Leotar, in this game.
Leotar, a team newly formed this year, was outstanding. While other Second League teams muddled along, Leotar had big ambitions and aimed for the Super League.
With a complete club structure and the economic backing comparable to Super League teams, Leotar had a dedicated coaching staff and a strong lineup. In terms of overall quality, Mostar Wanderers and Leotar weren't even on the same level.
Leotar had already confirmed their promotion, and their last match would mostly be a formality.
Of course, they still remembered the Mostar Wanderers team, especially that short No. 9, Suk, and the midfield core, No. 10, Mlinar.
"Hey! Suk, get past me!" a voice shouted.
It came from a strong, 190 cm tall player in the Leotar lineup—Unkovic, their center back. He looked like a heavyweight player, just as big and intimidating as his fleshy face.
Unkovic was still angry about the previous game, where Suk had scored a hat-trick against him, and Mostar had almost handed Leotar a huge defeat.
Under Suk's provocation, Unkovic's anger flared. "In this game, don't even think about scoring!" he shouted.
His teammates laughed, clearly enjoying the joke at Unkovic's expense.
"Alright, last preparation time—let's stick to the plan we practiced," Orić said. "Don't feel too much pressure. Treat it as a warm-up game."
Everyone nodded.
Suk tightened his socks and followed his teammates onto the field.
The fans in the stadium erupted in cheers.
For the small town, the weekly football game was the highlight of the week.
In Mostar, on Saturdays, they had a Mostar Wanderers game, and on Sundays, they had a Mostar Zrinjski game.
While Mostar Zrinjski had become predictable, Mostar Wanderers, despite playing in the Second League, could always surprise their fans with exciting performances. This was one reason the Mostar Wanderers' market was so popular.
The game began, and the players from both teams lined up, ready for the final battle. The atmosphere was tense. Suk could feel the pressure mounting, but he focused on his task, determined to give everything he had for the team. His mind was clear, and his body was ready.
Leotar's players were all in good shape, and their confidence was evident. They were determined to finish their season with a victory, but Suk and his teammates weren't going to make it easy for them. The two teams had clashed before, and the memory of their past encounters made this match even more intense.
As the game progressed, it became clear that Leotar was stronger overall, but the Mostar Wanderers were playing with heart and determination. Suk darted around the field, using his speed and agility to make runs that kept the Leotar defense on their toes. Mlinar controlled the midfield, distributing passes and setting up opportunities for Suk.
Despite the relentless pressure from Leotar, Suk managed to break free in the 30th minute, receiving a perfect pass from Mlinar. With a quick look at the goalkeeper and defenders, he placed the ball precisely into the corner of the net, scoring the first goal of the match.
The crowd erupted into cheers. Suk's teammates rushed to him, lifting him into the air as the fans shouted in excitement. It was a crucial goal, one that gave Mostar Wanderers a momentary lead against the favorites to win the league.
Leotar quickly recovered, however, and in the 55th minute, they equalized with a powerful header off a corner kick. The game was now 1-1, and the tension in the stadium grew even more intense. It was anyone's game, and the stakes were high.
Both teams exchanged attacks, but the defenses held firm for the most part. The midfield battle raged on, with both teams trying to gain control. Suk was involved in every key moment, making runs, creating chances, and keeping Leotar's defenders on edge.
As the match neared its conclusion, Suk could sense that the game was slipping away from Mostar Wanderers. The final whistle was approaching, and it looked like the game might end in a draw—until the 88th minute.
Mlinar made a brilliant pass through the defense, and Suk found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. This was the moment he had been waiting for. With ice in his veins, Suk took a deep breath, dribbled around the keeper, and slotted the ball into the empty net.
The stadium erupted once again. This was it—the game-winning goal. Mostar Wanderers had taken the lead with just minutes left to play.
Leotar pushed forward desperately in the final moments, but the Mostar Wanderers defense held strong. Orić's tactics had worked, and the team managed to secure the 2-1 victory.
The players celebrated together, and the fans cheered in jubilation. Suk was exhausted, but he felt a sense of pride. This match had been the culmination of everything he had worked for, and the victory was sweet.
After the final whistle blew, Suk walked off the field, his teammates surrounding him. The team had done it—they had defeated the champions of the Second League.
Suk smiled to himself, knowing that he had given his all. He had proven his worth once again, and that feeling was priceless.
Later that evening, after the celebrations had calmed down, Suk sat down with Orić and Mlinar. The season was over, and the team had achieved everything they could have hoped for.
"Good job, Suk," Orić said, clapping him on the back. "You played brilliantly today."
Mlinar nodded in agreement. "You've come a long way, Suk. We'll be moving on to bigger things next season."
Suk smiled and looked at his teammates. "Thanks. It's been a great season. We've worked hard, and now it's time to enjoy the rewards."
The season might have been over, but for Suk, the journey was far from finished. There were still more challenges ahead, and he was ready for whatever came next.