Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Red Card, Penalty, Counterattack

No one expected Klopp to substitute Lewandowski for Barrios in the final moments!

It seemed like a positional swap, but in reality, it was a statement.

Dortmund didn't come to Munich for sightseeing— a draw wasn't good enough!

In the final moments, Dortmund went all in!

And the fact that Yè Chén wasn't subbed off revealed something else—he had impressed Klopp with his goals. In Dortmund's future lineup, his tactical importance might surpass even Lewandowski!

This was the reward for scoring 23 goals in 7 matches.

As Klopp thought during his lineup decisions—stats like that made it impossible to keep Yè Chén on the bench!

Ordinarily, Klopp should have subbed off Yè Chén after he ran all over the pitch.

But today, Yè Chén had a hat-trick, just like Gómez. If Gómez wasn't coming off, why should Yè Chén?

Right now, Yè Chén was a nuclear weapon. Even just standing there, he kept Bayern on edge.

As Dortmund finished their adjustment, Bayern responded swiftly.

They subbed out Rafinha, who had been struggling all game, for Nils Petersen, a towering striker standing 1.88 meters tall.

Rafinha had been Bayern's weak link. Early in the match, playing at left-back, he was relentlessly attacked by Götze from the right flank. Later, even after switching to his familiar right side, Yè Chén and Kagawa repeatedly targeted him.

He was the breakthrough point—the shortest plank in Bayern's barrel, as the saying goes.

Heynckes had seen enough. Rafinha's dismal performance led to his substitution, with Petersen coming on for a final push.

Not everyone knew Petersen well—Bayern had just signed him for €2.8 million. Wearing Bayern's number 9, he was known for being two-footed, excellent in the air, with smart movement and wide-ranging play.

Bayern's tactic now resembled a "twin-towers" basketball strategy. Forget intricate ground play—just launch the ball into the box!

Let the two big men handle the rest.

This immediately triggered an aerial threat alarm in Dortmund's box.

With substitutions complete, the match entered a fever pitch.

76:23 – Bayern attacked from the left. Alaba's cross was intercepted by Santana.

77:38 – Bayern came again.

Ribéry cut inside and crossed at a sharp angle. Gómez got into position and sent a powerful header toward goal.

But the referee's whistle blew—Gómez was penalized for pushing! Offensive foul!

78:12 – Dortmund shifted the play to the right. Piszczek surged forward with the ball, while Götze moved to support.

However, as Piszczek passed, Lahm accelerated and intercepted it.

Piszczek, determined to recover, lunged with a slide tackle, sending the ball out of bounds. Lahm tumbled to avoid the challenge, clutching his leg in pain.

Lahm lay on the ground, grimacing, while Bayern fans erupted in rage.

"Get off the pitch, butcher!"

"Dirty Dortmund!"

"Get out of the Bundesliga! We don't need you here!"

The referee rushed over as Piszczek tried to explain he got the ball first and never touched Lahm.

But the referee wasn't interested—out came the second yellow card!

Two yellows made a red—Piszczek was sent off!

On the sidelines, Klopp erupted at the fourth official. "That was clean! A perfect tackle!"

"Control yourself! You're spitting on me!" the official coldly replied.

Replays on the big screen confirmed it—Piszczek's tackle was clean. Lahm's fall appeared more like a self-inflicted strain.

But the referee wouldn't budge—Piszczek had to leave the pitch.

Bayern fans quieted down... as it dawned on them it might have been a mistake.

But none of that mattered to them—this was the referee's call, not their concern!

Klopp had no choice but to move Götze to cover Piszczek's position.

It created a bizarre scenario—Götze, who had tormented Lahm offensively, was now defending against him.

81:12 – Bayern funneled the ball to the right at every opportunity.

Götze found himself in Rafinha's shoes—desperately trying to defend but utterly helpless.

Lahm, back at right-back, drove forward with the ball.

Feinting a cross, he tricked Götze into shifting his weight, then pulled off a sharp cut, gliding past Götze along the byline.

Götze scrambled to chase but couldn't risk fouling.

With Hummels charging to cover, Lahm crossed...

Smack!

Hummels intercepted, but the whistle blew—penalty!

Hummels' handball in the box was undeniable.

The referee's call was correct—Hummels' arm wasn't tucked in.

Bayern fans roared in unison.

"Gómez!"

"Gómez!"

"Gómez!"

Yè Chén approached a distraught Götze. "Mario, it's not your fault!"

Götze clenched his jaw. "I don't want to lose!"

"You won't. Trust Weidenfeller," Yè Chén reassured him.

Hat-trick hero Gómez stepped up to the spot.

Weidenfeller crouched, slapping the ground twice to psych himself up.

The Allianz Arena fell silent.

The whistle blew.

Gómez took a short run-up and struck for the bottom right corner.

But Weidenfeller guessed correctly and parried it away!

Gómez clutched his head in disbelief.

Weidenfeller quickly rose, grabbed the ball, and hurled it downfield.

"Go, Yè!"

The ball soared as Yè Chén sprinted without hesitation.

Bayern players were still reeling, Gómez included, while Ribéry fumed—he should have taken the shot!

On the sidelines, Heynckes roared, "Get back! DEFEND!"

But it was too late... Yè Chén was already gone.