The sent-off Fatih didn't head straight to the locker room; instead, he sat on the bench, muttering non-stop.
If given the chance to choose again, he would still do the same.
After all, had Ye Chen broken through at that moment, Mainz would have faced a 2-on-1 situation in the front court, likely leading to another conceded goal.
More importantly, he would have become the backdrop for that goalâa moment of humiliation in his career.
So, he would rather commit the foul!
For this reason, Glasner didn't blame him. Committing the foul was indeed the best option at that moment.
On the field, Ye Chen stood over the ball.
Taking a deep breath, his eyes locked onto the distant goal.
To be honest, the distance was daunting.
But did that mean it was unscorable? Absolutely not!
Back during the World Cup, Roberto Carlos scored a 35-meter free-kick against China. Similarly, Ronaldinho had pulled off a stunning goal by lobbing the ball over England's goalkeeper Seaman.
Ye Chen had only one strategy: unleash raw power for a miracle!
Carefully, he adjusted the ball's position, aligning the valve directly in front and slightly below the center.
This is the hardest part of the ball, perfect for delivering maximum speed.
The defensive wall was set, with Hummels, SubotiÄ, and PeriÅ¡iÄ all ready to pounce on the far post. Meanwhile, full-backs Piszczek and Schmelzer positioned themselves outside the box, ready to intercept any counterattack.
The commentator analyzed the situation, "In the 89th minute, Dortmund has earned a free-kick from over 35 meters out. That's quite a distance; unless Ye Chen channels Roberto Carlos, a direct shot seems unlikely! Gotze has passed up the opportunity to take it, likely trusting Ye's solid passing skills."
"Alright, the referee's whistle has blown. Let's see how Ye handles this set piece!"
The entire stadium's attention fixated on Ye Chen.
Ye Chen took a deep breath, glanced at Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Müller, and his eyes filled with determination.
His sole thought at that moment: I must complete my debut hat-trick!
Why also a hat-trick?
Because, in football history, a legendary player once scored a hat-trick in his Manchester United debut. That player cost United £27 millionâa record fee for a young player at the time.
The key difference? Ye Chen cost Dortmund absolutely nothing.
"Whoosh!"
Ye Chen exhaled deeply and began his run-up.
In the next instant, all his strength focused on his right leg! His foot, straightened like a whip, struck the bottom of the ball with explosive force.
The ball soared into the air, wobbling unpredictably from side to side like a mischievous child.
Mainz fans remained unfazed. The distance was just too greatâit couldn't possibly go in!
However, in front of the goal, Müller was drenched in sweat. What was going on with this ball? Why was it swerving so wildly?
Even the commentator sighed, "He's gone for a direct shot. Oh, what a pity, it's way off..."
But before he could finish speaking!
The airborne ball suddenly dipped sharply!
Müller scrambled backward, leaping to save it...
The ball's erratic trajectory made it nearly impossible to predict, but just as it approached the goal, it plummeted abruptly!
Müller flailed desperately, but the ball slipped past his hand and into the net!
"Brilliant... Absolutely brilliant!" The commentator choked on his words, then erupted with a roar:
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
The fans in the stadium clutched their heads in disbelief, their eyes wide open.
What had they just witnessed?
It was a miracle!
The ball, seemingly headed for the stands, had suddenly dropped into the net.
"What a goal!!"
Beyond amazement, there were no other words.
Ye Chen, no longer able to restrain himself, ripped off his jersey, showing off his chiseled physique!
He roared passionately toward the Dortmund fans.
This was his moment to vent all the frustrations that had built up over time.
Although he avoided following online gossip, he couldn't completely shut out the noise. Even his arrival at Dortmund wasn't entirely met with enthusiasm. After all, he was there to compete for playing time, and the strikers weren't exactly thrilled.
But so what?
He had been silently gathering strength, and now, in this moment, he exploded completely!
Dortmund fans in the stands screamed themselves hoarse.
Fans watching at home jumped from their seats in excitement.
But none were more ecstatic than commentators Huang Jianxiang and Xu Yang.
"It's in! It's in! It's in!"
"That free-kick... was utterly unbelievable!"
"My God, how did he even strike that ball?" Huang looked at Xu, hoping for an explanation.
Xu Yang was momentarily stunned. "This... this must be what they call a 'miracle strike!' But that trajectory was just too bizarre, especially the sudden dip in front of goal. It's nearly impossible for a keeper to save that!"
In fairness to Xu, the term "knuckleball" had only been popularized in 2012 by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, referred to his version as the "Tomahawk."
But none of that mattered now. What mattered was...
"Let's congratulate Ye Chen on becoming the first player in Bundesliga history to score a hat-trick on debut!" Huang excitedly continued.
Ye Chen was born to break records!
Although his celebration was coolâshowcasing his impressive physiqueâthe referee still smiled and handed him a yellow card as he ran by.
Nevertheless, this match would be remembered by referees and fans alike.
After all, such a free-kick wasn't something you'd see every day.
Of course, the one person who wanted to forget this game was Fatih.
Getting sent off was bad enough, but now, thanks to this free-kick, he'd forever be remembered as a symbol of humiliation!
Sure enough, the camera zoomed in on Fatih, prompting him to immediately grab a training vest to cover his face...
It was mortifying!
With the game essentially decided, Dortmund sealed the comeback, winning 3â1 against Mainz at home.
After the match, Ye Chen was named MVP.
During the post-game interview, a blonde, blue-eyed, curvaceous reporter congratulated him, "Congratulations on becoming the first player in Bundesliga history to score a hat-trick on debut. You've rewritten history!"
"Oh, really?" Ye Chen feigned surprise. "It's an honor!"
Secretly, he wondered if the Record-Breaking System would reward him. Hopefully, it wouldn't be stingy this time...
After all, he was starting to feel that playing in the Bundesliga was taking a toll on his body!