Chapter 49: An Epic Debut
"Jürgen, did you tell Marco to let him take that free kick?"
Standing near the technical area, the assistant coach glanced toward the pitch where the players were still celebrating.
Jürgen shook his head with a faint smile.
"No. That was Marco's decision. Players know when someone is having a special night."
He kept his eyes fixed on the field, watching Ken jog back toward midfield with calm composure that seemed far beyond his age.
"He has talent," Jürgen continued quietly, "but more importantly, he learns quickly. That's what makes the difference. Talent gets you noticed; intelligence keeps you on the pitch."
The assistant coach nodded.
"And confidence. He doesn't hesitate."
"Exactly," Jürgen replied. "Confidence—but controlled confidence."
---
On the pitch, the noise inside Westfalenstadion still felt overwhelming. The Yellow Wall had not stopped chanting since the free kick found the net. Ken inhaled deeply, steadying his breathing, reminding himself that the match was not finished yet.
Scoreline: 3–0.
Time remaining: more than twenty minutes.
Matches could still change quickly if concentration dropped. That was something every professional player understood.
Pierre jogged past him with a grin.
"Hat-trick on debut," he said. "Not bad."
Ken smiled slightly.
"Let's finish the game properly first."
---
Braunschweig restarted play with visible frustration. Their players had already expended enormous physical energy defending during the first half, and now the emotional blow of conceding multiple goals in rapid succession had left their shape disorganized. Their midfield lines stretched too far apart, leaving pockets of space Dortmund quickly began exploiting.
Şahin controlled the tempo from deep midfield, recycling possession calmly and switching play from flank to flank. Dortmund no longer needed to rush; patience itself had become a weapon.
In the 78th minute, Şahin lifted a long diagonal pass toward the right wing where Ken had drifted slightly deeper to receive. Anticipating the danger, two defenders immediately moved forward to double-team him before the ball even arrived.
Instead of attempting a difficult first touch under pressure, Ken jumped lightly and redirected the descending ball with a cushioned header toward the center channel, where Mkhitaryan had already stepped forward.
The movement caught the defenders off guard.
Mkhitaryan, reading the play perfectly, returned the ball with a quick first-time flick into open space behind the defensive line. Ken had already continued his run, accelerating past the nearest defender and bringing the ball down with his chest just outside the penalty area.
Without hesitation, he drove toward the right edge of the box and sent a low cross skimming across the face of goal.
Pierre arrived first, striking the ball powerfully—but the goalkeeper reacted quickly, pushing the shot away with an outstretched hand.
The clearance fell only a few meters outside the six-yard box.
Reus followed up instantly, placing the rebound calmly into the corner of the net.
4–0.
The stadium erupted again, though now the celebration carried a tone of celebration rather than tension. Victory was no longer in doubt.
Reus pointed toward Ken as he jogged back toward midfield, acknowledging the role of the assist. Ken simply raised his hand briefly in response, already focusing on the next phase of play.
---
With a four-goal lead secured, Dortmund gradually slowed the tempo, prioritizing possession and positional discipline. Braunschweig, meanwhile, continued pushing forward in search of a consolation goal, but their attacks lacked coordination, leaving them increasingly exposed to counterattacks.
From the sideline, Jürgen gestured repeatedly, instructing the players to remain organized.
"Control the rhythm," he shouted. "No unnecessary risks."
Despite the comfortable scoreline, he wanted the team to maintain structure. Discipline during easy matches often determined performance during difficult ones.
---
In the 86th minute, Mkhitaryan intercepted a loose pass near midfield and surged forward through the center, accelerating directly at the retreating defensive line. Several Braunschweig defenders hesitated, unsure whether to close him down or hold their positions.
Spotting space opening on the right side, Ken sprinted forward again, timing his run perfectly to remain onside. Mkhitaryan attempted a low shot from just outside the box, forcing the goalkeeper into a diving save.
The ball struck the post and rebounded dangerously across the goalmouth.
Ken reacted first.
Sliding forward at full stretch, he reached the loose ball a fraction of a second ahead of the nearest defender and guided it into the net from close range.
5–0.
For a brief moment, the entire stadium seemed stunned by the scale of the scoreline. Then the cheers returned even louder than before.
Four goals in a debut match.
Ken rose from the turf, raising a hand toward the stands in acknowledgment before being quickly surrounded by teammates once again. Pierre laughed as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"You really don't like slow introductions, do you?"
Ken shook his head, smiling faintly.
"It's just one match."
But even as he said the words, he could feel the magnitude of the moment. Nights like this rarely happened twice in a career, let alone at seventeen.
---
On the sideline, Jürgen exhaled slowly, finally allowing himself to relax. The assistant coach leaned closer.
"Well," he said, "that's quite a first impression."
Jürgen nodded.
"Yes. But now comes the difficult part."
"The difficult part?"
"Keeping him grounded," Jürgen replied. "Performances like this bring attention. Attention brings pressure. What matters is how he handles the next match."
He watched Ken jogging back into position, still communicating actively with teammates, still pressing when necessary, still tracking back despite the overwhelming lead.
"That's a good sign," Jürgen added quietly.
---
As the final minutes ticked away, Dortmund maintained comfortable control of possession, passing patiently across midfield while the crowd continued singing. The Yellow Wall remained in full voice, celebrating both the victory and the emergence of a new young star.
When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the scoreboard read:
Borussia Dortmund 5 – 0 Braunschweig
Ken stood near the center circle for a moment, looking around the stadium. Flashing cameras, roaring fans, teammates laughing and congratulating one another—it all felt slightly unreal.
A professional debut.
Four goals.
A night that would be replayed across sports broadcasts and headlines the next morning.
Pierre clapped him on the shoulder as they walked toward the tunnel.
"Enjoy this one," he said. "Not every debut turns into history."
Ken nodded quietly. He knew the journey was only beginning, but tonight had already become something unforgettable—an introduction that no one inside Westfalenstadion would forget for a very long time.
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