The Estadio Rico Pérez stadium was alive with home fans and we can see the roars late in the night.
Floodlights burned against the night sky as thousands of fans roared like waves crashing against a cliff. blue and white scarves spun in the air while drums echoed from the stands.
But the scoreboard told a cruel story.
HÉRCULES CF – 1
TERUEL – 3
while Kwame Sosu the forward player for the Teruel hits the first goal with a free goal infornt of the penalty box at 20th minute and Mamadou Traoré – winger on loan from CD Castellón hits 2 goals for the teruel at 45' and 60' minute As we can that the match was slowly slipping away from the Hercules fc.
70 minutes.
The commentators' voices thundered through televisions across Spain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're witnessing a tough night for Hércules here in the Primera Federación – Group B," one commentator said.
His partner replied,
"Absolutely. Teruel has dominated the midfield tonight. Hércules just can't seem to find momentum."
On the sideline, the Hércules bench looked tense.
Sweat covered the players even though they hadn't stepped onto the pitch.
Among them sat a young man wearing jersey number 17 who is only 17 years looks tensioned about the match.
His name was Li Wei.
A substitute.
A player who had never played a single league minute and only play in practice match for team he didn't sing match in third division yet he was scouted by coach from youth academy with raw talent.
For months he had trained with the team—running drills, practicing shots, listening to coaches yell instructions.
But when match day arrived?
He watched.
Always from the bench.
Today was no different.
Li Wei stared at the field silently as the match continued.
Inside his chest burned something deeper than frustration as this season the team played 14 matches but he didn't the single chance he looks very displeased with this as he wants to train again and again for his dream.
A dream.
A dream he had carried since childhood.
To become a football superstar.
But reality was cruel.
Third division.
Bench player.
No minutes.
No recognition.
Just another forgotten name in the squad list as he was never substituted for the match in game so he thought today was also same all days but we don't kbow what destiny awaits for him though.
On the Pitch
The match suddenly exploded into chaos.
A Teruel Hugo Redón – midfielder on loan from Levante UD crashed into Oriol Soldevila the attacking midfielder during a challenge.
THUD.
soldevila collapsed immediately and the players of hercules fc rushed towards the Teruel for the crash for unwanted tackle of his player and seriously injured .
The referee's whistle shrieked.
" Oriol Soldevilais down! as we can see the tension between the teams as hugo doing unwanted tackle and as referee comes and gives yellow card for the hugo and lighten up the tension" the commentator shouted.
The stadium was on chaos as there attacking midfielder was tackle and down to ground.
Medical staff rushed onto the pitch as it looks like somewhat serious so they checking the condition of the player and as we can see the player is off the ground and we can see substitute for the player.
"That's terrible luck for Hércules," the commentator sighed.
"They're already struggling and now their box-to-box midfielder is injured."
The Hércules coach rubbed his forehead in frustration and substitute the Nassourou Ben Hamed midfielder signed for the squad in recent season and the match continued.
The hercules was attcking the as they were 2 goals left behind the ball was passed to Andy Escudero – winger and he was dribbling past the teruel defense midfielder and going into the penalty arc.
Another disaster.
Andy sprinted after the ball.
But as he pushed forward by the Andrés Rodríguez teruel defender to tackle before the ball enters the penalty box.
He suddenly grabbed his thigh.
"Ahhhh!"
Andy collapsed onto the grass but it was clear tackle so there was no card for defender and player was seems to be somewhat uncomfortable to play the remaining time.
The stadium gasped.
Two injuries.
Back to back.
The coach slammed his clipboard against the bench as two main players was injured even before half of the season was not even complete.
"Damn it!"
The assistant coach turned quickly.
"We need substitutions immediately."
The coach scanned the bench as who he want to substitute for the remaining 25 minutes of the match.
His eyes moved across the players on the bench as we he was trying to give a chance for different player as we need to see what they got.
Then stopped.
On Li Wei, A 17 years asian kid who is extremely work hard in practice matches and in grounds so he thought may be we can see what he got in real match so,
For a second the young man thought he imagined it.
But the coach pointed.
"You."
Li Wei froze.
"…Me?"
"Warm up. You're going in."
His heart stopped.
For months he had waited for these words, when will he play in the real match and to prove himself.
Now they had finally come.
But the situation was desperate, as team was in chaos as 2 members are injured and also with 2 goals was behind the opposite team so he wants to prove something from here.
Hércules was losing.
The crowd was restless.
And the pressure was crushing as 1-3 score in the home ground so he have to handle the pressure situation and prove his worth.
The stadium announcer's voice echoed.
"Substitution for Hércules CF!"
The commentators reacted immediately.
"Oh! Interesting change here!"
"Number 17… Li Wei… making his league debut tonight."
The second commentator sounded surprised.
"He's a young player from the academy. Not many people know much about him and his game play can we see any interesting match here lets wait and see."
The Moment
Li Wei stood near the sideline as the dream debut in third division was here right here and excited for his 1st match and that too before home crowd.
The fourth official raised the substitution board.
His legs trembled slightly.
From the stands, a few fans murmured.
"Who is that?"
"Never seen him play."
"Another desperate substitution…"
The whistle blew.
75th minute.
Li Wei stepped onto the pitch.
And the roar of the stadium swallowed him whole.