Martens kept his eyes on the ball, waiting for the right moment. Mäenpää closed the gap fast with his arms spread wide to block the angle.
Chris: [Martens… dinks it over the keeper!]
The ball floated delicately over Mäenpää's outstretched hand, spinning toward the net.
Rob: [Is it in?!]
A heartbeat of silence—then the net rippled.
Chris: [GOAL! MAARTEN MARTENS BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!]
The stadium erupted. Martens turned away, arms outstretched, a triumphant grin on his face as teammates swarmed him.
Rob: [That was pure class! Calm, composed, and lifted it beautifully over the keeper]
Chris: [AZ Alkmaar finally get their reward! They've been knocking, and now they've broken through!]
The camera cut to the VVV-Venlo players with hands on their hips, and heads shaking. They had held firm for so long, but the pressure had finally told.
Benjamin let out a long breath, nodding. That had been coming.
