🎥 Messi-style solo in stoppage time, 18-year-old seals survival | OneFootball

The football god unloaded a full dose of kitsch in Japan this November. In the second league, scenes worthy of a movie unfolded. The stage was set for a relegation battle that would have been too absurd for any screenwriter.

Kataller Toyama languished in the third league for nearly a decade before finally managing to get promoted before the J2 season that ended yesterday. However, the return to second-tier football was bumpy.

Three games before the end, Toyama was still seven points away from safety from relegation. Surprising victories against the favored teams from Tosu and Kofu made a final showdown on the last matchday against Akita possible.

The situation remained extremely difficult—and even became more complicated during the matches. Table neighbor Kumamoto was up to that point two points ahead in the first non-relegation spot.

So, on the showdown on the 38th matchday, Toyama definitely had to win and hope for help from Kumamoto's opponent Kofu. Which they got, as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Meanwhile, Toyama took a 3-1 lead against Akita. Shortly before the final whistle, it still looked as if Kataller would narrowly fail in their heroic rescue. Because the goal differences of Toyama and Kumamoto were equal at that point, but the latter had scored more goals.

But then came the big moment for Ayumu Kameda. Like Lionel Messi once did, the 18-year-old stormed off near the halfway line, weaved through Akita's defense, and scored the crucial 4-1 final score.

With his very first professional goal, the young player saved his team from relegation to the third league in the injury time of the last matchday and crowned a crazy relegation battle. Only real life can be this beautiful.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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