“This isn’t working,” Jack said. “We can’t just defend. Look, we may as well lose 5–0 as 2–0. If 56we attack, we might just get something. Let’s try it. Hasan and Faisal, stay up the pitch. We’ll just have to hope our defence can keep Riverside out.”

Riverside attacked from the kick-off, but Sam got in a tackle. He looked up and saw Hasan had lost his man. He was running into space and holding his arm up, calling for the ball. Sam hit his pass low and hard, and Hasan ran onto it. Faisal was moving this way and that, trying to find some space. Hasan flicked the ball to his left, and Faisal hit it sweetly into the net. The Riverside boys looked stunned. They weren’t used to letting in goals, especially to losers like Celtic.

“Great pass,” Hasan said. “We chose the right guy to be captain.”

That made Sam feel proud, but his team was still 2–1 down. And on the next pitch, White Star were winning. Sam looked over at Jordan. Jordan held up three fingers with one hand and 57made a zero with his other hand. White Star were 3–0 up. Celtic had to win their match now.

“Come on, lads,” Sam said. “We just need two goals. We can do it!”

Sam went ahead. He tackled, he put in blocks and he made passes. He was making all the other boys play better. Kai picked up the ball and dribbled through the Riverside defence, laying it off. Hasan smashed the ball into the back of the net.

2–2.

“One more goal, lads,” Sam cried. “One more and we’ve done it.”

And it came. This time it was pure brilliance from Faisal. He picked up the ball on the halfway line, beat two players and chipped the keeper.

3–2. 58

Everybody was smiling. They’d done it. They were going to stay up.

“How long?” Sam called over to Jack.

Jack held up five fingers.

“Five minutes,” Sam said. “Only five minutes to go. Keep it tight.”

The seconds ticked away, and Riverside were all over the Celtic defence. To Sam’s horror, the ball spun clear and ran between Kai and Hasan. In a stroke of bad luck, it fell right into the Riverside striker’s path.

3–3.

Sam looked for Jack. “How long left?” he asked, unable to believe their bad luck.

“A minute,” Jack told him. “White Star are still three up. It’s all or nothing. A draw is no good to us. Go for it!” 59

Sam joined Hasan and Faisal in the centre circle. The ref was looking at his watch. Then something happened that made Sam’s mouth fall open.

Faisal spoke. “Give me the ball.”

Faisal dropped back, looking down the field.

“You can’t score from your own half,” Sam said.

Faisal stared at him. “Give me the ball.”