John Aston was cheering for the goal.
He remembered that before the game started, Gao Bo had confidently claimed that the team had a chance to win the championship. At the time, that statement had felt contradictory to him. On one hand, Gao Bo was brimming with confidence. But on the other hand… a one or two percent chance wasn't exactly something to count on.
But now, somehow, he believed in Gao Bo's confidence.
For Luton to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup was something John Aston had never even imagined. Yet Gao Bo had said it plainly, he wanted to win the FA Cup!
If that really happened… it would be insane.
How long had it been since a lower-league team had won the FA Cup? John couldn't think of a single example off the top of his head. If Gao Bo really pulled it off, it would definitely be one of the greatest miracles in FA Cup history!
It could be said that the young coach in front of him had pulled Luton out of the mud single-handedly, and perhaps used too much force, because now he was sending them soaring upward...
...
At this point, the game had already gone past injury time, but since Luton spent a long time celebrating the goal, the referee was likely to allow Coventry one last attack.
Gao Bo called over Kanté to give him face-to-face instructions. For this final moment of attack and defense, he would not tolerate any slip-ups!
"It's unbelievable!!" Letkinson, in the commentary box, exclaimed. "Luton scored in the dying moments! If this is the final score, Luton will break into the FA Cup semi-finals! A fourth-tier team reaching the semi-finals, even in the FA Cup, known for its upsets, this is an absolute rarity!"
The match continued. The referee granted Coventry one last attack.
Henderson tried a long-range shot, but the ball struck Vardy, who had fallen back to defend near the penalty area.
The referee hesitated, then awarded Coventry a corner.
"Hey! Hey! Time's up!" Gao Bo shouted from the sideline. "Damn it! It's already five minutes! Are you even looking at the time!?"
Gao Bo tapped his wrist to signal to the referee to watch the clock.
The fourth official approached, perhaps the word "Damn" had caught his attention.
"Watch your language, Coach!"
But Gao Bo didn't push it, with victory near, there was no point in making trouble.
"It's already the 95th minute, sir! Stoppage time was only three minutes!!" Gao Bo protested, pointing to the stadium's big screen.
The fourth official just shrugged. Ending the match was the referee's decision, not his. After confirming Gao Bo wouldn't say anything more, he left.
Coventry prepared for their final corner, even their goalkeeper had come up to join the attack.
"This is it! The last corner kick!! All Coventry players are in the box!!" In China, broadcaster He Hongfa's voice trembled with nervous excitement. "Ten seconds stand between Luton and the FA Cup semi-finals!!"
"The corner is in!!! Claude!!!!!!!"
On screen, Luton's goalkeeper Claude Rondo soared into the air, grabbed the ball, and held it tightly beneath him!
"That should be the end! Congratulations to Luton on reaching the semi-finals!!"
Gao Bo stood on the sidelines, his players and coaching staff on their feet behind him, all of them waiting for the final whistle.
Every Luton fan was full of hope… and fear. The fear that this miracle could still be taken away in these final seconds.
But Claude simply lay on the ground, hugging the ball, unwilling to get up, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle, even if it meant a yellow card.
The referee, though, wasn't adding any more time. As Claude caught the ball, he raised the whistle to his lips,
Beep!
Gao Bo clenched his fists, ready to run onto the field.
Beep!! Beep!! Beep!!!
Three blasts, the match was over!!
Only the sounds of Luton's players celebrating echoed through Coventry Stadium…
...
"The match is over!! It's over!!!" Letkinson stood up in the commentary box.
"2–1!!! Luton did the impossible! They defeated Coventry and reached the FA Cup semi-finals as a fourth-division team!!! Gao Bo, in his very first season, has led the team to an achievement never before seen in its history!! They've made a miracle!! The biggest dark horse of the season!!"
"Next stop, Wembley!!!"
Letkinson's voice was filled with emotion!
On the pitch, Gao Bo led the substitutes onto the field. The players already on the pitch raised their arms and cheered!
Kevin Keane covered his face with both hands, tears of joy streaming down.
"Don't cry now, Kevin!!!" Gao Bo came up and pulled him up from the ground.
"We're going to Wembley!!!!"
He hugged his captain tightly!
The players rushed over, grabbed Gao Bo, tossed him into the air, then caught him again…
Back in Luton, the whole town erupted as if it were Luton Carnival, perhaps even more joyful than that.
People poured into the streets in their home jerseys, waving team flags.
Cars honked their horns endlessly!!
"We're going to Wembley!!!!"
"Wembley!! Wembley!! Wembley!!!!"
The fans turned the whole city into a stage of celebration…
...
While Luton celebrated, Coventry could only swallow the bitterness of defeat.
Coleman watched Luton's players and staff in their jubilance.
His gaze fell on Gao Bo.
Compared to Coleman's gray hair and weathered face, the young coach, with jet-black hair and no wrinkles — seemed from a different world.
He was only twenty-eight...
Coleman looked on, conflicted.
Maybe football was no longer a place for old-school coaches like him...
Coventry's players trudged off the pitch.
The home fans were already leaving, but Ricoh Arena's staff graciously kept the lights on, even as their own team exited, so that Luton could continue their celebrations.
"Who would have thought, before the season began, that a team like Luton could create such a miracle? They've reached the FA Cup semi-finals. This night belongs to Luton. Congratulations to them!"
"This night is theirs!"
Letkinson's final words hung in the air.
Luton's celebration eventually came to a close, it was still an away game, after all.
Gao Bo led his players off the pitch.
Next time, they would appear again in the FA Cup, at Wembley Stadium.
And who knows… would they create another miracle then?
Letkinson was already looking forward to it.