In the sixty-fifth minute, with the match still delicately poised at 1-0, the fourth official's electronic board displayed the numbers: 10 off, 37 on.
Alexander Gerndt would make way for Amani Hamadi. The substitution represented more than a personnel change it signaled a tactical shift, the introduction of creative distribution to capitalize on the spaces emerging as RKC committed more resources to attack.
As Amani removed his training top and prepared to enter the field, he caught fragments of the commentary from the nearby broadcast position, the analysts' voices carrying in the momentary lull between crowd reactions.
"Interesting timing from Wouters, bringing on the fifteen-year-old Hamadi with the lead still so slender..."
