Chapter 12 - DFB Debut

📅 November 20, 2019 – DFB-Pokal Second Round vs FC Augsburg

📍 Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

The Morning – A Bitter Goodbye

Karl Heinz Schneider stood in the hallway of his apartment, holding his mother's suitcase by the handle. She wore a long tan coat, scarf wrapped delicately, work laptop bag slung over one shoulder.

"I hate that I have to leave right before your cup debut," she said, softly brushing a hand through his hair. "But the Cologne clients—"

"Need you," Karl finished for her with a small smile. "Like Dortmund needs me."

She laughed lightly, then stepped forward and hugged him tight.

"You're carrying the name well, Karl," she whispered in his ear. "Heinz Schneider… that means something now."

He held her for a few extra seconds.

"Text me when you arrive," he said. "And I'll text you after I score."

11:00 AM – Matchday Routine

Breakfast. Hydration. Quiet meditation in his room with eyes closed and earbuds in — Hans Zimmer – Time playing on loop.

Reus texted:

"Pokal nights are tricky. Keep your mind sharp."

Sancho added in their group chat:

"Cup football ain't cute. It's war mate."

Karl stared at his black jersey laid across the bed.

"Tonight," he whispered in German.

5:30 PM – The Signal Grows Loud

The bus ride to Signal Iduna was silent.

No fans outside this time — it was a cold midweek night. But inside the stadium, it was electric. DFB-Pokal nights had their own flavor. A different kind of tension. One goal could end everything.

In the dressing room, Favre was brief. "Cup games are mental. Not tactical. Stay sharp."

Karl adjusted his shin pads, pulled up his socks, stared into the mirror, and whispered—

"Game Time Karl.

Don't chase the game.

 Welcome it.

Show them who you are."

Reus clapped him on the back. "Let's go."

Kick-Off – First Half Grit

Dortmund started strong — Sancho and Brandt probing the flanks, Witsel controlling the middle. Augsburg sat deep, their lines tight, pressing in bursts.

Karl was on the left wing tonight. First five minutes, he barely touched the ball.

In the 12th minute, he dropped deep, demanded the ball, turned sharply on his first touch — a half-pirouette past the first marker.

That's when the crowd began to murmur.

Augsburg noticed. Their right-back started shadowing him tighter.

By the 25th, Karl made a cut inside, dummied, and played a cheeky reverse pass to Reus, who shot wide.

But no goal yet.

Still 0–0.

Favre on the sideline made a subtle gesture — "Keep going."

Monologue – Karl's Inner World

Then came the 34th minute.

Ball at his feet.

One defender in front.

Another drifting wide.

The crowd murmuring again.

And inside Karl's mind, the noise faded.

"They still think I'm adjusting.

Still think I'm learning the rhythm of professional football.

They don't realize—

I never learned rhythm.

I am rhythm.

This pitch? My stage.

This moment? Mine.*"

He exploded.

Cut inside. One touch, two touch.

A burst between two defenders. Then, just outside the box—

Bang.

A left-footed curler.

The net rippled.

1–0 Dortmund.

Signal Iduna Park roared.

Karl didn't celebrate wildly. He jogged to the corner flag, stood tall, and tapped the badge once.

Second Half – Steady and Strong

Dortmund stayed composed. Haaland added another in the 66th minute with a bullet header.

Karl continued to glide — tracking back when needed, pressing high, and exchanging one-twos with Reus and Sancho like a veteran.

When he was subbed off in the 81st minute, the applause wasn't just warm — it was respectful.

Even Augsburg's coach clapped as he exited.

Post-Match – Media and Message

Final Score: Dortmund 2 – 0 Augsburg

Karl: 1 goal,

88% pass completion,

3 key dribbles

In the media zone, microphones flooded his space again.

Bild: "That goal — pure class. What went through your head?"

Karl looked into the lens. "I stopped thinking. And just started feeling the rhythm of the game."

Home – A Voice from Cologne

His apartment felt quiet. He dropped his bag, opened the fridge, poured a glass of milk, and sat at the kitchen counter.

Ping.

His phone lit up.

Mama 💙

"Just landed in Cologne. Watched your goal live.

Beautiful, my son.

But don't forget to eat."

He called her.

"Did I make you proud again?"

Her voice on the other end was warm.

"Tonight? You didn't just make me proud. You made Germany notice."

They spoke for twenty minutes. No big talk. No tactics. Just warmth. Just home.

Instagram Post

He posted a short clip of the goal — that curler from the edge of the box. No music. Just the crowd noise.

Caption:

"Monologues don't need microphones.

DFB-Pokal Debut.

Dortmund 2 – 0 Augsburg.

#DerBlaueRose🌹 #PokalNights"