By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- It's more than a bold guess that Karim Adeyemi's irresistible sprint will find its place in the 2023 end-of-the-year review.
But the 21-year-old's winning goal in the first leg of the Borussia Dortmund's last-16 duel against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League might be worth much more than pure enjoyment.
Adeyemi's run of over 65 meters, passing Argentina's 2022 World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez and Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, seems additional proof that German football fans can expect the most thrilling league season in over ten years.
Former Bayern president Uli Hoeness recently predicted a nail-biting title race until the season's end and mentioned Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund as the Bavarians' fiercest rivals.
The Bundesliga's current table might tell the story, with Union only one point shy of leaders Bayern, followed closely by Dortmund.
Dortmund's upswing is creating dreams as stunning as the backward flip Adeyemi performed after netting against the Premier League side.
While a Champions League title win would be near sensational, the Bundesliga title has come within reach. Nevertheless, the next round in the Champions League is a realistic goal; doors seem open for everything.
Rarely one could escape the overboiling enthusiasm of that magic moment witnessing flying Adeyemi, who is said to be the league's fastest player.
Germany head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Rudi Voller might have felt unexpected optimism as the Dortmund striker is part of the desperately awaited re-launch of the struggling German team.
Young and fast, not only are fans in Dortmund dreaming of these ingredients.
Adeyemi seems to have pressed the right button in 2023 following a disappointing first six months in his Dortmund shirt.
"New year, new luck," the new fan hero stated, adding that things would get better for him, the club, and the national team.
As ever, hard work stands behind magic moments. The Dortmund forward is no exception. "He took up speed this year and can help us to reach our goals," BVB coach Edin Terzic said about the surprising upswing.
Times when the forward was seen as a 30 million euro flop from RB Salzburg seem a thing of the past.
Riding the wave with his club, the attacker seems to have overcome the difficulties coming along with a club change; not to speak of the disappointments caused by a disappointing World Cup performance in Qatar.
Ambitions are blooming around the Dortmund youngster and appetite is triggered to experience the taste of progress and success.
"It's great to play like that with the entire team focused and wanting to win a title," the youngster said ahead of the second leg against Chelsea on March 7 in London.
After all, that is exactly what fans want to hear. On top, of doing that, Dortmund and Adeyemi inevitably deliver further clips for an end-of-the-year review colored in black and yellow. ■
