The Last Penalty

An illustrated story by Paper Comet · Drama · Realistic · All ages · Turkish, English

Also in: Türkçe

A small-town girls' football team is in the regional final, and it all comes down to the reserve goalkeeper and the last penalty.

Bozkır Spor's girls' team has reached the regional final for the first time. The match ends 1–1 and goes to penalties. Coach Aysel puts Zeynep in goal: the shy reserve keeper who has spent the whole season writing down every penalty the other teams took. Encouraged by Captain Derya, Zeynep steps up to face the other side's best player for the last penalty.

Characters

Zeynep (Reserve goalkeeper): A shy fifteen-year-old reserve goalkeeper who studies every opponent in a notebook.
Derya (Captain): The team's sixteen-year-old captain and striker.
Aysel Hoca (Coach): The team's coach, a former national player who started the team from nothing.

Episode 1: The Last Penalty

In the shoot-out, it all comes down to reserve keeper Zeynep.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 1 — Bozkır Spor, regional final. 1–1. Penalties.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 2 — Aysel Hoca: Zeynep, you're going in goal.
Zeynep: Me, coach? I've never played a final!

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 3 — Derya: You saved every shot in training. Every single one.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 4 — Zeynep: Number nine always shoots left when she's nervous.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 5 — 4–4. If Zeynep saves this one, the cup is Bozkır's.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 6 — Zeynep: Breathe. Watch her hips.

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 7 — THUD!

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 8 — Derya: SHE SAVED IT! SHE SAVED IT!

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 9 — Aysel Hoca: That's my keeper!

The Last Penalty · Episode 1 · 10 — Zeynep: I was so scared.
Derya: That's exactly why it counts.
Sometimes the quietest player makes the biggest save.

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