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Chan Siu-ki  flew first class for the first time in his 24 years, jetting in from London just hours before Hong Hong's date with destiny.
It was money well spent by his soccer bosses. 
The South China striker, coming on as a substitute in the second half, knocked in a first-class goal which proved the turning point in Hong Kong's historic gold-medal victory.
With his first touch of the ball, Chan  headed home the equaliser that enabled Hong Kong to draw level with Japan, push the match into extra-time, and then finally win a penalty shootout  4-2.
The victory gave Hong Kong their first team gold medal at a multi-sports event. And it is now hoped that last night's fairy tale will also prove to be a watershed for local soccer.
'Tonight we showed how football can be important to a country's power,' said Hong Kong's South Korean coach Kim Pan-gon.  'All Hong Kong citizens came together as one to support our team. It is now our responsibility to develop the sport.'  
From Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen  to Jockey Club-sponsored schoolchildren, they all cheered Hong Kong on. It was a flag-waving frenzy rarely seen at a local soccer match.
Patriotism was the order of the night. The crowd was only silenced momentarily, when Japanese defender Taisuke Muramatsu  found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box to volley home the opening goal midway through the first half. But they soon regained their voice.
And it reached a crescendo when Chan, who had been at a training camp with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, came on at the start of the second half.
He showed his worth immediately when he scored after skipper Au Yeung Yiu-chung  floated a cross into the area and the ball was knocked back by Xu Deshuai  into the path of Chan, who superbly flicked it into the net with his head.
'It was just unbelievable to score that goal,'  Chan  said. 'I was a little bit tired but the boss [Steven Lo Kit-sing,  South China convenor] arranged first class for me. I  had never flown first class, and now I have won a gold medal for the first time.'
Japan, fielding their under-20 side, were expected to win easily. They have the pedigree - having played in three World Cups, with South Africa next year being their fourth - and a powerful establishment, with more than 29,000 teams in Japan and nearly 900,000 registered players. But a spirited Hong Kong  refused to be intimidated by the Asian superpowers.
On the night they held their own and, buoyed by Chan's strike, took the game into a penalty shootout.
With most of the 31,884 fans - the full-house sign went up before the match - at Hong Kong Stadium baying for blood whenever a Japanese player stepped up  to take his penalty kick, it was inevitable the visitors would buckle under the pressure.
'I'm really, really happy and the big support was a major factor for us,' Kim said. 'It was really crucial, especially in the penalties.'
But it was Hong Kong captain Au Yeung who stuttered first, when his spot kick was saved.  The other  Hong Kong players held their nerve and with goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai  pulling off one save, and another kick hitting the post, Hong Kong clinched  an unprecedented victory.
'This is a historical moment for Hong Kong football,' said an ecstatic Timothy Fok Tsun-ting,  Olympic chief and president of the Hong Kong Football Association. 'We have created a legend and I will look back at this moment with pride.'
Chan, the hero of the day, said he hoped this victory would be the beginning of a new chapter for the local game. 'I hope we will get more support from everyone now, for this is a dream come true,'  he said.




Simply first class as Chan's heroics earn gold medal