Fifty-seven minutes into the match, Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon were tied at 2: 2.
No one had expected such a score when the Forest team had a two-goal lead.
What did this mean? Sporting Lisbon had obtained valuable away goals, and two of them at that! Such a result had already allowed them to advance halfway into the top eight.
Should they give up just like that?
It didn't make sense! There were still 30 minutes left in the first round, and 90 minutes left in the second round. It was too early to give up now!
Tang En turned his head to look at the substitutes' bench. The substitutes were all warming up outside. He thought about it and asked Kerslake to call Mikel Arteta back.
"The situation is bad, Mikel," Tang En said to Arteta, who was standing in front of him. "Have you ever seen a home game like this? It seems like we're the ones playing away. I want you to go up and play as the right midfielder. Even though you're on the wing, you can still play like you did before — organizing the attack. "
Arteta nodded. "I understand, Boss."
Even though he was Spanish, he had already played in Scotland for a season and had no problem communicating in English.
"We have to score again. Create opportunities for your teammates, or you can do it yourself. Go! Tell them to attack! Other than attacking, don't think of anything else! "
※ ※ ※
"With 30 minutes to go before the end of the match, Manager Tony Twain has used up all three substitutions he has. Mikel Arteta has replaced Leighton Baines. The Forest team lost a full back and added a playmaker in the midfield. Clearly, Tang En is unwilling to end the match like this, even though the situation is already very bad. They're tied at 2: 2 with the opponent on their home ground. "
As Arteta stood by the sidelines waiting to go up, everyone who saw the scene thought that the one to be replaced should be Viduka. A forward for a midfielder to maintain the stability of the formation and defense was the normal way to make a substitution. They did not expect Tang En to directly remove a defender and switch to a back three. He no longer cared about defense.
Tang En knew that Sporting Lisbon's morale was currently high. If they continued to strengthen their defense, it might not be a solution. Besides, they had already conceded two home goals. There was not much meaning in strengthening their defense. They might as well attack and strive to win this match. The matter of conceding two goals could be considered later.
He just could not tolerate losing this match! If they lost the match, wouldn't Eastwood's injury have been for nothing? Didn't George Wood get sent off the field for nothing? If he lost in such a game, what kind of mood should Twain take to meet Eastwood, who was lying in the hospital?
Arteta ran onto the field and shouted for his teammates to pay attention. Then he waved his hand forward.
"Attack! The boss told us to attack! "
※ ※ ※
In the following period of time, the Forest team relaunched its offensive amidst the waves of cheers from the home fans. They had the same idea as Tang En. No one was willing to lose this match. This had nothing to do with victory or defeat. This concerned their honor.
If you had defeated us fair and square, we would have nothing to say. It's just that our skills are not as good as yours. But if you want to play dirty and still want to succeed? No way!
Defense? No more! Attack if you have the ability! The question is, can you attack?
"Mark Viduka! Nice shot! It's a little high. Ricardo tried his best to save the ball, but he still didn't touch it. But he's very lucky! "
"Now it's the Forest team's offense. Arteta is very active. He's only been on the field for less than ten minutes, and he's already made two wonderful passes. It's a pity the strikers didn't grasp the opportunity! Who will he pass it to this time … Breakthrough! He'll dribble the ball and break through alone! "
Arteta's breakthrough disrupted Sporting Lisbon's defense and created opportunities for his teammates. But this time, Crouch still did not grasp it. His shot was ridiculously wide. The Sporting Lisbon fans applauded for him from the stands.
Even though they had not received any results so far. But the momentum displayed by the Forest team filled the fans with confidence in them.
Arteta was very, very active. With him on the field, the Forest team's midfield was organized more orderly. The direction of their offense was more targeted, and they were no longer blindly passing the ball forward. Although Albertini was also very clear, he was still a distance away from the front field. He relied more on long passes to launch his offense. Arteta, on the other hand, could get closer to the opponent's goal, and the balls he passed were more threatening.
Tang En was very satisfied with Arteta's performance, proving that he did not lose out on this transfer. In his memory, this person was the future core of Everton's midfield. It was just that from now on, he was going to become the core of the Forest team's midfield.
"It's unbelievable. Nottingham Forest, with one less player, is suppressing Sporting Lisbon. I don't think anyone would agree if this is a home advantage."
The Sporting Lisbon manager was already very satisfied with the current result. Even if they lost the game in the end, he no longer had any extravagant requests to be able to get two away goals. Back at home, these two away goals could be used as four. So, seeing that the Forest team's offense was fierce, he simply brought on a defensive player to strengthen the defense. If they could maintain a tie until the end of the game, that would be even better.
As a result, such a strange scene appeared on the field. The Forest team, with one less player, was suppressing Sporting Lisbon's half of the field and bombarding them indiscriminately. Sporting Lisbon, with one more player, instead sent a defensive player to hole up in the back half of the field.
Nani was a little helpless. He was on the field to attack and to score goals. But before he could perform better, the team's tactics changed again. Defense became the top priority. He had to retreat to defend. There was not a striker left in the front field, not to mention him as a midfielder. But he did not like defense. It was too awkward to do this job!
There were several times when he drifted to the edge of the team's formation, fantasizing that he could get such a chance — the opponent was on a massive attack, the rear defense was empty, and his team had successfully intercepted the ball, but there was no one in front! At this time, he suddenly raised his arm high to show his existence to his teammates. Then, with a precise long pass, he sent the football to his feet. The front was flat, and he turned around … dribbled the ball … and broke through!
He shook off all the pursuers and one-on-one with the Forest team's goalkeeper. He used the most flashy moves to shake off the poor goalkeeper, and then stopped the football on the goal line. When they chased back, he used his heel to knock the football into the goal. Then he put his index finger to his mouth to shut all the opposing fans up!
How wonderful it felt!
But now … Pinto was always reminding him to defend, defend, defend … He was tired of listening to it. What is the purpose of a football game? Defense? Bullshit! It's for offense, to score goals! What's the point of a football that can't score goals? We're just drawing now, and you're satisfied?
I'm not!
Arteta controlled the ball in the front field. At the same time, he raised his head to look for someone, calculating in his mind how he should pass the ball.
Nani suddenly charged out from the side, stretching out his leg to intercept Arteta's ball! Arteta was caught off guard, and Nani successfully intercepted the ball!
"Arteta lost the ball! This is terrible! "
Seeing Nani steal Arteta's ball, Tang En's first reaction was: If Wood is here, it's fine if it's intercepted. But when he understood, he immediately jumped to the side of the field and roared at the field.
"Stop him! Damn it! "
Albertini saw that Nani had successfully intercepted the ball. Without waiting for Tang En to react, he had already charged at the opponent. Even though he was very, very tired, without Wood, the pressure of his work was too heavy. Although the game had only been going on for 74 minutes, his body was more tired than it usually was. His physical exhaustion made it so that he could no longer go up and participate in the offense. Arteta's entry freed him up. He could stay in the backfield to defend.
In the past, such situations were always left to Wood to solve. Now, it was his turn.
No matter what, I'm also a defensive midfielder!
"Go up and support him!" Sa Pinto saw that Nani had successfully intercepted the ball. He knew that this might be the perfect opportunity to lock in the victory and turn defeat into victory. He absolutely could not let it go easily. So, without much consideration, he waved his hand to let the team press forward and switch from defense to offense.
Dribbling the ball, Nani saw a figure rushing toward him. He did not know who it was. That was not important. No matter who it was, no one could stop him from completing his dream of becoming famous in one battle.
This is my chance. I must seize it!
The distance between Albertini and Nani was closing. His speed could no longer outrun Nani, so he knew that he had to stop the ball when they met. Otherwise, he would not have a chance.
There was only this one chance, and it was here!
Nani planned to make a sudden change in tempo and shake off Albertini, who looked like he was rushing too fiercely. But when he slowed down and was about to send the ball out from between the opponent's legs and pass the ball, Albertini suddenly lowered his center of gravity. Albertini suddenly lowered his center of gravity, and his legs quickly closed and pressed down, blocking the ball!
By this time, Nani had already bypassed Albertini and was ready to continue dribbling the ball. In other words, he had completely lost control of the football — he had been intercepted!
Want to pierce my crotch? Portuguese kid, do you really think I'm old?
Albertini did not look back at his defeated opponent. Instead, he left Nani, who turned back in surprise, with an arrogant back view.
Sporting Lisbon, who had just switched from defense to offense, was in a very awkward position. It was obviously impossible to attack. If they defended, they needed to immediately return to defend. But would the Forest team give them such a chance?
The answer was "no." Albertini's straight pass found Arteta, and Arteta kept passing the ball to Viduka.
Viduka swung his leg to look like he was going to hit the goal. Taking advantage of the opponent coming forward to block, he passed the ball to Crouch.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support genuine reading!)
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