It did not matter whether the Nottingham Forest players protested or begged. The referee insisted on the decision he had just made: Leighton Baines committed a handball foul and awarded Chelsea a penalty.
Not only that, but he also took out a yellow card from his pocket and gave Baines a warning.
"Damn it, should I thank him for not sending Baines off with a red card straight away?" Tang En, who saw the scene outside the field, said with dissatisfaction.
Next to him, Dunn did not answer him. He had his own things to do. Taking advantage of the chaos, Dunn called Eastwood, who was closest to the technical area, back and handed him a note to pass to the goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar.
Eastwood was a little puzzled but did as he was told. He ran back to the field, bypassed the noisy crowd, and came in front of Edwin van der Sar.
"Assistant manager Dunn asked me to give it to you." Eastwood handed the note in his hand to Edwin van der Sar.
"What's this?" Edwin van der Sar was puzzled.
"Won't you know when you open it?"
After Eastwood completed his task, he stood to the side and watched his teammates plead with the referee. He did not get involved because he knew that even if he talked until his saliva was dry, the referee would not change the decision he had made before, especially a major decision like a penalty. He would not do such a meaningless thing. He was not the captain. He knew he could not do it, but he had to bite the bullet.
Next to him, Edwin van der Sar suddenly exclaimed, which attracted his attention. "What's wrong?"
"Heh heh, nothing." Edwin van der Sar smiled as he put the note away and bent over to put it in his sock.
Eastwood looked suspiciously at Edwin van der Sar and did not continue to ask.
Seeing that his teammates were still entangled with the referee, Edwin van der Sar patted Eastwood on the shoulder. "You don't look like you're worried about this penalty, Freddy?"
Eastwood looked at the men and said, "The decision has been made. What's the use of worrying? If you can't hold on, I'll go and score another goal. Ribéry can equalize the score forty-five seconds after we lost the goal. I think I can too. "
Edwin van der Sar smiled. "Then don't stray too far from me. If I catch the ball, I'll throw it directly to you. "
"It's a deal."
※ ※ ※
The penalty could not be changed, and there was no point in continuing to be entangled. The Forest players dispersed and withdrew from the penalty area.
After a brief celebration by the Chelsea players, Lampard walked up with the football. He was the number one penalty taker in the Chelsea team.
Edwin van der Sar stood in front of the goal line, slightly lowered his center of gravity, and opened his arms.
Looking at Lampard, who was placing the football, he thought of the note he had just read.
Like last season's Champions League semi-final, it was a piece of intelligence that was filled with the habits of all of Chelsea's penalty shooters. Lampard was ranked first.
Edwin van der Sar was not a goalkeeper who was good at saving penalty kicks, but with this detailed information, he was confident that he could save Lampard's ball.
What's more, since the World Cup, Lampard's penalty kick standard seemed to have suddenly declined. There were several instances where he did not score. This game was a life-and-death battle, and this penalty kick was more related to whether Chelsea could eventually advance. Could Lampard withstand such great pressure? These were all things that Edwin van der Sar could take advantage of.
He stood in front of the door with his arms open, trying to expand his defensive area, and at the same time create a sense of psychological pressure on Lampard.
Lampard placed the penalty kick on the penalty spot and repeated it three times before he got up and retreated with satisfaction.
The noise in the stands of the stadium gradually disappeared. Everyone held their breath as they watched the small area in front of the Forest team's goal.
It was a fateful moment …
It was no exaggeration to say so. If Chelsea could score this goal, it would have a profound impact on the situation of the game. Chelsea could take the opportunity to stabilize their defense and deal with the Forest team. It would be difficult for the Forest team to fight back, because the gaps that they could take advantage of were greatly reduced.
What if Chelsea did not score? It would be a heavy blow not only to the Chelsea fans, but also to the Chelsea players and coaching staff. It was not easy to get a good opportunity, but they could not grasp it. It would not be an exaggeration to describe it as "bitter and hateful." There would be a period of time after that when the Chelsea players would be in a state of confusion and low morale. It would be normal if something bad happened to them during this period. On the contrary, the Forest team's morale would be high.
There was another point.
It was now the 70th minute. Many of the Chelsea players, who had been running for so long, had actually reached a critical point in their physical strength. This was their weakest time. They had to rely on their willpower to lift their legs. Not everyone's willpower was that strong.
Of course, if they could get through this critical point, the next ten minutes of the game would be fine. They would continue to be entangled with Nottingham Forest. If they could not get through it, the result was self-evident.
Twain said he was a gambler. Was Mourinho not one?
Lampard stood three steps away from the ball and waited for the referee to blow the whistle.
The City Ground stadium, which could accommodate up to 30,000 people, was completely silent. Whether it was the substitutes' bench on both sides, the technical area, or the VIP box, everyone was staring at the two men in the middle of the stage.
Twain did not speak. He just bit his lip hard. He said he would give Albertini the perfect farewell game. He said he would let George set foot in the UEFA Champions League finals again. A year ago, he promised Ribéry that it would not be the only time they would break into the Champions League finals.
He had made so many promises. How could he watch them vanish into thin air?
"Beep —"
Just as Twain's mind was in a mess, the referee's whistle rang. It was exceptionally clear in the quiet stadium.
※ ※ ※
Lampard started running after he heard the whistle. The distance of three steps was very close. The run-up was completed in an instant. His body leaned to the left and his right leg swung up … to shoot!
At the same time he raised his leg, Edwin van der Sar flew out. He noticed Lampard's run-up and the swing of his leg. He thought that although Lampard's body leaned to the left, he would not push the football to the left. The tilt of his body was just a feint to trick him into pouncing in that direction.
Therefore, Edwin van der Sar chose to pounce to Lampard's right side and his left side.
Just as he pounced out, he found that Lampard did not push to any side. The football flew straight to the middle!
This was an unexpected situation!
The middle, fast and powerful. It looked like it was bound to be unstoppable!
Was he unable to pounce?
The thought had just arisen in Edwin van der Sar's mind when it was thrown out.
The speed of the ball was very fast. A half high ball. The middle …
The speed of the ball was very fast?!
Thank God!
Edwin van der Sar flew horizontally in the air and stretched out his legs. It looked a little awkward and comical, but he knew it was his only chance.
If Lampard's shot was powerful enough and fast enough, then before Edwin van der Sar's body had completely flown out … his feet could still touch the football flying to the middle!
At that moment, Edwin van der Sar wished he could be like Michael Jordan and have a strong ability to stay in the air for a long time, allowing him to hover there and then wait for the football to hit him …
"Bang!"
There was a pain from the impact on his feet. The feeling made him ecstatic — I blocked it!
"Unbelievable! Lampard's penalty kick didn't go in! "The commentator could not hide his disappointment — Twain's luck was too good!
Lampard looked up at the football flying over his head, a little dazed.
Penalty nightmare, penalty nightmare … It had been haunting him since the World Cup and was unwilling to let him go.
It was as if he had suddenly returned to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The person wearing the red Nottingham Forest jersey suddenly became a Portuguese player wearing the same red shirt …
On that painful and desperate night, he was the first to play in the penalty shootout. He was well aware of what "the first man" meant, but he failed to live up to everyone's expectations and sent the penalty straight into Ricardo's arms.
After he missed the penalty shot, his bad mood also infected his teammates. Gerrard, who was the second to take the penalty shot, was on the verge of a mental breakdown after seeing Lampard miss the ball. He held back the tears in his eyes and walked up to take the second shot. The consequences could be imagined …
England's two most consistent penalty takers both missed the penalty kick. England once again fell in front of the Portuguese and once again lost to the penalty nightmare.
The loud cheers pulled him back from his dazed mental world. He looked back to see his teammates desperately returning to defend. All of them had only one goal — Nottingham Forest's number 11, Eastwood, who was dribbling the ball and running wildly!
He did not become a dead ball?
"Go, Freddy!!" Edwin van der Sar waved his fists and roared behind him. He did not care that he did not have time to appear in close-up to celebrate the penalty save. Now was a great chance for the Forest team to fight back!
Chelsea fought for seventy minutes and fought for a penalty kick. Nottingham Forest defended desperately for seventy minutes. Were they not waiting for such an opportunity?
"Charge! Our Romani Rooney!! "The Forest fans in the stands raised their arms and shouted with Edwin van der Sar.
※ ※ ※
Mourinho saw with his own eyes that his favorite player missed the penalty shot again, but he did not have the time to be upset or angry. He had to worry about his goal now. Because of the penalty just now, most people rushed up. Now there were only two center backs in the back other than the goalkeeper, Čech.
He swore in a low voice, but he did not know if he was scolding the penalty that did not go in or the Forest team's quick counterattack.
※ ※ ※
Dunn patted Twain on the shoulder and said, "I said it's not that bad."
Twain did not have time to praise his foresight. He murmured excitedly, "Come on! Freddy, give them a fatal blow! "
※ ※ ※
"José, maybe the situation is not that bad …" The technical director, Grant, stood next to him and said, "We still have Terry and Carvalho."
Mourinho scolded, "That's what I'm f * * king worried about!"
Grant's expression changed and he did not speak again.
Terry had a yellow card on him, and now he was the first to receive the enemy.
"Stick close, don't kick!" Mourinho rushed to the sidelines and roared.
※ ※ ※
The stadium was in an uproar. Terry did not hear Mourinho's roar on the sidelines, and he did not have time to turn his head to see the manager's anxious expression. There was only one person in his eyes now — Eastwood, who was running with the ball.
"The situation is really like a large-scale hunt on the African grasslands. A pack of lions is chasing a lone zebra … And the lion king is blocking in front of the prey, staring at it. "The commentator's metaphor was very vivid.
A large number of Chelsea players were trying to chase back. They were now counting on Terry in front to force Eastwood to slow down. As long as he slowed down, they could immediately form an encirclement. Then the Forest team's quick counterattack would also come to a premature end.
"The zebra looks like he has nowhere to run …"
Eastwood had intended to take advantage of the distance between the two sides to turn and make a big circle around Terry while the distance between the two sides was not close. Suddenly, he thought of Terry getting a yellow card in the first half.
The scene that happened to Eastwood flashed before his eyes.
The Romani Gypsy changed his mind and sped up again, rushing straight at Terry.
In the Nottingham Forest team, Eastwood's speed was not as fast as the four attackers on the flanks, but he was definitely not slow. A sprint over a short distance was not to be underestimated.
From the backfield to the opponent's thirty-meter zone, it was about forty meters. Eastwood knew he had reached his limit. He could even feel his knee, which had undergone three surgeries, groaning in pain and could not run fast anymore. In this way, he would soon be caught up by the pursuers behind him, and then the Forest team's quick attack would end. How could Edwin van der Sar's gift be so easily wasted?
If it was destined to end, it was better to drag someone down with him!
John Terry saw Eastwood walking towards him, and he didn't show any sign of weakness as he walked towards him.
Of course, he knew he already had a yellow card.
But as he said to Mourinho at halftime, if there was a particularly urgent situation, he would not hesitate to do what he had to do.
Stopping the opponent was what he had to do now.
The distance between the two men was shrinking rapidly.
Ten meters, eight meters, six meters, five meters …
Eastwood's upper body swayed and made a feint to break through. Terry was unmoved. He waited for the moment when the football left Eastwood's control. That was the golden time to grab the ball.
Suddenly!
A black figure charged out from the side and knocked Eastwood, who was right in front of Terry, away!
It happened so suddenly that Terry did not react at all. He froze in place and watched the football roll past him. Then he heard the referee's shrill whistle ring out again.
Deafening boos erupted in the stands. The Forest fans' disgruntled anger was certainly not directed at Terry. Their target was the "criminal" who knocked Eastwood out, and the one who fell with Eastwood — Carvalho!
After seeing the person who committed the foul, Terry was a little surprised.
The referee ran to the two men who fell to the ground. He waved for Carvalho, who had committed the foul, to stand up, and held a yellow card in his other hand.
※ ※ ※
"Motherf * cker!" Tang En could not suppress the anger in his heart and cursed, "Just a yellow card?! That son of a b * tch referee! "
The fourth official's ears twitched and he walked toward him. Tang En caught a glimpse of the other person and immediately shut up.
It was Kerslake who cut in from the side and pointed to the scene on the field to complain to the fourth official, "Sir, is this a foul with a yellow card? Shouldn't it be a straight red card? Carvalho ruined our quick counterattack, and in such a barbaric way! "
He successfully attracted the attention of the fourth official, and Tang En escaped.
※ ※ ※
On the other side, Mourinho saw that Terry was safe and sound and breathed a sigh of relief. He was really frightened just now. Even off the field, he could see that Eastwood was deliberately looking for trouble with Terry. Otherwise, why would he take the initiative to look for Terry when there were so many empty areas in the backfield?
Fortunately, Carvalho stepped forward at the crucial moment and helped Terry fend off the crisis.
At the cost of a yellow card, Terry continued to stay on the field.
The Forest players rushed up to find trouble with Carvalho, and Terry hurriedly cut in to separate the two sides.
"This is a foul, but your teammate doesn't seem to be a big deal." He pointed to Eastwood, who was slowly climbing up, and said to the agitated Forest players.
When everyone heard him say this, they realized that Eastwood had indeed stood up on his own. He moved his body and found that other than a little pain in his arm from being knocked down, there was nothing serious.
"Hey, Freddy! Are you okay? "Seeing Eastwood, the Forest players immediately shifted their attention. Carvalho was able to get out of trouble.
Terry looked at his center back partner and said, "Thank you."
"Thank you for what?" Carvalho grinned. "This is a game that requires a lot of effort to win. I was just trying my best."
Hearing him say so, Terry laughed. "But now we both have a yellow card on us."
"What are you afraid of? I don't have one on me yet. "Makelele suddenly said next to him.
The other two men froze for a moment, and then the three men looked at each other and smiled.
※ ※ ※
The teammates surrounded Eastwood and inquired about his well-being, for fear that his fragile knee would be hit hard again. Eastwood, on the other hand, was vexed. "Damn it! Damn Carvalho! If it weren't for him, Terry would have been sent off with a red card by now! "
Ribéry shrugged. "Well, it looks like Freddy is fine. Everyone disperse!"
Eastwood's forward partner, van Nistelrooy, patted him on the shoulder. "Don't think about a yellow card or a red card. Trying to score another goal is the right thing to do."
George Wood, who was outside the crowd, saw that Eastwood was all right and then quietly walked away.
He looked up at the score on the big screen. It had not changed. It was still 1: 1.
Chelsea's penalty kick did not go in, and our counterattack did not succeed.
No one seized this good opportunity …
What a pity.
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