Chapter 268: Twenty-two seconds to change the Premier League
Clark and his colleagues on the coaching staff were all standing on the sidelines. Not far from him were the Leeds City substitutes. They were also standing on the sidelines, looking anxiously towards the pitch.
Although hope is already very slim, they still choose to stand together with the whole team and fight side by side, even off the court.
The replaced captain Lorenzo stood out from all the players and shouted loudly from time to time.
This usually gentle-tempered captain now looked anxious.
Despite everyone’s efforts, the game time still passed ruthlessly, and judging from the scene, Tramed still had the upper hand.
"I hate to say this, but I have to say that Leeds City may have no chance of making a comeback in the away game..." Matthew Cox put away his inner sympathy for Leeds City and said calmly. "General.
It is necessary to recognize the reality. Leeds City's performance this season has been excellent... no, it is great! This is definitely an extremely great season in the history of their club. Not winning the championship does not undermine their greatness...
I think many years from now, when people mention the Premier League in the 2025-2026 season, they will think of them. This time the glory does not only belong to Stan Park Rangers..."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!" The Leeds City fans in front of the TV kept shouting and cursing, trying to use their curses to stop Cox from continuing to speak. It seemed that as long as they could interrupt Cox's words, they would
It can change the current situation on the field.
But not everyone is so irrational.
John Falkingham looked silently at Levin, who was shouting beside him, and said nothing.
It’s just self-deception.
Just deceiving yourself and others.
Football is so cruel...
Football is always so cruel...
John sat down.
David Miller noticed John sitting down and said dissatisfied: "What are you doing, John? You give up?"
He gestured to the surroundings with his eyes. All the Leeds City fans watching the game in the "White Rose" bar, except for John Falkingham who had just sat down, were all standing when Tramed scored the second goal.
When the ball was played, they kicked over their chairs and stood with their necks raised to watch the game.
"I..." John wanted to defend himself, but when the words came to his lips, he couldn't say them because he couldn't defend himself. Deep down in his heart, he really felt that Leeds City was over. He had been dreaming for a season, but he couldn't.
It's time to wake up.
“Get up! John, get up! The game is not over yet!” David Miller gritted his teeth and yelled.
His roar attracted the attention of some fans around him. They all turned their eyes over and saw John sitting.
In full view of everyone, John could no longer sit still. He stood up with his hands on the table, not forgetting to make amends: "I'm not...David, I didn't give up, I just felt a little dizzy after standing for a long time..."
David Miller didn’t care about the lame excuse he came up with and turned his attention to the television again.
At this moment, Matthew Cox, who had been reading a lyric poem just now, suddenly exclaimed: "Be careful!"
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Riccardo Barea is carrying the ball on the left wing, and Camara is following him.
Balea felt Kamara's collision with his body, and he gritted his teeth in his heart: I am not the same person I was at the beginning of the season, French boy!
Thinking of this, he poked the football out with the toe of his right foot and then immediately speeded up and cut across the ball, directly blocking Kamara.
Kamara made an evasive action in order to avoid a foul.
But this time, Barea caught it and dodged into the inside line!
He caught up with the football and rushed towards the penalty area!
Jose Vieira, the midfielder who came on the bench, strode up to defend, but his movements were a bit slow in front of Balea... Even if he was closer to the football, it was Balia who touched the ball first in the end.
Ya!
Facing the big but slow-moving Vieira, Barea took the first step and used the outside instep of his right foot to push the football aside. Vieira, who was rushing towards him, could not stop himself and crashed directly into Barea.
The latter simply fell down in the penalty area!
There were loud boos and whistles.
"Balia was pushed down! The referee pointed to the penalty spot... This is a penalty!! Oh my god! This is a penalty! In the 92nd minute of the game, Tramed won
A penalty!! This is a fatal penalty! This is a penalty that can almost kill the suspense of the league title!! At such an important moment, Leeds City was sentenced to death!"
During Matthew Cox’s exclamation, some Leeds City players held their heads, some spread their hands with doubtful expressions, and some rushed directly to the referee.
Vieira, who committed the foul, waved to the referee repeatedly with a sad face, indicating that it was not a foul.
Pete Williams, wearing the captain's armband, ran to the referee with his hands behind his back, trying to keep his tone calm: "Sir... no! Sir, this is not a penalty! Balea dived!"
Farek Quinn and Kamala rushed in front of Barea, clamped him one after another, and shouted angrily: "Shameless, bastard boy! You are so shameless! Despicable!"
“This is not self-protection, you are diving!”
Amidst their curses, Baria, who got up from the ground, shrank his head and raised his hands, looking a little nervous and scared...
Fortunately, Tramed's players rushed over quickly to separate Quinn and Kamara.
Connor Kirk protected Barea behind him and snorted to Quinn and Kamala: "Back off, don't apply for a yellow card for yourself!"
Tony Clark on the sidelines also became angry after the initial shock. He roared at the fourth official: "This shouldn't be a penalty!"
Not to mention the Leeds City fans in front of the TV, they have scolded Barea and Tramed for eighteen generations.
It’s no wonder that everyone in Leeds City was so excited, it was actually because Barea’s fall this time was not so... convincing.
Vieira did open his arms when he hit Barea, but according to Leeds City's understanding, it is a normal protective action of a player opening his arms when defending, which is very common in football matches.
common.
But Baria reacted too radically to this action, covering his neck and falling to the ground.
Vieira's movements could have been anywhere outside the penalty area, and Barea might have continued to fight Vieira indifferently.
But in the penalty area, Barea fell very cleanly.
So they thought Barea was faking.
But supporters of Tramed and Stan Park Rangers also have something to say:
When Vieira was defending in the penalty area, you crossed your arms and made a push-out motion. If you didn't call you a foul, why would you call it a foul? Every experienced defensive player knows to pay special attention to hand movements in the penalty area.
, many people simply folded their arms to defend.
You are better than Ella. You open your arms openly and push people. Our center of gravity is unstable while running at high speed. Is there anything wrong with being pushed by you?
Besides, it’s not like your Hu Lai has never done this kind of thing before. He fell into the penalty area after some physical contact... Why don’t you say that Hu Lai was diving now?!
But let’s not talk about whether Barea dived or not. The main reason is that the timing of this penalty kick was too sensitive, which is why it caused such a big reaction from everyone in Leeds City.
This penalty kick is basically a death sentence for Leeds City!
But some people don't see it that way. They feel that even without this penalty kick, Leeds City has no hope of defeating Tramed in the away game. Everyone can see that they have no energy left to counterattack. If they can hold on to this draw, it is considered a success.
Best results.
On the contrary, the referee's penalty just gave Leeds City the best excuse to lose the league championship. They could claim that they were persecuted by the wealthy at the Red Roof Stadium, so they lost the league championship. Anyway, losing the game and losing the championship are not the same.
Their responsibility lies in some off-site factors.
Conspiracy theories are popular in the world today. Not to mention what they preach, maybe many people actually believe it...
The stoppage time memes at the Red Roof Stadium may be repeated again.
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The Park Rangers players were already dancing and celebrating in the dressing room.
They don’t care about the reputation of their league rival Tramed. They only know that they are getting closer and closer to returning to the top of the league.
“God is on our side!” assistant coach Stephen Brown said happily to Brooks.
Brooks did not agree, but he also did not remind him not to be happy too early.
Because he couldn't think of how Leeds City could make a comeback. Even if Tramed didn't kick the penalty kick, the game would be over. The score was 2:2. Leeds City tied with Tramed in an away game and fell behind Stan Park in points.
The Rangers gained one point and moved back into second place.
The reason why he is not as proud as the assistant coach is entirely because as a head coach, he still has to maintain his image in front of so many players...
He looked at the live broadcast on the TV. No matter how much the Leeds City players protested and argued, they could not change the referee's decision. Even Falek Quinn and Ismael Kamara were criticized for their excessive words.
Got a yellow card.
Leeds City players all exited the penalty area unwillingly, and some even couldn't help but shed tears... Apparently even the Leeds City players themselves thought they were destined to lose!
Tramed captain Connor Kirk stood in the penalty area holding the football, preparing to take the penalty.
But he suddenly turned back and waved to the crowd, calling for someone.
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“Ricardo!” The person Connor Kirk called back was Portuguese teenager Ricardo Barea.
He hooked the young man's player and motioned for him to come over.
Balia more or less guessed what the captain was going to do, but he did not refuse, but tried hard to suppress the excitement in his heart and ran up.
“You take the penalty kick.”
Sure enough, when he ran over, Kirk stuffed the football into his arms, then turned around and left, without giving Baria a chance to refuse.
Balia was still thinking about whether to pretend to decline, but it turned out that the captain had already thought of it for him and did not give him a chance to act.
He bent over and placed the football carefully.
※※※
While the ball was being placed in Barria, the red-roofed stadium was abuzz with noise. Tramed fans danced in the stands and sang songs to taunt their regional rivals, Leeds City players:
"You will get nothing in the end! You will get nothing in the end! You have nothing, you have nothing!!"
The Leeds City fans in front of the TV were already in extreme anger, and they were even more furious when they heard the singing of the Tramed fans.
Someone broke a bottle of wine, pointed at the TV and yelled: "Fuck! Lancashire bastard!"
Some people also retorted: "Tramed fans have the nerve to sing this song? No matter how we have nothing, we are still the runner-up in the league, and what about them? Fourth in the league! What is there to be proud of starting from the qualifying rounds of the Champions League next season?"
More Leeds City fans were unhappy that this was not at their home ground and had no way to directly respond. They raised their middle fingers: "The Flanders Stadium will wait for us next season, Manchester bastards!"
This kind of noise continued until Barea set up the football and stepped back to prepare for the run-up penalty kick.
The Leeds City fans in front of the TV watched the live broadcast nervously and anxiously.
I don’t know how many people have silently prayed to God in their hearts, praying that Tramed would not score the penalty kick. Although they also know that even if they fail to score, Leeds City may not have a chance, but they still don’t want to see football.
The goal that flew into Leeds City was stimulated by Tramed fans. Even if they could not win the championship, they did not want to lose to their regional enemies.
In order not to interfere with Barea's penalty kick, the Tramed fans who had been singing and dancing in the stands gradually became quiet at this time. But this quietness was only temporary, as the storm of cheering for the goal and celebrating the victory was going on.
Brewing in the stands of the Red Roof Stadium...
Even He Feng and Yan Kang in the capital studio were silent at this time, but it was because they really didn't know what to say.
Starting from the penalty kick, they have said everything that needs to be said, criticized and questioned, but nothing has changed.
They are angry, but they cannot vent it freely. After all, they are commentators, and they still have to remain objective and neutral in appearance. They cannot say anything casually like ordinary fans, so they can only hold it in their hearts and do not want to speak.
Xie Lan covered her face with her hands and didn't dare to watch TV. She was so excited that she almost smashed the TV set, if her husband hadn't tried hard to stop her...
But now she has calmed down and seems to have accepted her fate.
Hu Lixin, on the other hand, put his arm around her shoulders uneasily. This was not a gentle comfort from her husband, but a preventive measure to prevent her from becoming violent again...
“Haven’t you kicked yet?” Xie Lan, who was covering his eyes and not daring to watch, asked without hearing the movement on the live TV.
“Not yet…” Hu Lixin replied in a low voice.
Li Qingqing and Lilith stood side by side in front of the TV, staring at the screen with solemn expressions. It was as if their team had been awarded a penalty kick.
Not only did he not dare to speak, but he also had to deliberately control his breathing very slightly, for fear that if his breathing was slightly louder, it would affect the performance of his own goalkeeper.
But they knew that it would not actually affect the stadium in distant Manchester.
At this time, the game time displayed in the upper left corner of the TV screen has reached 96 minutes and 25 seconds, and the four minutes of injury time have passed.
The referee should make up for the time lost before the penalty kick at the end...right?
Just when such speculation flashed through Li Qingqing's mind, she heard a whistle sound!
※※※
Barea stood behind the penalty spot, taking deep breaths to adjust his emotions and trying to slow down his heartbeat.
He will use this penalty kick to win the victory against the French kid. He will use this penalty kick to stab the hardest knife in the hearts of the Leeds City players, so that they will always remember that Ricardo Barea crushed it with his own hands.
The man who dreams of winning the championship!
The whistle sounds.
Balia exhaled the turbid air in his chest, took a running start, and kicked the football!
Leeds City goalkeeper Van Der Ven fell to the ground and threw himself to the left when he saw the football being kicked out. However, he was careful and did not try his best to throw it out because the intuition in his mind told him that the opponent might play in the middle...
He guessed it right!
The man has fallen to the ground, but his feet are trailing behind, blocking the football rolling against the turf!
"Barea's run-up shot! Oh my god! Van de Ven!! He blocked Barea's penalty kick!"
But the battle is not over yet!
When Balea saw the opponent's goalkeeper barely blocking the football with his feet, he rushed forward and prepared to take a follow-up shot!
After the football is blocked, it will stop where it is and just poke it lightly...
He stretched out his foot to kick the football.
At the same time, Fan Dewen, who had not completely fallen to the ground, turned over and jumped back tenaciously. He didn't even have time to make a save, so he could only hold his head high and choose to block it with his body.
This was a completely subconscious action, but it hit the muzzle of the gun. Balea's hasty shot kicked the football into Van der Ven's chest!
The football hit and bounced back, passing by Barea who couldn't stop the car after taking a follow-up shot!
He turned around and saw the football, but he couldn't do anything. He couldn't even raise his leg to touch it.
“The supplementary shot! It was also saved! Oh my god! Incredible! Van der Ven made an incredible save!!”
The football bounced to the feet of Leeds City player Vieira who rushed into the penalty area.
The defensive midfielder who committed a foul and gave the opponent a penalty kick kicked the football outside the penalty area with his big foot before he had time to think, making a clearance!
The ball flew straight to the right wing of the pitch, where two Leeds City players and a Tramed player ran towards the landing point of the ball.
At this time, the TV broadcast followed the usual practice and cut the camera to the face of goalkeeper Van der Veen, using a close-up to lock in the Dutch goalkeeper who made two wonderful saves.
But it cut away immediately after a second. At this time, the TV audience saw the football again, and it was already at Kamara's feet!
He is dribbling the ball along the wing!
"This may be the most important save in Van Der Ven's career..." He Feng hadn't finished his explanation. Seeing this scene, he immediately put aside the most important save in Van Der Ven's career and shouted: "The game is not over yet!
Now it’s Leeds City’s attack!! Kamara is counterattacking with the ball!”
There were loud boos above the red-domed stadium.
Connor Kirk pressed forward and wanted to foul Kamara. He only needed to interrupt Leeds City's attack with a foul and the game would be over...
He bumped into Kamara so hard that the opponent staggered, but he did not fall to the ground, nor did he lose control of the football!
Seeing how tenacious Kamala was, Kirk grabbed his shoulders and shoveled him down!
Kamara was finally pulled to the ground by him, but the football was passed out long before Kamara fell to the ground and was given to Charlie Porter who was on the sidelines!
"Kamara passed the ball! Beautiful! Charlie Potter! Potter!! Leeds City counterattacked quickly! They had already reached the 30-meter area of Tramed's backcourt! Potter was about to pass... He didn't
Kick! Feint! Rogers came up to block... Porter dribbled the ball close to the baseline! Another pass!!"
Charlie Porter struggled to pass the football to the goal in front of the baseline. This kick was very powerful. The football flew high over most of Tramed's penalty area and went straight to the back of the goal!
There, there's Pete Williams rushing forward!
He ran backward while watching the flying football. After adjusting his pace... he took off!
Tramed goalkeeper Tom Walker abandoned the goal and jumped high to pounce on Williams. At the same time, he made a "big" character in the air and tried his best to increase his defensive area.
A huge shadow almost enveloped Williams, completely blocking his header angle.
But Williams didn’t want to shoot, he directly pushed the football towards the center of the goal!
“Pete Williams headed the ball over!! He swung the ball towards the center!!”
The Tramed players who hurriedly returned to defense missed the football and failed to stop it!
Central defender Steko Wilson simply stood in front of the goal line and temporarily took over the job of goalkeeper Walker. He saw a figure coming from the front, it was Hu Lai wearing Leeds City's No. 14 jersey!
I saw him swinging his right leg towards the football!
Winning the football!
Goalkeeper Walker turned around and pounced hard after landing, but failed to touch the ball!
“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!”
With the roar of Cox's long voice, the football passed goalkeeper Walker's fingers, rubbed the shoulder of Wilson standing on the goal line, and crashed into Tramed's goal!
“LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!!!! Hu Lai!! Hu Lai!!! After being restricted by Tramed for ninety-six minutes, he killed the ‘Red Witch’ in the ‘Red Room’!!”
At this time, the game time on the TV screen jumped to ninety-six minutes and fifty-seven seconds.
From the time Barea took the penalty kick to when Hulay kicked the football into Tramed's goal, it took a total of twenty-two seconds.
This is the last twenty-two seconds of this game, and it is also the twenty-two seconds that can change the history of Premier League football!
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PS, all the early preparations and restraints are for the final moment, this is football!
With today’s update of more than 9,000 words, I would like to ask everyone for a few monthly votes!