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62.22% "Rebirth of the Football Tycoon". / Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Advance

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Advance

Facing Northampton's second penalty taker, Ben Foster remained incredibly calm. He didn't rush his movements, and when his opponent attempted a panenka, Foster read the shot perfectly and blocked it.

As the ball sailed over him, Ben Foster clenched his fists in triumph, letting out a roar of relief and emotion. His celebration was contagious. The Notts County players, their shoulders touching in excitement, rushed to embrace each other as if they had already won the penalty shootout.

Villa, who had missed his own penalty earlier, finally lifted his head. If Notts County had been eliminated due to his miss, Villa would have felt the weight of being the team's scapegoat. But thanks to Foster's crucial save, they were back on even terms.

David made a mental note to personally thank Ben Foster for his incredible contribution.

Both teams continued to score in the penalty shootout, leveling at 3-3. With one final penalty taker left from each side, the tension was palpable.

The last Northampton player seemed visibly nervous. As he set up for his kick, he slipped on the spot, nearly losing his balance. It was almost comical to witness—he stumbled on flat ground, of all places.

Löw, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile, sensing the shift in momentum. It was as if the match had tilted in Notts County's favor.

Now, the fate of the two teams rested on these final moments. Everyone's eyes were on the two goalkeepers, the ones who would determine the outcome.

Ben Foster, who had just saved a penalty, was about to make his second significant contribution. This time, he read his opponent's intentions perfectly. He dove to the right, saving the weak, poorly executed penalty.

The stadium fell silent. As Foster rose to his feet after the save, he ripped off his gloves and hurled them into the air in a moment of pure exhilaration.

Notts County's players wanted to rush over and celebrate with Foster, but they knew they had to hold off until the final penalty was taken. The tension was unbearable.

Foster, already the hero, would be the one to take the decisive kick for Notts County.

While it's uncommon for goalkeepers to take penalties, it's not unheard of—especially in shootouts. Foster, with his deep understanding of the goalkeeper's psyche, had no fear of stepping up to take his shot.

He placed the ball confidently on the penalty spot, took a few steps back, and sprinted forward. His shot was a powerful volley, sending the ball flying into the bottom corner of the net before the Northampton goalkeeper could react.

The crowd gasped in awe. A goalkeeper scoring a penalty in a shootout—such moments were rare, but Foster had just made one of the most memorable in the competition.

The ball hit the net with incredible speed. The Northampton goalkeeper, despite diving, could only watch helplessly as the ball went past him.

With the final penalty scored, the Notts County players erupted in joy, rushing to surround Foster. The bench also stormed onto the field, joining the celebration, as the team piled on top of their unlikely hero.

David, eager to join the celebration, hesitated for a moment as he noticed Löw's calm, measured demeanor beside him. He realized that it was best to hold off and let the players have their moment.

The Northampton players, visibly disappointed, walked off the field. However, a few of them approached Notts County players, offering congratulations and exchanging jerseys. For the first time, Notts County players were treated like stars.

David couldn't help but smile. The Northampton players had recognized the potential of Notts County's squad. The players on the field were destined for greatness, some of them even future superstars. It was clear that this team's reputation would only grow.

Winning the first round of the League Cup was a relief for both Löw and David. In such a challenging period for the team, avoiding early elimination felt like a victory in itself. It was a small but important step forward.

The following day, the team didn't get a break. The third round of the English League 2 was coming up on the weekend—this would mark Notts County's third game in just seven days. It was going to be a demanding stretch.

David couldn't help but reflect on the tough schedule. With 24 teams in English Division 2, each season consisted of 46 rounds of league matches. Add to that the FA Cup and League Cup, and the total number of games could approach 50 in a season. Even with early exits from the cups, playing three matches a week wasn't unusual in English football.

The day after the League Cup victory was a light recovery session. Ben Foster, still riding high from his penalty heroics, became the center of attention. His teammates joked with him, and while he was a bit embarrassed, he couldn't help but enjoy the camaraderie.

With Diego Lopez out for three weeks due to injury, Foster would be the team's starting goalkeeper for the foreseeable future. The pressure on him was immense, but he took it in stride.

After training, Löw and David stayed behind, entering the coach's office together.

Löw spoke first. "The result against Northampton isn't as important as the fact that we won the penalty shootout. That victory will do wonders for the team's morale. If we can have more games like this, the team will come together much faster."

David nodded in agreement. It was clear that this kind of hard-fought win would strengthen the team's resolve and cohesion.

Löw's expression grew serious. "Now, since we've won this game, we need to start planning for the rest of the season. While the depth of our squad is good, the intensity of playing multiple games a week will be a challenge. We need to decide where to focus our efforts."

David, fully aware of the strain on the players, was ready for the conversation. "The league must come first," Löw continued. "As for the League Cup and the FA Cup, I'd like to hear your thoughts. Personally, I believe we should focus on the league and let the cups take a backseat for now."

David agreed. The priority had to be the league. The cups were important, but promotion to the higher divisions was the ultimate goal.


Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Really Done

David didn't respond immediately. He was deep in thought, contemplating the dilemma. After a moment, he finally spoke slowly: "The league is definitely the top priority. Our goal is promotion, and we must focus on that. As for the British Championship, I think we can completely disregard it—it's meaningless. But the League Cup and FA Cup, I'm torn. I personally hope the team can make a deep run in one of the cups, even win it, but I know that's a long shot."

"The depth of our squad just isn't enough for us to fight on three fronts," he continued. "We can only afford to focus on one—either the League Cup or the FA Cup. If we're eliminated early from both, we'll be left with nothing but the league."

A heavy silence hung in the air as both men understood the stakes. This was a tough decision.

Finally, David, making up his mind, muttered like he was taking a gamble, "Let's go for it, even if we end up with nothing in the end."

Löw nodded, a solemn look on his face. It was clear he had wanted to take this route as well, and with David's support, he felt emboldened.

"Let's create a miracle together, a miracle that belongs to Notts County!"

They both knew what that miracle would be.

The third round of the league arrived quickly. Notts County, fresh off their intense League Cup battle, seemed to have found a new energy. The recent training sessions had impressed Löw, and he was optimistic about the upcoming match.

Their opponents in the third round were Reading, a team with a reputation for being hard-hitting and aggressive. David had vivid memories of Reading's brutal playing style, which even led them to the Premier League in his past life.

But what stuck with David the most was their nickname, the "Cookie Men." Reading was far from soft, despite their name. If Notts County couldn't match their physicality on the field, they would be in for a tough match.

David couldn't shake off the concern that Reading would be a challenge, especially after their famous clash with Chelsea. It had been a game where Reading's rough tactics had been on full display, forcing Chelsea's goalkeepers into injury and causing Petr Čech to wear a helmet for the rest of his career. David could only hope his team wouldn't suffer the same fate.

Despite his worries, David didn't let his concerns show. He repeatedly warned Löw and spoke to the players, urging them to stay aware of Reading's aggression and to protect themselves on the field.

Neither Löw nor the players took David's warnings seriously, dismissing his concerns with a lighthearted chuckle.

The match began, and Notts County looked poised and ready. The main lineup, fresh from the midweek League Cup, was now fully focused on the league. Löw had been refining his tactics, and it was clear that the team was beginning to find its rhythm.

Notts County quickly dominated possession, with Alonso orchestrating the midfield like a maestro. Together with the support of Merelles, Alonso controlled the tempo of the game, while Reading seemed content to sit back and absorb pressure. They weren't interested in possession; they were focused on grinding out a result with their physicality.

Reading's rough tactics soon came into play. The moment they lost the ball, they resorted to pushing, shoving, and elbowing their way through Notts County's smaller, more technical players. The physicality of the game escalated quickly, with the Reading players' elbows and knees becoming dangerous weapons.

Despite understanding England's notorious rough football culture, Notts County's players were caught off guard by Reading's extreme approach. Of course, Notts County wasn't without its own rough tactics, and when the game got physical, they weren't afraid to retaliate.

The match devolved into a battle of attrition, with both sides seeming less concerned with the ball and more focused on outmuscling each other. Notts County, despite their smaller stature, fought back with vigor, using their home advantage to stay level with Reading.

The referee struggled to control the growing chaos. Less than 20 minutes into the match, he had already issued four yellow cards. But despite the warnings, the intensity only grew.

At the 35th minute, Alonso broke the deadlock with a long-range shot that flew past Reading's goalkeeper, giving Notts County a 1-0 lead. But this only seemed to incite Reading further. They grew even more aggressive, showing their frustration with violent tackles and brutal challenges.

As the first half neared its end, Reading's style became even more physical. The game had turned into more of a wrestling match than a football game. Notts County players were repeatedly knocked down, but the referee failed to impose any real control over the situation.

At the 40th minute, disaster struck. Di Natale received the ball and attempted to drive forward but was viciously tackled from behind by a Reading player, who slid in with his studs up, catching Di Natale squarely on the ankle.

Di Natale screamed in pain, rolling on the ground, clutching his ankle. The Reading player, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He shrugged and turned away, seemingly unaware of the damage he had caused.

This was the breaking point. Merelles, standing close by, rushed in with fury and punched the Reading player squarely in the face, knocking him to the ground.

A full-scale brawl ensued. Players from both teams piled into the fray, throwing punches and shoves. The benches emptied, with substitute players charging onto the pitch to join the chaos.

The crowd roared in anger, booing the Reading players and shouting insults. Some fans even crossed the barriers, storming the pitch to express their outrage.

Amid the chaos, the referee lost all control. His whistle blew frantically, but no one paid any attention. In the midst of the melee, David rushed onto the pitch to protect his players. He saw the Reading player who had fouled Di Natale struggling to get up, and without hesitation, David landed a punch that knocked him back to the ground.

David's anger only grew as he spotted the Reading assistant coach nearby, seemingly encouraging the aggression. He charged at him, intent on teaching the assistant a lesson. Unfortunately, the Reading chairman, who might have been an even bigger target, wasn't present, leaving David to vent his frustrations on the next best target.

The scene on the field was pure chaos. The match had spiraled out of control, and it was clear that the only thing left was to fight for pride. The football had been forgotten, replaced by raw, unrelenting aggression.


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