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71.11% "Rebirth of the Football Tycoon". / Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Bloodbath

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Bloodbath

When Notts County scored, David leapt off the sofa, showing more excitement than Hubner, who had just scored. Gino Pozzo, on the other hand, sat with a sullen face, clearly annoyed, creating a sharp contrast between the two.

"Oh, I'm so embarrassed, I scored so quickly!" David taunted, looking over at Pozzo with a proud and provocative grin.

Pozzo snorted and turned his head, muttering angrily, "Huh, this is just the beginning. How proud can you be? The final result is still uncertain."

David couldn't help but smile. He knew Pozzo was probably just talking tough.

After the goal, Notts County played with more confidence, and now it was Mansfield who were under pressure.

With the score against them, Mansfield tried to accelerate the pace of their attack, reinforcing their forward line to get an equalizer as soon as possible. If they kept falling behind, though, it would be hard for them to change their strategy.

Notts County's defense, composed of the experienced Udinese youth players, held up well. Mansfield made a few attempts, but they were easily dealt with.

David felt that the Italian players in Mansfield could potentially do well in the English Second Division. English football was faster and more direct, a style that suited Mansfield, while Italian football's more tactical approach generally suited teams like Notts County.

Mansfield had no standout players who could change the course of a game with individual brilliance. Once Notts County stabilized their defense, Mansfield found it difficult to break through.

Midway through the first half, Notts County struck again, and once again, it was Hubner who scored, this time from a corner kick.

With a two-goal deficit, Mansfield couldn't afford to attack recklessly. Their best chance was to go into halftime without conceding any more goals and adjust tactically for the second half.

But Notts County wasn't about to let them off the hook. They ramped up the pressure, intent on crushing their opponent completely.

Mansfield, overwhelmed and anxious, resorted to blindly defending, their composure slipping away.

In the dying moments of the first half, Merelles, replacing the suspended starter, started Altentop. The change proved effective, as Altentop fired a long-range shot that found the back of the net, making the score 3-0. Mansfield's fans were already beginning to lose hope.

At halftime, Gino Pozzo stormed off, unable to bear David's almost villainous grin. In Pozzo's mind, that's exactly what David was—a villain.

David looked with a sense of accomplishment as Pozzo retreated in defeat. But he quickly laughed at himself. Why bother getting so caught up with someone like Pozzo, who was no real opponent? It was lowering his own standards.

In the second half, Notts County made changes. Hubner, the key striker, was given a rest, and Villa came on in his place. Di Natale, still recovering from an injury, would need another month before he could return to action.

Mansfield, with their fighting spirit all but gone, opted to sit back, hoping to avoid further embarrassment. Their fans, already disillusioned, began to leave the stadium early, not wanting to witness the humiliation of their team being utterly defeated.

In the end, Notts County triumphed 5-0 away from home. Villa, who had come on in the second half, scored twice, sealing the demolition of their city rivals.

Before the game, few would have predicted such a humiliating scoreline. Many had expected Mansfield to win easily. But Notts County had unleashed their full potential and announced to the rest of English football—and the Second Division—that they were a force to be reckoned with.

Notts County fans walked the streets with their heads held high, while Mansfield fans were too embarrassed to show their faces for days. Their team had been utterly outclassed in their own city.

In the post-match interview, Gino Pozzo refused to answer any questions about the game. Before the match, he had looked down on Notts County, but now he couldn't hide his humiliation.

After the game, some of the more vocal Notts County fans called for Pozzo and his family to leave Mansfield, citing their poor management of the club. The loss to their city rivals, particularly in such a humiliating fashion, was more than many fans could bear.

The bizarre reality of English football meant that even if Mansfield was currently sixth in the standings, this loss was a significant blow to their pride. Some fans would have chosen to see their team relegated if it meant humiliating their rivals with a "double kill" in the derby.

With this victory, Notts County extended their winning streak to three games and climbed to eighth in the standings. While still six points behind Brighton, the league leaders, and a point behind their city rivals, the team's momentum was undeniable. No one would underestimate them anymore, and the upcoming clash with Brighton was shaping up to be a pivotal match.

However, David, having seen the win, wouldn't be around for the Brighton match. After the derby against Mansfield, he planned to head to the United States to implement his financial strategies.

David had a significant opportunity in front of him—an opportunity to capitalize on a historic event. While the world of football continued to turn, David's mind was set on the financial markets, particularly the U.S. stock market.

If history stayed on track, an earth-shattering event was about to unfold. David had no illusions about what was coming.

It was the infamous September 11th terrorist attacks.


Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Kill the Bleeding Road

Since there was no live broadcast of the Premier League in the United States, David couldn't watch the match between Notts County and the league leaders. However, as soon as the game ended, David knew the result.

Notts County had won—and it hadn't been easy.

It was a nail-biting game, one that seemed almost out of place in the British Second Division.

Notts County quickly settled into their rhythm at home, launching a series of fierce attacks, and it was Iniesta who opened the scoring for the team.

However, Brighton didn't take long to recover. After conceding, they stabilized their play and intensified their own offensive. Just before halftime, a defensive mistake from Notts County allowed Brighton to equalize the score.

The second half was a fierce battle. Although Notts County had a slight advantage on the counterattack and posed more of a threat to Brighton's defense, neither team could break the deadlock until the 75th minute.

At that point, Notts County made a tactical change, substituting Alonso, who had been on the field for a while and was running low on energy, with Villa. This move brought an unexpected and immediate result. Villa's first touch after coming on was a powerful statement—he received a precise pass from Marcio on the wing, turned, and attempted a shot. Brighton's defender, caught off guard, fouled him from behind in the penalty box. Without hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot.

Despite protests from Brighton players, the penalty decision was clear-cut, and Villa stepped up to take it. He calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and scored, putting Notts County back in the lead.

After taking the lead, Notts County shifted to a more defensive strategy, focusing on protecting their advantage as time ran out. With the clock ticking down, it seemed they would secure a crucial victory over the league leaders and extend their winning streak to four games.

But Love had underestimated Brighton's resilience.

In response, Brighton launched an all-out assault, substituting in a tall, powerful striker. They also pushed their center-backs forward, creating a towering presence in the penalty area. Brighton's approach became more direct, resorting to high balls into the box, a style commonly used by many English teams.

Although this type of play was crude and straightforward, it posed a significant threat to Notts County. The height advantage in Brighton's attack was something Notts County struggled to handle. With Lescott suspended, and Westman and Bolaruz starting, the duo's aerial defense wasn't enough to deal with the three towering attackers pressing in the box.

In response, Love made an immediate adjustment, bringing on Mertesacker, a player known for his height and aerial prowess, hoping that at least one of his defenders would be able to match Brighton's aerial assault.

However, before Mertesacker could enter, Brighton capitalized on their physical advantage, using their high balls to create chaos in Notts County's penalty area. A long cross from the wing found its target, and Brighton scored the equalizer, making it 2-2.

Love couldn't help but curse under his breath. The opponent's luck had been incredible in that moment.

Still, there was no time to dwell on it. Substitutions had to continue. It was a matter of life and death—one team had to emerge victorious. Love switched to Ribery, hoping to use his speed to outpace Brighton's defenders and create opportunities in the final third.

With just minutes left, both teams played at an intense pace. The action was relentless, and the fans were on the edge of their seats.

When the fourth official raised the board indicating three minutes of stoppage time, the players on the field didn't notice just how much the atmosphere had shifted. All attention was on the game, and the tension in the stadium was palpable.

As the clock ticked down, it seemed like the game would end in a 2-2 draw. But Villa, who had been the hero earlier, stepped up once again.

Brighton's full-back, attempting to control the ball in his own half, hesitated for just a moment. Villa, ever-alert, pounced on the opportunity. Instead of clearing the ball out of play, the Brighton defender tried to pass it back to the goalkeeper. But the goalkeeper, caught off guard by the pass, misjudged the ball, sending it too far ahead.

Villa, who had been sprinting forward, seized the opportunity. He intercepted the loose ball just outside the penalty box and, in one fluid motion, calmly slotted it past the stranded goalkeeper, securing the win for Notts County.

Who could have imagined that a substitute forward would score twice in such a dramatic fashion, becoming the team's savior?

The final moments were a whirlwind of joy. Meadow Lane Stadium erupted in celebration as the players poured onto the field to congratulate Villa. Fans in the stands went wild, their cheers echoing throughout the stadium. Brighton's players, on the other hand, stood stunned, unable to comprehend the events that had just unfolded.

Brighton's goalkeeper collapsed to the ground, his face a picture of despair as the weight of his mistake became clear. The loss was devastating.

With this key victory, Notts County proved their strength. Beating Brighton, one of the top two teams in the league, had carved a bloody path to the top. No one would now underestimate the historic club.

Despite the win, Notts County still trailed Brighton by three points. But with this victory, they had quietly moved into third place in the standings.

Major bookmakers had taken notice. Notts County's odds to win the league had significantly dropped, now only slightly higher than Brighton's, with Mansfield in second place. The title race was heating up.


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