Capítulo 268: Counterattack of the Counterattack
In the away team's locker room, the Millwall players rested as the masseurs came by to help them relax their muscles, asking how they felt physically.
Aldrich lingered outside the restroom, smoking a cigarette.
He didn't need to go into the locker room to know that the players were exhausted.
Even though this first half wasn't the longest they had run or the most intense 45 minutes they had played, it was certainly their most tiring half; besides the physical fatigue from the long journey, the psychological pressure had also noticeably drained their energy.
The situation was worse than he had anticipated.
With the desire to avoid losing, their tactical approach couldn't be too reckless.
Although Millwall employed a formation with three defensive midfielders to control the center and patiently create opportunities, they failed to apply effective sustained pressure. This led to fierce struggles in the midfield toward the end of the first half.
After finishing his cigarette, Aldrich had an inkling of what to do. He walked back into the locker room, and the players unanimously looked up at him, the quiet locker room filled with their anticipation.
All the players understood that if Millwall played their usual attacking football, they would inevitably become disjointed and be destroyed by counterattacks from their opponents.
In such circumstances, Millwall had successfully limited their opponent's chances in the first half, but to win, they needed to remain determined; the second half would be the crucial tipping point!
Aldridge clapped his hands and said: "Okay, I won't be verbose. We need to make some adjustments in the second half. Everyone remember my words: When attacking in positional warfare, be simple. Don't hesitate to try any chance of the ball, but This is not the point. The key is to contain their counterattack when they switch from defense to attack. If we can resolve their counterattack immediately, then in the subsequent attack, we can use the space left by their high position to attack directly. , we have to fight back against their counterattack!"
Strike back against their counterattacks?
The players understood what he meant and nodded in agreement.
In their season opener against Arsenal, several goals had come from similar tactics that had broken through the opponent's defense.
When Arsenal turned from defense to attack against Millwall, during those few seconds, a mistake from the opponent or a successful defense from Millwall allowed them to swiftly initiate a secondary attack that directly took down Arsenal.
Unlike that previous match, in this London derby, Millwall would not only look to capitalize on the opponent's counterattack mistakes but would also employ a strong offensive force to keep pressure on their opponent's nerves. The moment they made a mistake, Millwall would pounce on the opportunity.
But today, Millwall failed to apply continuous pressure; a sustained effort required supreme fitness and precise interceptions from the midfield and defense.
The players' energy was limited today, and they needed to use it wisely to maximize their effectiveness.
Aldrich began to assign tasks on the tactical board while reminding the defenders of potential changes they might encounter in the second half.
Kyiv Dynamo would certainly make some adjustments.
Aldrich didn't believe that Lobanovskyi would be satisfied with just a draw at home.
The biggest advantage of Eastern European teams is their home-field edge. Kyiv Dynamo had failed to qualify for the Champions League in the past two years due to poor away performances, but at home, they often attacked fiercely.
When the second half began, the atmosphere shifted dramatically on the field. The cautious styles seen in the first half disappeared, replaced by a more aggressive intent to attack.
Larsson received the ball in the attacking midfield area, evaded Husiń with a sideways move but couldn't get past the second defender. He passed the ball to Nedvěd, who outmaneuvered Kadash and took a long shot before Luzhny could close in, sending the ball wildly off target.
Kyiv Dynamo launched a quick attack, Kosovskiy received the ball on the left side near the halfway line and cut into the middle. After taking a couple of steps, he passed to the left, where Kaladze made a run up the line. However, just as he took a step with the ball, Schneider cleanly dispossessed him, sending the ball out for a throw-in.
Kaladze quickly threw the ball to Rebrov, who had made a wide retreat to receive it. This surprised the Millwall defenders, and after a chest stop, Rebrov lifted a ball into the box. Belkovich, positioned outside the box, surprisingly attempted a header, which, while lacking power, startled Southgate and Elgerra. Defenders hate when the forward they're marking suddenly disappears, replaced by an unknown player charging toward the goal.
Both teams were starting to play in a way that defied logic.
Larsson attempted three times to control the ball just outside the box before unleashing a long shot. Nedvěd carried the ball, seemingly ready to charge directly toward the goal, but repeatedly found his path blocked by Vashchuk at the last moment.
Kyiv Dynamo was being even more audacious, sending spectacular long-range shots from 40 yards out.
Butt managed to deflect Rebrov's thunderous strike, and Belkovich surged into the box to follow up for a rebound. Southgate dove in to clear the danger, and after getting up, he exchanged a few words with Butt, hoping the keeper could direct the ball out rather than back into the penalty area.
Butt felt frustrated; Rebrov's shot was unpredictable, and he couldn't control where it would land. Goalkeepers always feared erratic long shots like that.
Time ticked by, and both teams battled back and forth, appearing eager to rely solely on individual ability to decide the outcome.
Shevchenko, up front, had almost vanished from sight, consistently running to create chances for his teammates.
For twenty-five minutes into the second half, The Lions had yet to find a single chance—nothing.
Kyiv Dynamo didn't seek to play quickly, even in their counterattacks after defending, they would stabilize and press forward slowly. This made it impossible for Millwall to find opportunities to strike back against their counterattacks.
After the seventy-minute mark, the pace of the match began to quicken, faster and faster. Kyiv Dynamo couldn't contain themselves; seeking victory at home was their goal, and as the game progressed, the situation became increasingly unfavorable for them.
Shevchenko was dispossessed while attempting to advance with the ball, and Hroshovka quickly passed the ball to Kaladze on the left side. Kaladze moved forward, and just as Ballack was closing in to block him on the wing, he passed the ball to the center, where Belkovich was waiting. Unfortunately, Belkovich was stripped of the ball by Makélélé from behind. He stumbled and fell, appealing for a foul, but the referee ignored him.
In that moment, Makélélé passed the ball to Ballack, who had started making a forward run.
Ballack brushed past Kaladze, leaving the left side of Kyiv Dynamo completely unguarded!
This was the opportunity Millwall had been waiting for, and the forward players understood they could no longer rely solely on individual efforts. They needed to work together as a well-oiled machine.
Ballack advanced with the ball, sensing that Kaladze was closing in behind him. He deftly nudged the ball forward, while Larsson made an eager run to the side to support him, attracting Kadash and Vashchuk's attention.
Upon receiving the ball, Larsson sent a precise pass behind Kyiv Dynamo's defensive line. Shevchenko, attuned to the team's rhythm, made his run just as planned. Once he received the ball, he turned as Kyiv Dynamo's defense contracted. Calmly, he laid the ball back to the edge of the penalty area, passing it to Larsson before making a run toward the center, where Ballack was now positioned perfectly. Husiń, marking Nedvěd, could no longer afford to stay with the Czech player, and as he came to Ballack, he was astonished to find that the German had sent a perfectly timed through ball to the left front.
Husiń, taken completely off guard, turned and chased, but there was one person he had just given up chasing a second ago—a player primed to cause danger!
Nedvěd sprinted forward, taking the ball past Hroshovka with ease, heading directly for a one-on-one!
Goalkeeper Shovkovskiy charged out, but Nedvěd, who was known for hard shots, surprisingly flicked the ball gently with his toe, and it rolled along the grass past Shovkovskiy into the back of the Kyiv Dynamo net!
"Seventy-nine minutes in, and the visiting Millwall leads! The goal was scored by Nedvěd! Millwall executed a clever counterattack, showcasing their teamwork perfectly! Can Kyiv Dynamo equalize? The two teams had previously been evenly matched, with neither showing a distinct advantage, but it is Millwall that breaks through their defense first."
After scoring, the players rushed toward Nedvěd. The Czech didn't celebrate near the sidelines; with few away fans present, and wanting to conserve energy, he chose to remain where he was and celebrate with his teammates.
Aldrich immediately made a substitution upon seeing the goal.
Gattuso, who had warmed up for twenty minutes, came on to replace the clearly fatigued Lampard.
After all, Lampard has just returned from injury, and considering the difficulty of this away game, Aldridge is already very satisfied with him.
Their opponents' attacks were focused on the wings; Belkovich in the center wasn't effectively organizing play, instead acting as a link with the wide players.
The emergence of Gattuso allowed the three defensive midfielders to reorganize their responsibilities.
Makélélé moved to the right to assist Schneider in defending against the threats from Kaladze and Kosovskiy. Gattuso occupied the left to help Zambrotta face Luzhny and Haskovych's partnership along the flank.
Ballack orchestrated in the center, ready to attack or defend as needed.
In the stands, hundreds of Lions fans cheered wildly, waving their flags with unabashed joy.
Kyiv Dynamo's fans were feeling quite frustrated.
They couldn't see what was so impressive about this championship team from England.
Apart from that recent spectacular goal, they don't see any of the hallmarks of a top team.
Larsson, the European top scorer, only managed to show a glimpse of his abilities, and Shevchenko had minimal involvement, posing little threat.
They seemed to forget that even superstars at Barcelona struggled to shine brightly at the Camp Nou, proving just how well Kyiv Dynamo defended.
Millwall had seized that one opportunity; if they had missed it, there might not be a second chance in this match.
Right after the substitution, Kyiv Dynamo went all out for a comeback, pushing forward all their defensive midfielders and defenders—everyone pressing forward!
But with the pitch getting crowded, precise passing was crucial. Millwall's defensive midfielders and backline, alongside Nedvěd, grouped together just thirty yards in front of their goal. When the opponent's attack arrived in a dangerous area, Millwall's aggressive interception abilities came to the forefront.
Gattuso, Makélélé, Ballack, and Nedvěd—each one was a defensive powerhouse!
Kyiv Dynamo struggled to find an outlet; they were likely unaccustomed to this all-out attacking approach.
Players on the field swarmed, and the front line was chaotic and lacked order. Millwall is not inferior in numbers, and their defensive layout is more targeted.
After Belkovich made his way to the wing to take the ball, he could only send in a cross and gamble on luck!
Southgate and Elgerra didn't touch the ball; Butt punched it away.
The ball bounced outside the box, and Larsson came back to collect it. Vashchuk pressed him, and just as the opponent aimed to take the ball away from him, Larsson had already anticipated this and nudged the ball to the side before accelerating away, deftly circling around Vashchuk.
Hroshovka, initially marking Shevchenko, was left alone in the back now. Seeing the forward charging towards him, he abandoned his mark on Shevchenko. As Shevchenko edged along the offside line, Larsson cleverly flicked the ball over the top, which dropped right in front of Shevchenko. Facing the goal of his former club, he calmly fired the ball home.
The ball was slow, but Shovkovskiy couldn't get a touch on it, as the angle was too tight. It hit the inside of the far post and bounced into the net.
After scoring, Shevchenko lowered his head and slowly walked back toward his home half.
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