章 326: Facing the Pressure, Standing Tall
Millwall had regained the lead, but one goal didn't feel secure. The fans in the stands were still tense, while Real Madrid supporters were increasingly worried, knowing their team was behind.
Aldrich stood at the sidelines, his posture calm and composed, refraining from pacing or making excessive movements that might betray any anxiety.
At this moment, a steady mindset was crucial!
As the second half of extra time began, Real Madrid launched an all-out assault. Their wing-backs pressed forward, and the center-backs established a simple but vulnerable defensive line. They had no choice but to sacrifice defense to bolster their offense!
By this stage in the match, apart from the cautious approach both teams took in the final minutes of regulation, Millwall had been relentlessly offensive, putting Real Madrid under pressure with fierce attacks.
Aldrich believed that as the second half of extra time approached and only 15 minutes remained, both teams would be physically exhausted. After all, no matter how strong Real Madrid was, they had run for over 105 minutes; surely, they would have run out of steam, right?
However, he was wrong. Just five minutes into the second half of extra time, Aldrich found himself regretting his decision to instruct the team to tighten their formation. The weariness he anticipated didn't manifest; instead, the game intensified, pushing both teams beyond their limits.
Real Madrid had indeed reached their physical limits, but as Millwall retreated into a more defensive stance, their already exhausted players quickly depleted what little stamina they had left. This shift allowed Real Madrid to capitalize on their advantage, and in this critical moment, the standout performer was none other than midfielder Clarence Seedorf. The Dutchman, who had led Ajax to Champions League glory three years prior, was making his presence felt on the pitch.
Seedorf calmly organizes and directs the game in the midfield. Every pass he makes poses a threat and greatly improves the quality of Real Madrid's offense.
In the 113th minute, Seedorf threaded the ball through the crowd to a cutting Raúl, whose half-turn shot was magnificently blocked by Butt, denying Real Madrid a clear opportunity.
The deflected ball fell to Southgate's feet, who turned and cleared it with a powerful kick!
Trezeguet, running a successful offside trap, had a clear shot!
Unfortunately, starting from the halfway line, Trezeguet struggled to accelerate after receiving the ball, almost cramping up. Real Madrid's two center-backs were already over thirty, but defensive midfielder Redondo sprinted back and successfully intercepted Trezeguet's shot.
Trezeguet fell to the ground, but no one paid attention to him, and Real Madrid pressed forward urgently. Standing on the sidelines, Aldridge didn't blame Trezeguet. After all, the game has reached this point, and the forward's physical pressure has reached its limit. He just couldn't run anymore.
The full-court press is an intense tactic that requires a lot of physical strength.
At the same time, the other two forwards, Larsson and Shevchenko, essentially become another line of defense in front of the full-backs. With Trezeguet on the verge of cramp, Millwall's offense has failed.
From here on out, they focused entirely on defense as Real Madrid bombarded Millwall's goal.
Calumbu took a long-range shot from outside the box, Carlos delivered a diagonal cross to Raúl for a header, and Redondo threaded a through ball to Mijatović for a hasty attempt on goal...
In just five minutes, Real Madrid had five shots on target. Thankfully, Butt was performing magnificently, making incredible saves to keep the goal intact.
With only a minute left in the match, The Lions' fans were eager and hopeful to see their team reach the pinnacle of Europe, while Real Madrid prepared for a last-ditch offensive.
Real Madrid's center-backs charged into Millwall's penalty area, hoping to connect with a high ball. This forced Millwall to tighten their coverage, needing more players to match up in defense in these crucial moments.
Seeing the chaos unfold on the sidelines, Aldrich grew anxious. The situation was frantic—would they withstand the pressure in these final moments? It was no longer a normal judgment call.
"Keep an eye on the ball! Keep an eye on the ball!!"
It doesn't matter how many players are in the box; What matters is how the ball passes. The focus needs to be on pass accuracy and timing as it can determine the outcome of the offense.
"If it's on the ground, block the passing lanes; if it's in the air, let the defenders jump for it. You don't necessarily have to match them one-on-one all over; that kind of defending can never completely shut down the offense because the attackers are always at an advantage with their movement!"
As expected, Raúl, Mijatović, and Šuker orchestrated a flurry of movement, pulling the two center-backs out of position in the box. Redondo delivered a precise pass to Raúl, who executed a quick wall pass with Šuker!
In the penalty area, Suker pretended to shoot, forcing Materazzi to stretch his legs to block it. But Suk cleverly took a step to the side, created space, and then used his left foot - a foot that can almost play a violin - to deliver a fatal blow!
The ball hurtled toward Millwall's goal like a cannonball. Aldrich felt a surge of despair, but Butt pulled off an incredible save, pushing the ball away!
"Hero!"
Before the jubilant Lions fans could fully celebrate, the ball deflected outside the box and landed at Carlos's feet. He feigned a long-range shot, but under pressure from Millwall players rushing to block, he calmly played the ball to Seedorf, who took a step back before unleashing a long-range effort!
The speed of the ball wasn't extraordinary, but the angle was sharp, sailing over the defenders' heads before dropping toward the right side of the goal. Butt had just risen from the ground; this time he wasn't prepared well enough and could only swipe at the ball with his fingertips as it flew past him.
Boom!
The Amsterdam Arena shook with the ecstatic roars of Real Madrid fans!
"Seedorf has pulled off a last-minute equalizer for Real Madrid! It's 3-3, 3-3! Millwall were just ten seconds away from the pinnacle of European football; all they needed was to defend this final push to hear that final whistle and secure their championship. But Seedorf has returned the suspense to the title race! We're headed for a penalty shootout! The referee has confirmed the goal is valid and has concluded extra time—now, both teams are set for what promises to be a thrilling penalty shootout!"
Real Madrid equalizing at the last moment was a brutal blow to Millwall's morale!
The Lions fans looked distressed and could hardly believe what they had just witnessed.
Arthur in the box covered his face with his hands, barely able to look on.
This did not bode well—just when the team seemed on the verge of winning the championship, they let it slip away in the final moments.
There wouldn't be much time to prepare for the penalty shootout. Though Aldrich's heart was also effectively shaken, his expression remained calm.
The players wore a mix of expressions, with many affected by Seedorf's last-minute goal, their eyes appearing dazed and lost.
Aldrich called the eleven players still on the field to form a circle, inviting his substitutes to join in as well. He entered last and, with his arms draped over their shoulders, bent down to speak to them.
"Football is just like that! You could score in the first minute or see the other side net a goal in the last! We need to keep our heads cool. If telling you this doesn't pump you up, then think back to last September—when the draw was made, did anyone think Millwall was the favorite to storm through? No way! Yet here we are, having taken down Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv, and PSV! Did anyone think we had a chance against Juventus? Not a chance! When we swung by Louis II to face Monaco, we were the underdogs, yet now we stand here, fighting for that trophy against Real Madrid, the kings of Europe! We've never been the favorites, but we've shown everyone what we're made of! You've made me proud, really proud. I'm Aldrich Hall, and I owe all my success to you—because I've always believed in you, and I still do! Now we're heading into penalties. I won't pretend pressure doesn't exist—that would be silly. Don't go trying to shove it aside. We are men; we carry burdens, we create order, we defend our families and our people. It's only right for us to feel that pressure, to face it, and to beat it! Anyone who can't stand pressure is a coward! But you're no cowards! Keep your chests out as you head to the penalty spot and get ready to take your shot. Whether it goes in or not doesn't matter! What matters is having the guts to do it and performing at your best! Millwall?"
"charge! Charge! charge!!"
The whole team shouted in unison.
Aldrich's words quickly rallied them, helping them forget the heavy blow from Seedorf's equalizer!
Each player looked resolutely at one another, offering encouragement.
The Lions fans saw this and stubbornly lifted their chins: even if they lost today, the Lions would always be the strongest in their hearts!
After submitting the penalty order, Aldrich walked toward Real Madrid's side, where he shook hands with Heynckes once again. They chatted for a minute, expressing mutual respect. At the start of the match, they had exchanged pleasantries, but now, at the end of the game, they had developed a camaraderie.
As the penalty shootout was about to begin, Millwall's players stood tall and serious around the center circle, their arms draped over each other's shoulders, forming a united front.
On the sidelines, Aldrich likewise stood shoulder to shoulder with his coaching staff, with the substitutes joining in.
The sight was truly breathtaking.
Television cameras captured this show of Millwall's unity and fearlessness for the world to see!
Millwall would take the first penalty. As the first player approached the spot, Real Madrid's goalkeeper Ilgner stretched out his palms and shouted, "Hey, you've got it wrong! I'm the one in goal!"
The commentators went wild; everyone except Millwall's coaches and players looked shocked!
"The first person to take a penalty for Millwall is goalkeeper Butt! A goalkeeper! A goalkeeper! What the heck! I've never seen a team let their keeper take the first penalty in a shootout! Is Hall insane? Is he out of his mind? There are so many players with good footwork; why Butt? Why?! This is absolutely bonkers!"
Real Madrid's players stared in disbelief as they saw Butt step up to take the first penalty.
But for the Millwall side, there was no doubt about Butt's abilities. He often practiced penalties in his spare time—not just saving them, but taking them too—and his striking skills were as good as anyone else's!
Igna and Bart stood face to face, the latter looking stoic. No matter what goalkeeper standards are used, Igner is considered to be a higher level than Butt and the best goalkeeper. Bart knew this all too well. He has heard constant criticism this season questioning whether he is still worthy of being Millwall's first-choice goalkeeper. There were calls for the club to find a better goalkeeper to replace him, but Aldridge never took that approach.
Defending the goal is a basic responsibility, but if he can help the team score a penalty kick in the penalty shootout, Bart is also bound to do so.
With his first shot, he approached the ball as he would in practice and confidently sent it into the bottom corner of the net. Ilgner guessed the direction correctly, but the speed and angle of the shot left him with no chance to save it.
Millwall led the shootout 1-0.
After taking the penalty, Butt immediately jogged back to his goal, prepared to defend.
His calm demeanor placed immense pressure on Real Madrid's players.
Is this goalkeeper just too composed?!
Although Aldrich didn't celebrate on the sidelines, a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Sometimes, a penalty shootout can become a psychological battle; the calmer side puts more pressure on their opponent.
For Millwall to have the goalkeeper take the first penalty and convert it? That would undoubtedly affect Real Madrid mentally!
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