章 407: Chelsea's title dream fades
The second half began, and both teams still showed immense determination. Everyone knew how crucial this match was for their futures!
"News from another pitch tells us that Arsenal has taken a 4-0 lead at Riverside Stadium in the first half. It seems Middlesbrough won't cause them any trouble, and Arsenal's ascent to the top of the table is virtually guaranteed. If Millwall can win this match, they can ignore the results from Arsenal. In the next round, if both teams win, Millwall will still hold their own fate in their hands; they just need to defeat Arsenal at home to reclaim the league title they lost last season."
The fans in the stands were already aware of this news, but they didn't seem to care much.
Manchester United's unexpected defeat yesterday was already an unexpected surprise. Do we still have to pin our hopes on Arsenal losing today?
Millwall won't care about the wins and losses of other teams - if they don't win the next three games, they won't be qualified to win the championship!
"In the second half, it looks like Millwall's attack is undergoing some changes. They aren't just focusing on speed anymore; they are more patient with their build-up play in front of Chelsea's penalty area."
"That passing combination feels oddly familiar, like I've seen it before..."
Nedved controlled the ball up front, and with Di Matteo defending him head-on, he passed it to the approaching Larsson. Larsson then laid it off to Henry in the center, and Chelsea's defense was on high alert.
With his back to the action, Henry expertly laid the ball off to Nedved, who let it sneak through his legs. Quick to react, Nedved darted forward as the ball rolled away, and Larsson was right there, charging towards the box.
Chelsea's defenders sensed the impending threat; it was a pivotal moment as three Millwall players surged into the area, forcing Chelsea to shift their attention to them.
Then Pirlo stepped up, intercepting the ball that went past Nedved and, fueled by the pressure from Chelsea's players, he launched a brilliant through ball.
Henry, Nedved, and Larsson stood still, while Desailly and Leboeuf turned just in time to see the through ball slice through their defense, diagonally finding Gronkjaer, who cut inside, advanced the ball past Ferrer, and prepared to shoot. But Ferrer, sensing trouble, crashed into Gronkjaer from behind.
"Gronkjaer goes down in the box! The referee immediately blows the whistle and points to the spot! Millwall has been awarded a penalty in the 59th minute of the second half!"
Chelsea players surrounded the referee, but he remained resolute and unyielding, ignoring their explanations and protests. He said nothing, and eventually, the Chelsea players had no choice but to walk away in frustration.
Aldrich, feeling the call was weak, raised his hand to indicate that a card should be shown, at least a yellow card!
While a yellow card wouldn't dismiss Ferrer, it would serve as an opportunity for Millwall to exploit his side, making him wary of committing serious fouls.
The Lions' Den fell silent as everyone focused on Larsson walking towards the penalty spot.
Though it was just a typical penalty, the recent failure in Munich had the fans instinctively on edge.
"Larsson is about to take the penalty; there shouldn't be any issues."
Yet, as Larsson ran up to take the shot, De Goey guessed the right direction and pushed the ball away with one hand!
"Unbelievable! de Goey's saved it! Larsson has fluffed his lines! Hold on—Larsson follows up with a header! He's found the net! Millwall leads 3-1, doubling their advantage over Chelsea!"
Larsson felt his emotions fluctuate from hell to heaven.
After De Goey's save, the ball fell in front of Larsson. Larsson did not touch the ball, but instinctively took a few steps back and headed the ball decisively - there was no time to waste, otherwise the ball might be cleared by the oncoming Chelsea defender.
After scoring, Larsson turned around with a wry smile as teammates rushed to embrace him. No matter what, the ball went in.
With 60 minutes played, Aldrich started considering substitutions to reinforce their defense and secure the victory.
However, looking at Chelsea's spirited players, he quickly dismissed that thought.
Chelsea showed no signs of giving up; they needed to maintain offensive pressure.
Wait a bit longer.
In the second half, Chelsea also shifted tactics from long balls to focusing their attacks. Still, with Millwall's full-backs consciously covering for high balls aimed at their backline, Chelsea's wings weren't completely overwhelmed.
Six minutes later, Chelsea's play convinced Aldrich to firm up his decision.
Poyet received the ball on the wing and sent a diagonal through ball. Zola and Makelele both sprang into action, but Zola ran towards the ball while Makelele took a pathway towards the box. As Zola gained control and tried to get past Makelele, Materazzi slid in from behind, but Zola managed to touch the ball just before being clipped by Materazzi's tackle.
As Zola fell in agony, the referee's whistle pierced the air as he sprinted to the scene, promptly showing a red card to Materazzi.
"Materazzi pays the price for his reckless challenge, and this red card is unquestionable. While Zola wasn't on a clear path to goal, UEFA has prohibited such challenges from behind. Materazzi didn't even touch the ball; he took out the man instead! Although he tried to retract his tackle, it was too late. Zola's grimace of pain didn't linger, but we can't accuse him of playing for sympathy to influence the referee's decision."
Materazzi regretted his foul immediately. As he left the pitch, Aldrich approached to pat his shoulder, offering no scolding. Materazzi quietly apologized, and Aldrich simply smiled without saying anything.
The match was far too significant, and Aldrich knew the tactical setup forced Materazzi to chase back if beaten, leading to his impulsive tackle. Aldrich felt responsible and wouldn't blame Materazzi.
When the defenders make mistakes in their positioning, they will instinctively become nervous. After all, they are used to head-on interceptions, but this high-pressure pressing can easily allow the defenders to be broken through by long passes, leading to mistakes.
Before Chelsea prepared to take this direct free kick, Millwall had already completed a substitution.
"Hall had no choice but to adjust; Neil replaced Gronkjaer, and Gattuso replaced Henry. It seems they are shifting to a 4-4-1 formation, with a midfield comprised of three defensive midfielders plus Nedved."
Aldrich was giving instructions to his players, reminding them that they were down a man. They had to slow the game down and play with a bit more purpose.
Chelsea's direct free kick sailed way over the bar, and Millwall prepared for the goal kick.
Butt took his time, almost 20 seconds, to restart the game. Chelsea's players voiced their complaints to the referee about the delay, but he merely gave a verbal warning to Butt. After recently issuing a red card to a Millwall player, it wasn't likely he would hand out another yellow so quickly.
Butt kicked the ball to the flanks, finding Schneider.
As Schneider received the ball, he stood still.
Zola approached to pressure him, and Schneider passed it to Neil in the center. Flo tried to intervene, but Neil quickly sent it back to Southgate.
Neil and Southgate are not pure central defenders. Although their ball control skills are not particularly outstanding, when there is no pressure, their receiving and passing are very reliable and they will not make any mistakes.
Chelsea quickly realized Millwall was starting to play the time-wasting game.
Vialli was furious!
When it came to procrastination through ball control, no team in the Premier League could match Millwall, and even on a European scale, they held an edge.
Controlling the ball wasn't just about precise passing but also about players making active runs, linking in tight spaces.
If they stood still without unmarked movement to create options for support, they would easily be tracked by defenders and lose possession.
Millwall's players trained in teamwork from their youth academy, so they possessed strong awareness of off-the-ball runs and receiving.
While Chelsea relied on two forwards to challenge four defenders, even with the addition of two wide midfielders, they could still pass back to the goalkeeper.
Vialli watched as his forwards were toyed with by the opposition's passing, futilely running about and wasting their energy. As the clock ticked away relentlessly, his frustration boiled over, and he stormed over to Hall, shouting in anger.
"This is Millwall? Is this how you plan to win the league? Disgraceful!"
Aldrich turned his head to glance at him, a slight smirk of disdain flickering at the corner of his mouth.
His team didn't park the bus or play passively when they were outnumbered. They didn't even delay the game by committing fouls. If the Chelsea players couldn't get the ball themselves, why should they blame Millwall?
Shameful?
Not at all.
Aldrich saw Vialli losing his cool under pressure.
Must Millwall attack first, let Chelsea defend successfully, and then counterattack to score?
"Come on, Chelsea! If you have the ability, come and press us like crazy instead of complaining like a coward."
True to form, Chelsea sent their entire squad forward, pressing ferociously.
Millwall had anticipated this very moment, just like they had been caught off guard in the first half when Chelsea scored on the counter.
Schneider's long pass flew from the back, Larsson seized the opportunity and quickly moved forward, but unfortunately, the ball bounced in front of him, De Goey quickly shot and headed the ball out of the penalty area.
"Nedved follows up, chesting the ball down before unleashing a long-range shot! Oh, just wide! What a shame, the ball grazed the post and went out for a goal kick."
Aldrich raised an eyebrow at the sidelines but felt no disappointment.
Now that Chelsea had intensified their pressing game, they aimed to suffocate Millwall's attack, yet Millwall stepped back, effectively protecting their box. Their four defenders, along with Gattuso and Makelele, formed an organized line of defense, with Pirlo transitioning into the playmaker role.
Flo's header went wide. Poyet's long shot was saved by Butt. Zola, in the box, created a small angle to shoot past Southgate but hit the post instead!
With only 15 minutes left in the match, Chelsea was like a storm trying to break through the defenses, continuously launching attacks. Yet, their flurry of shots didn't translate into real threats—no clear-cut chances, just frustration lingering in the air!
Aldrich used his final substitution in the 80th minute.
"Lampard is on for Pirlo; it looks like he's determined to defend this lead!"
Aldrich stood with his arms crossed, calm on the sidelines, while Vialli desperately yelled at his players to push forward!
After Lampard's introduction, Chelsea's offense lost a bit of its threat. They struggled to penetrate Millwall's defense and resorted to long shots or targeting their tall striker, Flo, with high balls.
"We just witnessed a fantastic match! Millwall beat their city rivals Chelsea 3-1 at the Den. The game became a bit chaotic after Materazzi was sent off in the second half, but Millwall held on and got the vital three points. Chelsea manager Vialli looked frustrated; you could tell the players were frustrated too! They had climbed all the way to the top of the table this season, only to be ended by Millwall. Their Champions League dream? Shattered! But, believe it or not, they still have a chance to finish in the top three. At the Riverside Stadium, Arsenal beat Middlesbrough 6-1. The 36th round of the Premier League is over, with Arsenal at the top and Millwall in second - only behind on goal difference. Manchester United are in third, two points behind, and Chelsea are in fourth, five points behind Manchester United and three points behind. The last two rounds of the season will be thrilling games - don't blink!"
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