Capítulo 325: Shevchenko's Final Strike
At the Amsterdam Arena, a tense atmosphere enveloped the stadium as both sets of fans prayed for their teams: "Please, no more goals conceded!"
With less than three minutes left in the match, the two teams had entered an unusual state of "peace," each wary of being caught off guard by a counter-attack. Conceding a goal at this point would be a crushing blow.
In the event of extra time, an additional 30 minutes would be added to the match, regardless of the circumstances.
Under these conditions, neither team committed a significant number of players to aggressive attacks. Instead, they relied on individual efforts, hoping for a stroke of luck. An extraordinary performance from any one player could lead to a game-changing moment.
However, the defenses on both sides refused to become the backdrop for any personal heroics, and they successfully thwarted each other's attacks as the 90 minutes drew to a close, marked by the referee's whistle.
"It's unfortunate that after Millwall equalized, we didn't witness any more threatening attacks from either side. In the final ten minutes, both teams made substitutions, and eventually, they settled into a cautious stance, fearing that conceding a goal would lead to a last-minute defeat. Now, we can only wait for extra time and see how both teams perform."
Before extra time commenced, there was a ten-minute break. Aldrich's first priority was to assess the players' physical condition. At that moment, the entire team shared a single focus: the trophy.
Hiding their true conditions would be detrimental to everyone's ambitions.
Capdevila was exhausted after covering the left flank for 90 minutes and had reached his limits. On the other side, Schneider was doing slightly better, as he was cautious about pushing too hard, perhaps due to Carlos's presence.
Aldrich quickly decided to make a substitution, bringing on Zambrotta for Capdevila.
He had only one message of encouragement for the team: "Bring home the Champions League trophy; reward yourselves for a season of hard work!"
Indeed, Aldrich didn't mention dedicating the trophy to the fans or the audience; he was direct about it: win for yourselves!
Rather than urging them to seek lofty ideals, he encouraged them to be a bit selfish and realistic.
Securing the Champions League would be like icing on the cake for them!
This straightforward approach resonated well with the players. Nodding in agreement, they took advantage of the moment to rest, while the massage therapists worked tirelessly nearby.
When extra time began, Millwall made substitutions. Aldrich removed his suit jacket and stood at the sidelines, hands on his hips, his muscular physique making him look particularly commanding in his tie.
In the VIP box, Arthur watched anxiously over the field, his tie loosened and askew. He seemed oblivious to the fact that his tension had cast a heavy atmosphere over the entire box.
Andrew and Barnett stood on either side of Arthur. Regardless of who tried to speak to him, Arthur was mesmerized, his gaze fixed on the pitch.
Aldrich's nephew Bowen, wearing a Millwall jersey, also stood up, sharing the same worried expression as Arthur, anxious about the trophy that seemed so close yet so far.
Aldrich's sister-in-law and Roeline, who was invited to watch the match, sat quietly nearby, while Jessica mimicked Bowen and ran over, although she likely couldn't fully grasp the significance of the match.
The fans in the stands were likely feeling the same way. At the start of the match, everyone was calm, but as the clock ticked down, and the final outcome drew nearer, it was impossible to stay composed.
The referee's whistle signaled the start of extra time!
Real Madrid launched a quick attack, only for Millwall to successfully defend and counter-attack rapidly!
Both teams slipped into a fast-paced rhythm, suggesting that Aldrich and Heynckes were on the same page: go all out!
Millwall's stamina was waning, driven solely by sheer determination at this point.
As Real Madrid began to gain control in the midfield, Millwall adjusted their strategy for quick advances along the flanks. Zambrotta, fresh off the bench, had no issues sprinting up and down, while Ballack focused more on defense, joining attacks when necessary.
The two teams exchanged thrilling attacks, each creating real threats.
Calumbu combined with Redondo and passed the ball to Raúl. However, Raúl let the ball slip past him, sending it through Makélélé's defense. Mijatovic attempted to recreate a past move, turning and striking a lob pass, but Helguera got to the ball ahead of Suker with a powerful header, clearing it out, though he put too much force behind it and seemed to injure himself as he landed, signaling for a substitution.
Aldridge, who now has only one substitute player left, saw the need, although he did not want to substitute Helguera at this critical moment and did not want to change the position of the defender, especially the center back.
But given the circumstances, he said nothing and quickly called for Materazzi to put on his jersey. He offered a few quick words of advice before Materazzi entered the field.
"Millwall has just made their last substitution, and it's a tough blow — a change they certainly didn't want to make. Helguera has been having a great game, rock solid at the back, even helping Larson get that equalizer earlier. He's really been a cornerstone this season alongside Southgate. Remember when Stam held that spot? The fans probably don't even think of him anymore — they've moved on, and rightfully so!"
As Helguera limped off, disappointment etched on his face, he told Aldrich, "Boss, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about apologizing; you've done a great job. Can you still manage to watch the game from the side?"
Helguera was unable to continue the game, he was able to receive treatment from the team doctor and watch the game from the bench, so he nodded and said there was no problem.
After Helguera nodded, Aldridge smiled and patted his shoulder and said: "Then watch below, cheer for the boys, and be ready to accept the trophy as soon as possible!"
Helguera smiled at the encouragement, and Aldrich's confidence influenced every player in the squad. His faith inspired the team, helping them feel self-assured, ready to stand tall against any opponent!
Losing a center-back to injury was a tough change, but Millwall still managed to change the score before the first half of extra time concluded!
Schneider had stuck to his role as a full-back until the 103rd minute. With just one minute left in the first half of extra time, he decided to press forward, hoping not to be caught by a counter-attack.
He made a forward run, and Ballack timely passed the ball to the right flank. Faced with Carlos, Schneider feigned to go past him before relaying the ball to Shevchenko. Schneider made an overlapping run, pulling Carlos away.
Once in possession, Shevchenko mimicked a passing motion, but Sanchez shifted his weight unexpectedly. In that instant, Shevchenko bolted past him, cutting inside and charging into the penalty area.
Sanchez was infuriated. The Ukrainian had not attempted to take on defenders throughout the 100 minutes, focusing solely on passing and moving in synergy with his teammates.
The sudden burst of individual flair took everyone by surprise!
As Shevchenko approached the penalty area, he surveyed the situation. Redondo ran back towards goal and Shevchenko's head turn confounded everyone, especially Trezeguet and Larsson, whose movement created space. Both Hierro and Redondo anticipated Shevchenko's pass, but the Ukrainian accelerated with the ball and reached the edge of the small penalty area in a blink of an eye!
He'd been duped!
This kid is going for it himself!
With a determined gaze fixed on the ball, Shevchenko found himself one-on-one with Ilgner, ready to seize a golden opportunity.
Having spent three years at Millwall, he had transformed from a reckless rookie, nursing wounds on debut, to one of Europe's hottest strikers, with a transfer deal to AC Milan almost finalized—only he, Aldrich, and AC Milan knew.
His teammates and fans were unaware this match would be his final game for Millwall!
Thank you, boss, for letting me play and trusting me!
It wasn't that he was dissatisfied with Millwall, but rather AC Milan represented a childhood dream!
"Shevchenko was on full fire and fired hard from close range! Ilgona was frozen, the ball was too fast! It whizzed past and found the top corner! Before the end of overtime in the first half, Millwall scored again, Real Madrid lead 3-2! They are only 15 minutes away from their first Champions League trophy - a dream come true! Can the Lions become the king of Europe in just 15 minutes?
On the sidelines, Aldrich was continuously moving his head to try to see the game, blocked by players left and right. He missed the moment Shevchenko struck, but he witnessed the ball hit the net and bounce back.
The goal ignited wild celebration among all the Millwall fans. Aldrich, with rage and exhilaration etched on his face, clenched his fists and let out a passionate roar.
"That was absolutely stunning! André, you're fantastic!"
Jensen rushed over and embraced Aldrich. In his homeland, and on Ajax's turf, he was present as an assistant coach, but four years ago, stepping onto this pitch was unimaginable. Today's match filled him with exhilaration, even more so than Aldrich, as he dashed to the sideline, flailing his arms in celebration.
After scoring, Shevchenko sprinted to the Millwall supporters' stands. Before that, he had already stripped off his jersey, sliding toward the sideline with an expression that oscillated between laughter and tears, leaving onlookers puzzled, thinking it was merely excitement.
In the box, Arthur dropped to his knees, fists raised as he yelled, "Long live Millwall!"
The others were left astonished.
Andrew and Barnett shared in the joy, but they were unable to openly express their emotions like Arthur; perhaps age had taught them to disguise their feelings.
The first half of extra time concluded quickly. Typically, there would be no break, but the referee allowed the players a minute or two to hydrate.
At this moment, Aldrich decided it was time to change tactics. He pulled out a tactical board to show the players their new positions, shifting the formation to a 4-5-1, with wingers falling back, achieving a thorough defensive strategy.
As long as they could hold out for the last 15 minutes, Millwall would ascend to the pinnacle of European football!
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