Capítulo 395: The Kick that Shook Wembley
Wembley was engulfed in tension as Millwall and Bayern Munich faced off in a tightly contested battle on the pitch.
Hitzfeld sat on the bench, his expression grave. Bayern Munich's focus on defense during away matches was to be expected; in two-legged knockout rounds, the away team tends to be cautious unless the scoreline shifts dramatically before the 90th minute.
Hitzfeld's Bayern employed this strategy in the Bundesliga too, resulting in far fewer goals conceded away than at home, making their performances in both venues impressive and leaving little room for doubt in the championship race.
With just five minutes left in the first half, Hitzfeld noticed a change in Millwall's attack. They were quicker in tempo, more efficient in handling the ball and more willing to shoot whenever they had a chance.
In this top-tier clash, Millwall's attackers initially seemed out of their depth. Take Ronaldinho; normally, he could juggle three moves like a magician—controlling the ball, dodging defenders, and breezing past them—but today was different. Every time he touched the ball, defenders closed in with lightning speed. A moment of hesitation, and he was left with nowhere to go! So, he had to keep it simple and fast, already plotting the next move in his mind before the ball even reached him.
However, after 40 minutes, Millwall began to gain an advantage. Familiarity with Bayern's defensive tactics and rhythm allowed the players to adjust and respond effectively.
As the first half came to a close, the score remained 0-0. While neither team had found the back of the net, it was undeniable that the first half showcased a high level of defensive quality. Bayern Munich's defense effectively stifled Millwall's passing and movement, particularly through the efforts of Matthäus. He rendered the elusive Larsson and Henry nearly hopeless, repeatedly intercepting potential passes and asserting his presence at crucial moments. Although Millwall occasionally found pockets of space, Matthäus was always there, expertly blocking passing lanes and positioning himself to thwart their advances. This versatile veteran of German football displayed timeless skill.
Bayern's counterattacks were also suppressed by Millwall's quick press. Nedved's early and sustained pressure on Effenberg was particularly crucial, while Makelele and Pirlo combined to suppress Basler, making it difficult for Bayern to control in the midfield. If Elber and Janke dropped deeper and turned the game into a static layout, they would lose rhythm. Although they might beat a defender, Millwall's collective defense constantly disintegrated their offensive efforts.
Back in the locker room, Aldrich crossed his arms and looked at the drenched players.
As they wiped sweat from their brows, they quietly discussed the first half. Larsson and Nedved exchanged ideas about positioning, while Schneider and Materazzi reminded each other to mark Elber closely. They had nearly been caught out by Elber once, but fortunately, Materazzi's long legs had put the ball out of bounds just in time.
Fully immersed in the match, they momentarily froze, turning to Aldrich.
It was time to listen to Aldrich's tactical adjustments—that had often proven beneficial when they found themselves in a stalemate.
Seeing everyone look at him, Aldrich smiled and quietly asked, "Are you enjoying it?"
The players' expressions stiffened, but ten seconds later, Nedved suddenly laughed, "Enjoying it!"
The others nodded in agreement.
This level of competition was what they all sought.
If the opponent were weaker, scoring four or five goals might bring temporary happiness, but it wouldn't last long.
Facing Bayern Munich in the first half of this match gave them a feeling of matching wits, exhilarating them to no end!
The failure to beat Charlton at home was also due to their gradual lack of fighting spirit. When you keep playing against weak teams, it is easy to become too relaxed! The excitement of playing against Bayern Munich may have made them completely ignore Charlton.
Aldrich was satisfied with the players' performance; they were focused and dedicated.
In his mind, there was only one thought: to defeat the opponent.
He didn't make many adjustments, simply urging them to move the ball faster, be more dynamic in their positioning, and boost their confidence in seizing scoring opportunities. Sometimes they just needed to shoot without overthinking. Pursuing overly intricate attacking plays, trying to execute three or four passes before scoring, would only complicate things.
As they emerged from the locker room for the second half, Klinsmann frowned and asked Aldrich, "Why not try concentrating our attacks down one side? We practiced that in training."
If the front-line attack depended solely on a five-man unit while the holding midfielder and fullbacks provided support, then Millwall would need to enrich their tactical approach.
In training, Aldrich had pushed them to master the art of deception through shifting tactics. The key was Ronaldinho; if he operated on the left, then Henry and Nedved would compress the field on that side. The three would draw defenders, only to quickly transfer the ball to the right for Larsson or have Ronaldinho switch to the right, setting up Nedved for an opportunity while stretching the defense, creating openings in the left space.
This attacking paradigm was something they had developed in training, but in today's match, Aldrich was hesitant to implement it.
"It's too risky. If the players don't time their positions well, it could give Bayern even more chances during counterattacks."
That was a matter of capability. Both teams were evenly matched, and if Millwall left a gap in their positioning during an attack, it would expose them to a counter, which their opponents would capitalize on.
Against weaker teams, individual talent could dominate, but Ronaldinho's ability to interchange with Nedved on the left still needed more experience to refine his game reading and tactical awareness.
As the second half commenced, Millwall's players showed no signs of fatigue. When Aldrich had posed that question during halftime, they had shed their pressure and forgotten the cutthroat nature of a two-leg knockout tie.
the opportunity to face a formidable Bayern Munich was rare in their lengthy careers; if they didn't cherish it, they might regret it forever.
They were ready to unleash their energy and savor the match!
In the second half, both teams continued to battle fiercely in midfield, stifling each other's attacks without yielding better opportunities.
As the 60th minute arrived, Aldrich gestured to Schneider and Zambrotta, and they understood instantly.
When a fullback pushed forward, Pirlo had to suppress any thoughts of also joining the attack, while the opposite fullback had to remain alert in defense.
The change soon proved effective.
Pirlo received the ball in midfield but was soon pressured by Basler, while Elber rushed in from behind, trying to snatch the ball away. Keeping his composure, Pirlo elegantly passed to the right, where Schneider made a great run and surged past halfway.
Lizarazu dropped back to cover the inside, preventing Larsson's cut inside, while Effenberg was ready to block Schneider and Nedved's passing lanes.
Schneider drives forward, heading for the 40-yard line, with Larsson dropping in to support. The two work well together, and Henry comes to assist. But just when Lizarazu thinks he can sneak up on Schneider and steal the ball from him, Schneider keeps his cool and continues to work with Henry. He rushes to the wing, looks up to see where his teammates are, and crosses.
This cross doesn't look accurate!
Instead of crossing into the box, the ball traveled horizontally, landing perfectly between Babel and Kufour, both of whom were clueless as they were focused on Ronaldinho.
Matthäus and Link stood on the other side, flanked by Lizarazu, guarding against Larsson and Henry's cuts.
Jeremies hadn't expected Schneider's cross to bypass the area entirely, and as he turned to chase it, Effenberg's shouting pierced through.
"Mark him!"
Effenberg was originally stationed right between Nedved and Schneider, ready to snuff out their ground game. But then, Schneider's cross went behind him! In a panic, Effenberg turned to find Nedved, only to realize that Nedved had already burst into action—he was much quicker and poised to pounce on the ball!
Jeremys took a look and realized that it was too late for him to intercept the ball, so he turned to Nedved, ready to stop Nedved from breaking through or passing the ball.
But the powerhouse Nedved continued his run, perfectly timing his steps as the ball landed. Without waiting for it to drop, he planted his foot and unleashed a powerful shot!
Kahn felt a shiver run down his spine, as both Effenberg and Jeremies blocked his line of sight. By the time he saw the ball, his pupils dilated, and after moving two steps to the left, he leaped, stretching his body to the limit, his left hand reaching for the ball, resembling a desperate attempt to touch the extremes of the sky!
As Nedved shot, his eyes shone with fierce determination.
When Schneider passed the ball, it drew an arc in the air, and some Lions fans in the stands sighed in disappointment, as they felt that Schneider's pass was a mistake.
But suddenly, Nedved thundered in from the trajectory of the ball, leaving Effenberg and Jeremies with no chance. He struck the ball with tremendous force; it appeared to shoot straight up into the sky, only to descend rapidly, forming a parabolic arc so exquisite that even the most skilled artist couldn't capture its dramatic rise and fall.
On the sidelines, Aldrich gazed intently, the distant scene seemingly slowed down. He could almost see Kahn pushing himself to the limit, his left hand a mere centimeters away from the upper left corner of the goalpost. The Lion King, Kahn, roared in fury, exuding an unmatched intensity. Yet, the ball slipped through his fingertips and crashed into the corner of the net!
Wembley erupted as if an atomic bomb had exploded. The stands were packed, with 90% of the spectators being Lions supporters. They witnessed this historic goal, and excitement surged through the crowd as they rose to their feet, cheering wildly—a blue ocean of fans had come alive!
"Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! A sensational world-class strike! Millwall has broken through Bayern Munich's defenses, with Nedved defeating the new German national team goalkeeper, Kahn! The way that ball flew was reminiscent of a meteor plummeting to Earth from space! At first glance, you might think it was headed for the stands, but then it dropped mid-flight, nestling into the bottom corner of the goal! Millwall leads Bayern Munich 1-0!"
After scoring, Nedved raised his fists and opened his arms in pure ecstasy as he sprinted towards the corner flag, repeatedly pumping his fists towards the fans in the stands.
His teammates rushed over to surround him, united in a primal roar of celebration.
They shared a common belief: to defeat Bayern Munich, step into Camp Nou, and defend their title in the UEFA Champions League!
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