Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Where legends are made (4)
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The referee was handing out yellow cards like candy.
It was an unavoidable choice to cool down the heat of the Manchester Derby.
"Get off him!!"
The captains from both teams were desperately clinging to their players, trying to calm them down.
It took a while, but eventually, the players swallowed their anger and retreated.
But the situation wasn't over yet.
The three yellows just issued had gone to the players involved in the initial clash.
Then, the ones who charged in excitedly afterward got yellows without mercy too.
In the blink of an eye, seven yellow cards total.
At least it was fortunate—no one got sent off, so the game stayed 11 v 11.
The game resumed with the ref signaling ball possession to Manchester United.
The incident started when Oscar Bob failed a 1v1 breakthrough and lashed out with an emotional tackle. United's response was a bit lacking, you could say.
If you view soccer purely as numbers, not a sport, you might call it regrettable.
"You okay?!"
"Hoo... No issues."
"Those bastards... Let's make 'em pay with a goal."
"...Yeah."
How can you call it a team if they don't get angry for a teammate, just coldly watch their pain?
Eleven players must unite on trust.
If a teammate's goal is the team's goal...
Then they must know how to rage together too.
A free kick from Manchester United's left backline.
The overheated atmosphere had cooled a bit, but both teams' players still harbored hot flames in their hearts.
Any little thing wrong, and they'd commit a foul.
No more cards-worthy moments popped up, but the game kept dragging on endlessly.
Which meant no goals were coming either.
Time had ticked past 75 minutes, and another free kick went to United.
Tweet!!—
Seizing the lull, Manchester United pulled three substitution cards at once—the ones they'd been saving.
They subbed out two booked defenders and brought in the more defensive younger Fletcher brother over his brother.
A clear shift to protecting the current score.
Only up by one goal, it's nerve-wracking, but with just over 15 minutes left in regular time.
Switching to defense was the steadiest way to chase more goals too.
Tweet!
The game restarted with a short pass from left back Patrick Dorgu.
New sub Goodwill Kukonki took the ball and linked it to Tyler Fletcher up front.
Phil Foden rushed in to press immediately.
Marc Bernal was marked tight by Erling Haaland, no easy pass.
As Tyler pondered his options...
"Push it up!!"
Ban Yeager burst forward.
Not from in front of Tyler, but from behind—Yeager smoothly stole the ball and took off.
Shockingly, he'd been lurking even lower than the double pivot, timing his run perfectly to snatch it away.
Man City's sloppy response to the sudden dribble forward.
Rico Lewis charged straight at Yeager and got shrugged off. Rodri, burned by Yeager's speed before, just backed off without looking back.
This let Rodri cover the right gap Rico left, forming a stable defensive line.
Thwump—
City players, stung by prior dribbles, hesitated to lunge, opting for delaying defense.
Wait for midfielders to recover, block spaces—Yeager couldn't do much then.
And after winning the ball, a solid counter chance opened up.
Yeager slowed, not forcing a breakthrough, waiting for teammates.
"Yeager!!!"
Fortunately, the first to arrive wasn't a City defender—it was Lucas Cruijdt.
Whoosh—
Lucas streaked past without slowing.
Already at full acceleration—just slot a clean pass.
Gvardiol, spotting this, shifted from me to chase Lucas...
Bang!!—
Top right corner of the goal.
A bit greedy, aiming for the tight angle.
'Just a little more...!'
The ball curved late, dipping inside the post.
Clang!!—
A crisp ring as it smacked the bar.
Would've been despair if that was it.
Shhhrrrr—
The net rippled sweetly a beat later.
IIIYAAAAAAAH!!—
The stands erupted in a roaring wave.
The Smith family showed up again today to watch Manchester United live.
Unlike Devon Smith and David Smith, who desperately wanted a United win, Victoria Smith harbored complicated feelings.
"My granddaughter's finally felt Manchester United's charm... No regrets now..."
"No..."
She wanted to deny her grandpa, but the words wouldn't come.
Truth was, she was cheering for Manchester United—or rather, Ban Yeager on it.
But against Manchester City, of all teams.
Back when they dominated the Prem, bandwagon Vic naturally rooted for them.
For a solid six years.
She'd hopped teams plenty, but City was the only one over five years.
Some players gone now, but others had become vets still shining.
Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri...
City was still the stronger side.
Prem vs Championship—they weren't even comparable anymore.
Yet her eyes only followed the red kit.
The match started amid her inner turmoil.
City scored first, and she thought, Of course...
Then the goal she'd truly awaited exploded.
And unconsciously, the ceremony she hoped for.
"Ahh..."
Yeager flashed a V-sign and approached her section—her heart blazed red.
"Yeager!!!!!"
His hat-trick sealed, she rejoiced like it was her own.
Truly thrilled at a teammate's goal as her own.
She was already part of Manchester United.
"Tel tel terde! Yeager van~!"
'Ah... There it is.'
"Tel tel terde! Yeager van~!"
Fueled by the Red Devils' energy, my body felt lighter than ever.
Regular time down to 10 minutes, yet stamina overflowed.
Perfect run—almost sad the game's ending soon.
81 minutes when City kicked off to restart.
'Give us tons of stoppage.'
So many delays today—extra time should be plenty.
Score: 3 - 1
Not overwhelmingly dominant, honestly.
Time to set up Lucas Cruijdt's Manchester Derby goal too.
"Lucas, your turn now. Shoot for it boldly when you get the chance."
"...Got it!"
This match is already our win.
But I'm still hungry.