Chapter 94
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 94
Chapter Title Leading 20 at Halftime
Last seasons top scorer, Dylan Monroe, seized the ball in the halfspace and unleashed a shot.
Ricella threw himself at it with everything he had.
He stretched out fully, leaped high, and just barely tipped the ball away with his fingertips.
A brilliant save! What a save!
Ricella, who had denied what seemed like a sure goal, let out a gorillalike roar and booted the ball straight out for a goal kick.
Counterattack.
In truth, Newcastle hadnt even considered a patient defensive buildup.
From the start, they planned to grit their teeth, defend with sheer numbers, and launch attacks.
What if they conceded?
If they did, theyd just run twice as hard to attack and score.
Anyway, they were attacking now.
The fullbacks pushed forward, the midfielders surged ahead, and the forwards charged on.
Everyone rushed toward the front line in a herd.
The first to receive the ball was Illinyu.
Illinyu had already looped back, evaded the marking defender, passed to Omar, and sprinted forward again.
Omar raced down the sideline before whipping in a cross toward the center.
Ah, a bit short.
But no problem.
Menendez had collected it and nudged it to Taeyang.
Taeyang shuffled sideways, dodging players, spotted Illinyu, and passed it back.
Illinyu shot.
Smack!
Goal! The opener comes from Newcastle! From Illinyu to Omar, Omar to Menendez, Menendez to Yoon Taeyang! And Illinyu finishes it!
What a romantic counterattack!
Their breakaway evoked the Premier League of decades past, epitomized by 442 and kickandrush.
Damn it!
Brolick, who had let in the goal, kicked at the turf in frustration.
Arsenal bolstered their defense this season with reinforcements to support Ilkai Kozak, boasting improved solidity over last year. But this ones tough to stop. Counterattacks are terrifying.
Illinyus celebration ended, and play resumed.
Arsenal continued with calmer expressions than before.
Newcastle pressed them just as fiercely.
Arsenal could feel it.
These Newcastle bastards only think about attacking.
Fine, then lets use that against them.
They lured in the players swarming the ball like moths to a flame.
When space opened up, they pierced it with a pass.
Normally, Newcastle wouldnt allow such gaps, but they were running an unfamiliar formation now.
Prepared in a short time, with nothing but attack on their minds, tiny cracks had formed.
Arsenal exploited those spaces masterfully.
It was Arsenals legacy, after all.
Beautiful football through passing.
The tradition had wobbled at times but endured.
Pass and pass again, advancing.
Arsenal reached Newcastles third line, probing for chances.
Newcastles backline had no choice but to tense up.
Arsenals pride their three big guns.
The Premier Leagues most fearsome attacking line targeted the goal.
Above all, the mightiest cannon in the middle was last seasons conqueror of the Premier League, the best striker.
The very Dylan Monroe who had overwhelmingly crushed his fierce rival, Feliciano.
After a few passes, Dylan Monroe took possession.
Simply standing there with the ball, Dylan Monroe choked the air from the room.
His accumulated career made his mere presence intimidating.
He charged.
He shrugged off Dida, shook Arnold, and faced Ricella.
Ricella set his stance and glared at Dylan Monroe.
Where? Left? Right? Over? Under?
None of those.
Dida had raced in and stolen it beautifully.
Uwaaa! Im not done yet!!
Dida wailed as he passed to Arnold.
Yeah, youre back, Dida!
Arnold grinned, said that, and sent the ball forward.
Newcastles turn again.
Menendez collected Arnolds pass and fed it to Redelri.
Redelri drove from the flank into the center.
But Arsenals threeback meant penetrating the halfspace wasnt easy.
No matter.
He planned to draw the markers and switch play to the opposite side anyway.
He lofted an early cross to Omar on the far flank.
Omar controlled it, settled, and immediately crossed to the center.
Illinyu soared high for a header.
Thud!
This time, Arsenal keeper Brolick showed incredible reflexes to block the header.
Brolick makes a great stop, but Newcastle are scary. Every time they win the ball from Arsenal, they look threatening.
It was so disciplined, like theyd prepared solely for counters.
Arsenal, having endured another spinechilling moment, began playing more cautiously.
They narrowed gaps to prevent Newcastle steals, exchanging precise passes at their feet.
Newcastle reacted by closing down aggressively and pressing.
They drew Newcastle players in with forward passes, reaching their backline again, but now pushing further proved difficult.
Partly because Newcastle packed their defense deep, but unlike the chaotic early setup, they were settling into positions, occupying space tightly.
Theyd adapted in that short time, and with narrowed gaps, holding position felt easier.
Newcastle ramped up the pressure even more.
And Boxall stole the ball from Revela.
Newcastles attack ignited again.
Arsenal, seeing Newcastle with possession, spread out to claim the flanks.
Natural, since Newcastle had built attacks wide so far.
But in attack, Arsenals wingbacks had pushed too high.
Omar easily won a long ball.
Omar took it and drove down the wing.
Redchart stepped up to block him.
Omar spotted the gap opening between Redchart and Kozak.
Rather than diving in himself, he passed.
Illinyu was already bursting into it.
Illinyu controlled Omars through ball and tried to race away.
Oh! Kozak is on him!
But bustling ahead was Kozak.
Arsenals defensive heart.
One of the Premier Leagues top centerbacks stood firm, daring Illinyu to come at him.
Illinyu hesitated, tried a body feint, then powered left aggressively.
Kozak pivoted, thrusting shoulder and leg to intercept.
The instant Kozak closed in, Illinyu passed sideways.
Yoon Taeyang took possession.
As Hankhet, who had anticipated and lunged to block, arrived
Taeyang beat him to it and rifled a shot at goal.
From this distance?
Hankhet gawked and turned.
About 29 meters to goal.
Not an easy range for a shot... but the ball arced beautifully into the net.
Ha... it went in.
Goal!! Yoon Taeyaaaaang! Newcastles young prince connects from midfield for the score!
Oh, Newcastle! Theyre overpowering Arsenal at the Emirates, leading by two!
For Arsenal, it was a frustrating spot.
They dominated possession, mounted constant pressure, yet failed to score, while Newcastle turned two of just three ontarget shots into goals.
Damn.
Arsenals manager gnashed his teeth.
Nothing wrong, yet it wasnt clicking.
In these moments, players mentality wavers. The manager hoped halftime would end soon.
And right on cue, the whistle blew for halftime.
Come on, hurry!
The manager rushed his players to the locker room.
Alright, were doing great right now. Except for one thing. What is it?
Goals.
Right. And failing to score isnt even a real mistake. Ricella made impossible saves, and Dida intercepted like his prime returned. Just bad luck.
......
Dylan Monroe and the forwards just stared silently.
The manager realized that wouldnt satisfy the attackers.
He switched tack immediately.
But they capitalized on their chances and scored, while we didnt. We lacked focus and effort. Work harder, concentrate more. Got it?
Now the forwards eyes blazed.
Come on, time to settle the score from last time? The kid scored again. Even I admit it was a wonder goal.
That clinched itthe attackers fire roared back.
They looked ready to storm out and exact revenge with goals.
The manager sent them out satisfied.
Second half underway. Newcastle lead by two, clinical with their chances.
Arsenal have dominated today, but finishing is creating the gap.
Must be frustrating for Arsenal.
The commentators eyed Arsenal pityingly, but the players showed no frustration.
Just two goals?
Catch up and done.
Just like Yoon Taeyang sank them with a hattrick from a twogoal deficit last season.
With the leagues top attack line, how could they not?
Hearts steeled, the second half kicked off with the whistle.
Newcastle circulated the ball patiently.
Leading by two, no need to rush?
Menendez, at the heart of every pass, waited for shape before edging forward.
Boxall dropped to cover as defensive mid, Omar and Redelri narrowed to link with Menendez.
Wingbacks filled the wingers gaps.
Newcastle advanced steadily like that.
Arsenal pressed frantically, but Newcastle shifted the ball before pressure arrived, keeping tempo.
Planning to park the bus right from kickoff and see out the game?
Thats when it hit.
The ball went back to Newcastles defense, and Arsenals first and second lines charged.
Huh?
Gap between Newcastles defense and mids looks wide?
Just as they thought it, Ricella launched a long pass forward.
Dylan Monroe felt a chill down his spine.
Newcastles back and mid lines were spaced wide.
Unaware, Arsenals front lines had pushed up tight, widening the gap between their mids and defense.
It could close again, but Ricellas quicker ball exploited the space between Arsenals second and third lines.
And Newcastle had players who went wild in open space.
The prime example... Yoon Taeyang.