The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 608: When the Roar Shakes the Heavens

"Aimar has been sent off! His second yellow card for a foul that really didn't need to happen. Gattuso was just beginning to build an attack near the halfway line—hardly a dangerous position. Aimar's inexperience is clear here; he's only 21 and hasn't had much exposure to the pressures of big matches like this one. While his aggressive defending might seem positive on the surface, many of those fouls were unnecessary. Let's not be too harsh, though—he's still learning how to handle this level of pressurel,He'll learn from it, no doubt."

Cooper, standing on the sidelines, refrained from arguing with the fourth official. To be fair, the yellow card for Aimar's foul was indisputable—he had used his hand.

Protesting to the officials at this moment could have demoralized Valencia's players, making them feel the team was being treated unfairly. Such a sentiment could lead to frustration and impulsive decisions on the pitch.

Cooper made a quick substitution, bringing on Djukic for Sánchez.

Valencia has effectively decided to abandon their forward line. Mendieta, the spiritual leader of the team and a steadfast Basque warrior, remains indispensable on the pitch. González's threat down the wing is crucial for their offense, whereas Sánchez had completely vanished without proper service.

This adjustment means Valencia's counterattacking hopes rest entirely on Mendieta and González. If they manage to create anything threatening, it will be nothing short of a miracle, an explosion of brilliance against all odds.

With the team now down to 10 men, maintaining a traditional forward would only waste resources given their already passive stance in the match.

Djukic's introduction also provides cover for their double pivot midfielders, both of whom were already on yellow cards.

If Valencia could hold out for the remaining 20 minutes, they would secure a place in the semifinals.

While Aimar's red card was undoubtedly a relief, Aldrich felt it came with an unintended consequence: Valencia's determination would likely become even more unshakable.

Their tactical adjustment was clear—they weakened the front line to bolster the defense. Meanwhile, the double pivot in midfield, both carrying yellow cards, had been given additional security A man down, but far from giving up, Valencia had only grown more resilient

Referees tend to be more lenient toward teams already penalized with a red card, as long as their fouls aren't overly blatant.

Aldrich called Klose over, draping an arm around his shoulders and analyzing the situation on the pitch. Klose nodded repeatedly as Aldrich laid out the game plan.

Years of coaching had honed Aldrich's ability to deliver concise and precise instructions. His explanations of the tactical situation were clear and easy for players to understand. Only when players fully grasped the context and their roles could they execute the strategy effectively.

In less than two minutes, Aldrich finished briefing Klose and sent him onto the field. Amid thunderous applause from the Lion King Stadium, Materazzi was subbed off, and Klose took his place.

Valencia removed a forward, while Millwall removed a defender. With the numerical advantage, Millwall had the upper hand in this tactical adjustment.

Aldrich loosened his tie. It was now the 70th minute. The final 20 minutes would decide their fate.

The Lions' fans roared passionately, their cheers resonating under the enchanting moonlit sky of London. The echoes from the stadium carried immeasurable emotion and anticipation.

Valencia's defenders occupied every inch of their half, fiercely protecting their goal. Their resilience was palpable—a desperate stand against overwhelming odds.

Klose came off the bench and operated centrally, not as the leading striker but as a link between Valencia's backline and midfield. His positioning provided a vital passing option.

And with Henry darting around like a ghost, pulling defenders left and right, Millwall didn't need to flood the box with bodies.

Their layered positioning allowed Millwall to dominate the crucial space from midfield to the edge of the box.

Zambrotta and Schneider advanced down the flanks, stretching Valencia's defense and forcing them into lateral shifts. Any gaps would be exploited instantly.

During the 70th to 75th minutes, Millwall pressed forward with a series of intricate short passes. The areas they managed to break through were mainly on the flanks of the penalty box, while the middle remained securely defended.

Henry and Larsson unleashed four shots from tight 45-degree angles. Three of them were on target, but none could truly trouble Cañizares, who stood tall and neutralized the threat each time.

From the 75th minute onward, Millwall shifted to long-range shots. With Klose and Henry drawing the defensive midfielders out of position, Ronaldinho, Pirlo, and Nedvěd found shooting opportunities.

Two long-range shots flew sky-high, but the third one at least tested the keeper. On the sidelines, Aldrich stood with his hands on his hips, nodding in approval at the team's effort.

Were the missed shots disappointing?

Not at all. Long-range shots are a means to an end—a tool for creating space, a tactical decoy to set up future plays.

With unwavering determination in his eyes, Aldrich watched from the touchline. As long as the team stayed composed and ignored the ticking clock, they would eventually break through Valencia's defense.

"We'll use every offensive tool in our arsenal!"

In the 80th minute, Ronaldinho unleashed a long-range strike that nearly pierced through Cañizares' defenses. The shot sent shivers down the spines of the entire Valencia team, a stark reminder that they couldn't afford to let the opposition take such unchallenged attempts from distance.

With sharpshooters like Nedvěd, Pirlo, Ronaldinho, and even Zambrotta and Schneider lurking on the perimeter, Millwall had no shortage of long-range threats.

In the 81st minute, Gattuso, tracking back to cover the wing, intercepted the ball from Mendieta and immediately delivered a direct pass to Nedvěd ahead. Nedvěd, without stopping, sent a pinpoint cross to Ronaldinho, who had switched positions with him. Positioned at the top of the penalty area, Ronaldinho unleashed a long-range shot. Valencia had anticipated this move, pushing their defensive line higher to close the gap with their midfielders. If Ronaldinho attempted to dribble past them, the spacing between the two lines could become dangerously exploitable.

Ronaldinho's shot ricocheted off Albelda, and the ball fell to Southgate, who passed it forward to Pirlo. After controlling the ball and turning, Pirlo looked as if he was about to take a long shot of his own.

Valencia's defensive line braced for impact, only for Pirlo to suddenly perform a delicate chip. The ball arched gracefully over Valencia's backline, landing precisely in the right-side channel of the penalty area.

The defenders had just stepped up, and now they were scrambling as the ball sailed behind them. Cañizares, caught in two minds, stepped forward but quickly stopped—this wasn't a gamble he was willing to take!

Schneider, cutting in from the right, had already begun his run as Southgate passed to Pirlo. By the time the ball was delivered, Schneider had perfectly timed his movement, staying onside and creating a significant gap between himself and Valencia's defenders.

Schneider's face remained expressionless. He wasn't the best right-back in the world, but he was exactly what Millwall needed—a player with the instincts to make decisive contributions.

Aldrich's coaching had ingrained in Schneider the importance of timing his attacking runs. In situations where Valencia compressed their defense, Schneider would typically play the role of a supporting wide midfielder, delivering crosses and creating space. However, as Millwall's repeated long-range efforts gradually forced Valencia's defense to push out, Schneider seized the opportunity to make his move.

Pirlo's pass was perfectly weighted and impeccably timed. Its placement, trajectory, and speed left Schneider in awe.

"Pirlo, you're brilliant!"

Schneider reached the ball precisely at the drop point. Without stopping to control it, he decided on his next action even before making contact.

Stopping to adjust the ball would have allowed Valencia's defenders to recover and block the goal. Schneider knew the moment called for decisiveness.

After glancing at the central penalty area, Schneider calmly used the inside of his foot to push the ball horizontally across the box, ensuring enough pace to make it difficult to intercept.

As soon as he made the pass, Schneider's eyes locked onto the central players. He silently urged them, "It's all on you now!"

At Lion King Stadium, every Millwall supporter was on their feet, captivated by the unfolding play. The usual cheers and chants paused momentarily as the crowd held its collective breath.

Outside the penalty area, Nedvěd, Ronaldinho, and Pirlo were positioned to maintain pressure. Klose, though further back, was also advancing but was hindered by a defender.

The best chances now lay with Larsson and Henry.

Larsson made a darting run toward the near post but couldn't quite reach Schneider's pass in time. He even attempted a sliding shot, only to miss as the ball slipped just beyond his reach.

Henry, charging through the center, also slid to connect. But as he stretched his leg for the ball, his footing gave way slightly. The ball rolled past him, mere centimeters from his outstretched foot.

Henry could only throw his head back in frustration. "Did I wear the wrong boots today?" he thought in disbelief. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cañizares had already left his line, choosing to abandon Larsson's position after the miss. He quickly shifted his focus to Henry, racing to block the shot with his body. But there, just a step away, Henry faltered, the opportunity slipping through his grasp!

Cañizares breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he had dodged a bullet. But as his eyes followed the ball's rolling path, that relief quickly turned into horror.

The ball was fired with unstoppable power, flying directly toward the goal.

Even though Cañizares dived, his effort was futile. It was too late.

"Zambrotta! Zambrotta! Zambrotta! He's in at the far post and slots it in beautifully! This is teamwork at its finest—Millwall's full-backs combining with Schneider setting up Zambrotta for the goal.

The scoreboard reads 3-1, and the aggregate is now 3-2. Millwall completes an astonishing comeback over Valencia!"

All eyes, from the spectators in the stadium to those watching on TV, had been fixed on the area where Larsson and Henry were battling for the ball. No one had noticed Zambrotta's relentless advance down the left flank. Charging forward like a wild beast, he stormed toward Valencia's goal with unwavering determination.

When Larsson and Henry both missed their chances, Zambrotta arrived just in time. With a clean and decisive touch, he drove the ball into the empty net!

Zambrotta's goal ignited the Lion King Stadium like a match to dry tinder.

The stands were chaos—fans leaped and hugged, lovers locked lips, fathers raised their kids high, and friends roared at the top of their lungs, grabbing each other's shirts in a frenzy. Old fans who had witnessed decades of highs and lows smiled softly, their joy deeper, quieter, but no less profound.

Zambrotta celebrated like a man possessed, ripping off his shirt and tossing it aside as he darted along the touchline, fist raised in triumph, dodging teammates who tried to catch him. He looked like he'd just scored the winner in the World Cup final.

Henry and Larsson lay sprawled on the ground, relief washing over them. Henry, grinning, turned his head to find Larsson looking back. Their shared smiles carried the same unspoken sentiment—being part of this team was nothing short of amazing.