From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 111: Chapter 34: Kevin Strom Arrives! A Prince? He’s the King! [3/5]_2

After the goal, Middlesbrough intensified their offense, launching a wild counterattack within a few minutes of the restart, creating an offensive climax.

Unfortunately, they missed the goal by a hair, falling far from the target.

”Boom!!”

In the 38th minute of the match, their forward McDonald casually took a long-range shot, causing Sheffield United goalkeeper Robert to fumble, and this was when the real opportunity emerged.

”The goalkeeper fumbled! Mark Bates! He’s contesting for the ball with Maguire, and he got there first! One-on-one, shoots!

”1-1!!”

Mark Bates ran around the field in celebration and, after celebrating at the sideline, he ran to the coach’s bench to high-five the head coach, expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him.

The first half ended just like that. After returning in the second half, both teams made some personnel adjustments, all aiming to strengthen their offense.

No one wants just 1 point!

They are making every effort to secure 3 points!

”Boom!”

”Boom!!”

The sound of shot after shot echoed. Both teams went back and forth with threatening attacks, creating numerous chances, yet there were no goals.

Then, in the 71st minute of the match, Ma’el, dribbling from the midfield flanks, moved horizontally toward the center, disrupting the opponent’s defense.

”Ma’el! He’s still dribbling, approaching the right flank, no one from Middlesbrough can keep up with him horizontally, the defenders are scrambling out to defend, the defense is a bit chaotic!

”He’s reached the right side, the opportunity doesn’t seem great, he’ll have to pass!

”He’s facing the middle, still trying, will he continue to dribble and break through?

”A forward through pass penetrates! The ball is headed behind Middlesbrough’s defense, the speed is just right, it even has a curve! Oh....! Evans bursts out, the ball lands right on his forward line!

”What an amazing pass?! Everything was executed to perfection, without a single mistake!

”Evans is in the box, he must capitalize on such an assist..... shoots to the far corner! Beautiful!! 2-1!!

”I still have to commend Ma’el’s pass; if it was any slower, it might have been intercepted, any faster and the goalkeeper could have caught it! Even if executed well, a straightforward ball likely couldn’t penetrate the defense!

”His exquisite passing technique is unmatched among other Championship players; perhaps that’s why he’s at the top of the assist chart!”

On the field, Evans, who scored the goal, quickly joined Ma’el, the two rushing towards the sideline, jumping and lifting each other, filled with joy.

”Oh.....!!” The home fans’ cries echoed, countless people roared to their feet, waving their arms.

”Great shot, Evans!”

”Great pass!”

”Ma’el! God..... I’ve been sitting here for thirty-seven years, never seen anyone pass like that.”

They shouted hoarsely at the players, hoping the fighters for their club could hear the praise.

After this goal, Middlesbrough began to mount another counterattack from a disadvantaged position, their anxious emotions gradually spreading, and their actions started to escalate.

In the 84th minute of the match, Evans mistakenly kicked the ball directly out of bounds, the ball went out of play, but a Middlesbrough player came over and viciously collided with him, who was unguarded.

”Bang!” The sound of body contact echoed, Evans clutching his shoulder and stomach, fell to the ground wailing in pain: ”Ah....!”

The referee, who had just seen the ball go out of play, turned his head and was walking back, missing the incident.

Hearing Evans’ wailing, he looked towards the sideline for assistance, hoping for some guidance.

But the sideline referee seemed to have not seen it either, turning his head to avoid eye contact.

He still didn’t call it, a small mistake for not calling a foul, but a big issue if he called a foul that wasn’t there, so it was best not to call it, unsure.

It wasn’t over yet. In a subsequent defense against Janu, Middlesbrough’s midfielder Matthew Bates continuously made vicious tackles, targeting Janu’s ankle.

”Bang!”

First, he kicked Janu hard from behind, and seeing the latter didn’t fall, he went on, tripping and kicking Janu consecutively.

Janu might have gotten angry, enduring two hits without falling, he gritted his teeth and forced his way through, determined to humiliate the opponent.

Matthew Bates refused to let go, extended another foot, heavily stomping with his cleats on Janu’s foot.

”Ah.....!” Janu’s wails were even louder than Evans’, clutching his ankle and falling to the ground, unable to withstand it any longer.

Matthew Bates’ successive malicious fouls successfully ignited Sheffield United players’ accumulated anger; the scene became uncontrollable.

”What the hell! Bastard!”

”Jerk! Watch your legs!”

”Go to hell!”

Players from Sheffield United converged from all directions to the scene, even goalkeeper Robert rushed over, and both sides started shoving, tension instantly escalated.

”Beep beep beep!” The referee continuously blew the emergency whistle, yet couldn’t stop either side, no one was paying attention to him anymore.

”Look at your players, anyone would think they’re players; without knowing, they’d think they just got out of jail!”

Off the field, Garrispeed clashed with the opposing coach, exclaiming, ”A bunch of filthy yokels, downright wild savages!”

”What did you say?!” The Middlesbrough coach, fuming with anger, walked towards Garrispeed, who didn’t back down, taking strides forward, quickly closing the distance between them.

Both team’s assistant coaches and substitute players had already stood up. Having just seen the conflict on the field, they were helping curse at their teammates’ adversaries, and seeing their head coach fighting with the opposing coach...

”Go!”

”Don’t let them bully the boss!”

A new round of melee began here, essentially opening a second front, yet this wasn’t the end.

In the stands, fans seated around the South Stand and the east and west stands, grabbed their water bottles and hot dogs, throwing them at their opposing fans without regard for anything.

The security did everything to stop it, but couldn’t contain it, so angry they wanted to join in the fight themselves.

The conflict lasted for more than two minutes before slowly coming to a halt, surprising Kevin Strom and Mike seated in section A.

”Oh my god.”

Kevin Strom’s eyes were full of disbelief, not expecting to encounter such a scenario upon arrival, ”The sports atmosphere in the United Kingdom is really.... intense.”

”I’m feeling quite excited.” Mike looked eager, regretting not sitting at the junction of the two sets of fans.

”Will there be more games?”

Kevin Strom adjusted his sitting position; the experience was indeed novel, and he wanted to see more goals.

”There will be.”

The one answering him was not Mike, but an older fan beside him, who smiled faintly: ”Just watch, Ma’el will strike back in style, whenever there’s a need to respond, he always steps up.”

”So sure?”

Kevin Strom, curious, struck up more conversation: ”In this city, how influential is he?”

”Sure.”

The senior nodded, pondering his question, finally responding: ”A prince.... oh no, he’s the king!”