Reborn in Football to Build Top Clubs from English League Two

63: The fall of another giantThe whistle for the second half awakened The Valley from its brief silence.

In the away team’s locker room, Old John’s voice was hoarse, but his tone was firm.

He conveyed the calm and strength Lin Feng had passed on, which echoed in the players’ ears.

”The boss said that the first half was our shield, and in the second half, we must show our sword,” he said, pointing to Charlton’s left flank on the tactics board and drawing a sharp arrow with a red marker.

”Ben Thatcher, he has a strong desire to assist, but his speed in tracking back can’t keep up with our lightning,” Old John’s eyes gleamed with the wisdom Lin Feng had taught him, a confidence that saw through opponents.

”Robert, Danny,” Old John’s gaze fixed on Snodgrass and Simpson, who were listening intently, ”In the second half, the right flank is your corridor! Push forward boldly, and resolutely attack the space he leaves behind! We must turn their left flank into our attacking starting point!”

The players re-entered the pitch.

They felt a new energy surging within them, a desire for victory and an absolute trust in Lin Feng’s tactics.

Hartlepool United’s formation, subtly, tilted slightly to the right, like a taut bow, ready to shoot an arrow at any moment.

Robert Snodgrass’s position advanced, his Center of Gravity (center of gravity) further forward, always ready to spring into action.

Danny Simpson also began to frequently overlap along the touchline, his runs accompanied by the sound of wind, each sprint repeatedly cutting into Charlton’s left-wing defensive area.

Ben Thatcher, the experienced Premier League defender, began to feel overwhelmed.

As soon as he pushed forward to assist, he had to immediately track back to deal with Snodgrass’s movement and Simpson’s tireless assaults.

With each defensive return, his breathing became heavier, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his face, his legs feeling as if they were filled with lead.

Charlton’s attacking rhythm was disrupted by this sudden change.

Their players on the field began to appear somewhat anxious, their passing accuracy declined, and their coordination became disjointed.

Failing to score despite sustained attacks, coupled with the pressure Hartlepool United applied on the flanks, caused their formation to unconsciously shift forward as a whole, and the space between their defense and midfield consequently widened.

The midfield players’ coverage area began to shrink, and the distances between them also increased, creating cracks in their once-tight defensive line.

Time, in the midst of the struggle, quietly slipped away.

Both sides’ physical strength was rapidly depleting, each tackle accompanied by heavy gasps.

In the sixty-eighth minute, an opportunity arose.

Charlton midfielder Matt Holland made a careless horizontal pass; the ball speed was not fast, and its landing point was somewhat random, carrying a hint of fatigue.

Jordan Henderson, with keen anticipation, instantly appeared in the ball’s trajectory. The young player intercepted, his body tilted, and with a clean and decisive tackle, he kept the ball at his feet.

The ball at his feet showed no stickiness, and he didn’t even look up to observe for too long, as if he already had an attack route map in his mind. With a slight flick of his right ankle, he delivered a highly penetrating, low-driven through ball!

The ball instantly sliced through Charlton’s midfield defense, passing through the narrow gap between Hermann Hreidarsson and Djimi Traoré, accurately rolling into the vast, unoccupied space on the right flank!

Robert Snodgrass activated.

His legs instantly burst with astonishing speed, shaking off the desperately tracking Ben Thatcher.

He dribbled at high speed into the right side of the penalty area, his vision excellent, and while dribbling at full tilt, he calmly glimpsed the rapidly overlapping black figure in the center.

Facing the goalkeeper Scott Carson, who had rushed out, everyone thought he would choose to shoot.

But he didn’t. The Scotland winger’s peripheral vision calmly caught sight of the rapidly overlapping black figure in the center.

He wasn’t greedy for glory; with a gentle flick of his right ankle, he delivered a precise low cross!

The ball skimmed across the grass, quickly rolling towards the goal!

Jamie Vardy! He burst through the narrow gap between Charlton’s two world-class center-backs, Djimi Traoré and Hermann Hreidarsson, at high speed!

His run left the two experienced defenders half a beat slow; they hadn’t even had time to turn when Vardy appeared behind them, as if out of thin air!

Before goalkeeper Scott Carson could despairingly dive to block, Vardy extended his right foot and, with the tip of his toe, gently poked it!

The ball’s trajectory underwent a slight change, rolling past Carson’s hand and into the empty net! Zero to one!

At the moment of the goal, the blue and white corner of The Valley’s away stand instantly exploded!

Thousands of Hartlepool United fans who had traveled with the team erupted in deafening cheers!

They embraced, jumped, and roared, as if they wanted to tear off the entire stadium’s roof!

Blue and white scarves waved in the air, and songs echoed to the heavens, even drowning out the home fans’ frustrated sighs!

Most of The Valley’s home fans, however, fell into a dead silence and bewilderment; they couldn’t believe that their team had been breached by a League Two team, and with such a textbook counter-attack!

In the BBC commentary box, Guy Mowbray excitedly shouted: ”Goooal! Jamie Vardy! Hartlepool United have taken the lead away from home! A classic textbook defensive counter-attack! Henderson’s through ball, Snodgrass’s assist, Vardy’s poacher’s finish - all executed to perfection! This League Two team has once again made us look at them with new eyes!”

Mark Lawrenson also couldn’t hide his excitement, his voice rising by an octave: ”Look at Vardy’s speed, it’s simply unstoppable! This Hartlepool United team, they always bring you surprises! They wait for every opponent’s mistake, then deliver a fatal blow! This is the charm of the FA Cup!”

Charlton, as if waking from a dream after conceding, launched an even more frenzied counter-attack.

Manager Alan Pardew excitedly directed from the sidelines, waving his hand to bring on attacking players, attempting to intensify their offense. Long balls, wing breakthroughs, a crowded penalty area, a scene of chaos.

They tried everything to equalize the score.

But Hartlepool United’s players, under Lin Feng’s tactical system and their desire for victory, were united.

Each of them transformed into a solid barrier, building an insurmountable steel wall.

Schmeichel made high saves and blocks in front of the goal, keeping every shot out. He was like an insurmountable wall of sighs, making Charlton’s players feel despair.

In the eighty-fifth minute, Charlton won a corner kick. The ball flew into the penalty area, and in the scramble, Darren Bent found an opportunity amidst the chaos, taking a powerful shot. The ball passed through everyone, heading straight for the corner of the goal!

At that critical moment, it was Chris Smalling! The young center-back, on the goal line, used his body to block this certain goal, literally keeping it out! His face was covered in mud and sweat, but his eyes were filled with firmness and unwavering determination.

Finally, when the referee blew the final whistle, the ”0-1” on the scoreboard seemed so glaring, yet so glorious.

Hartlepool United, away from home, with a resilient defensive counter-attack, once again played the role of ”giant killer,” successfully advancing to the FA Cup quarter-finals!

Their players celebrated wildly at The Valley, rushing towards the away fan section to embrace their long-traveled supporters, sharing this hard-won victory.

Blue and white flags fluttered in the wind, and songs echoed for a long time.

In the VIP box, Lin Feng calmly watched it all, his face still maintaining that unperturbed expression.

His hands were in his pockets, his posture tall and straight. But in his eyes, a brighter light shone than ever before.

Eliminating Charlton and advancing to the FA Cup quarter-finals was indeed gratifying, but his goals extended far beyond that.

His gaze had already begun to turn towards the League championship, and that Wembley trophy, symbolizing supreme glory.