After signing with AC Milan, I will be the king of football!

Chapter 1552: Chapter 434: Raking in Manchester United Profits

”Yes, the career longevity for goalkeepers is a bit longer than for other positions, but maintaining such good form isn’t easy either.”

”Chelsea once again put Malouda in the central midfield position, Mourinho doesn’t have many substitutes for the midfield, so he has to use other players to fill in. Mikel’s injury is still quite detrimental for Chelsea, and Essien has been struggling with injuries this season as well. It’s uncertain whether the two can make it to the UEFA Champions League final.”

At 3 PM, the referee Chris Foy blew the whistle to start the match.

Portsmouth kicked off and retreated, falling back thoroughly.

They lowered their posture, prepared to counter-attack, which is the usual approach for weaker teams facing stronger ones.

Huang Kaiwen didn’t have much impression of the players on the pitch.

He did remember Boateng had bounced around several teams.

On the contrary, their coach Grant later coached Chelsea and also made headlines with scandals like many other stars.

Drogba and Mata rushed forward to press, while Huang Kaiwen continued to roam along the flank.

Portsmouth visibly couldn’t stay calm, and Mullins quickly hoofed the ball forward.

Kevin-Prince Boateng displayed excellent skill, standing out among Portsmouth, casually controlling the ball with his raised left foot.

Chelsea’s defense didn’t dare be careless, and Ramos even returned to his position to watch cautiously.

Spotting a gap on the right, Boateng kicked a long pass directly.

And then.

A scene unfolded that was both awkward yet amusing.

As Dindane backed up to receive the pass on the right, he instinctively raised both hands and caught the ball.

Not only the players and referee were stunned.

Even the eighty thousand spectators on site appeared bewildered.

”Oh dear, that was... quite irrational.”

”Yes, usually such situations only occur in amateur matches, where one reaches for the ball but can’t, and reflexively uses their hands. It’s quite rare among professional players.”

Grant nearly cursed out loud.

He definitely didn’t want someone ejected right after kickoff.

Chris Foy quickly ran up to Dindane, even before he acted, Portsmouth players stepped up to offer explanations.

”Referee, sir, he didn’t mean it.”

”Yes, it’s just today’s nerves getting to him.”

Foy glanced at Dindane, asking, ”What exactly happened?”

Dindane’s mind blanked temporarily.

He explained, ”Sir, I thought the ball was out of play, that it was headed out of bounds, and I forgot it hadn’t crossed the line yet.”

Foy genuinely wanted to cover his face.

Seeing the pleading eyes of Portsmouth players.

Considering it’s the FA Cup final, he merely reached into his pocket and flashed a yellow card.

Foy pointed at the Portsmouth players, warning them, ”Don’t pull off such stunts again, or next time it’s a red card.”

A few Chelsea players nearby didn’t pile on the pressure.

Mata looked at Drogba and asked, ”Would you do such a thing?”

”Of course not, boy, what do you take me for?”

Drogba replied, not too pleased.

Did people think that because he was big, he looked like a fool?

Huang Kaiwen shook his head with a smile, feeling his opponent might be speaking the truth.

Like sometimes one might search for their phone while holding it, occasionally people just forget things suddenly.

Dindane likely felt he wouldn’t reach the ball before it went out, just anticipated a bit early.

The referee awarded a free-kick.

Huang Kaiwen gestured for Mata to step up.

Mata stood at the side, pretending to aim for the penalty area, but when running, he dashed to the ball and turned, kicking it back.

The opponents’ attention was fixed near the penalty area, and seeing Mata pass back, they immediately moved upfield.

Huang Kaiwen tapped with his right foot, noticing there weren’t many in the penalty area, stood still, and swung his right foot, striking under the ball.

Pop—

A crisp sound rang out, sending a lob not too fast.

Yet even so, Portsmouth players couldn’t return to the penalty area in time, and could only watch the ball drop towards the center of the penalty box.

Mokuna focused solely on Drogba.

As Drogba charged into the box, Mokuna couldn’t react.

Rocha hurried after Drogba as he ran back.

But being one step too slow is still too slow; Drogba reached the ball’s drop point comfortably and nodded it in.

David James could sense danger.

Saving from such a close range would be a miracle.

Sure enough.

The ball flew from his hand’s edge right into the net.

Just a little over a minute into the match, Chelsea took the lead.