Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King-Chapter 259: Penalty 2

Alvarado stood on his line, bouncing on his toes, eyes locked onto Suárez. He stretched his arms wide, trying to make the goal look smaller.

The away section chanted loudly, willing their goalkeeper to come up big once more.

Jamie Carter: [This is it. A massive moment in the match. Can Alvarado deny him?]

Rob Townsend: [Suárez is ruthless from the spot. You’d back him to score every time, but Alvarado has been a wall tonight.]

The tension inside Anfield was suffocating. Suárez took a deep breath, then started his run-up.

One step. Two. Three.

He struck the ball low and hard toward the bottom right corner.

Alvarado guessed correctly. He dived at full stretch, his fingertips grazing the ball but it was not enough!

The net rippled and Anfield erupted.

Rob Townsend: [SUÁREZ SCORES! LIVERPOOL ARE LEVEL!]

Jamie Carter: [Finally! Liverpool’s persistence pays off! Alvarado went the right way, but the penalty was struck perfectly into the corner!]

Suárez sprinted toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees, arms spread wide as his teammates rushed to him. The energy inside the stadium exploded, the noise deafening.

On the opposite end, Alvarado lay on his back, staring up at the floodlights. He had done everything, but he couldn’t stop that one.

Gertjan Verbeek clenched his fists on the touchline, frustrated but knowing there was still time.

The scoreboard changed.

Liverpool 2-2 AZ Alkmaar. 70th minute.

Rob Townsend: [You could feel it coming, Jamie. Liverpool just would not stop coming forward]

Jamie Carter: [AZ Alkmaar were under siege, but the penalty decision... well, that’s going to be debated, isn’t it?]

The AZ Alkmaar players gathered near the center circle, some still shaking their heads. Benjamin stood still, his gaze locked on the ball in the center spot, his expression unreadable.

Gerrard, pumping his fists, urged his teammates forward. "One more!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the noise.

Liverpool had the momentum now. The game wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Fweeeee!~

AZ Alkmaar restarted the game, but Liverpool smelled blood. The red shirts pressed high, forcing rushed passes and nervous touches. The Dutch side needed to settle quickly, or the game would slip away.

Benjamin tried to slow things down, dropping deep to receive the ball. He turned, looking for options, but Liverpool’s press was relentless. Henderson was on him in a flash, forcing him to turn backward.

Jamie Carter: [Liverpool are swarming them now. Alkmaar need to stay calm.]

Reijnen played it back to Alvarado, who took a touch before launching it long. The ball soared toward Altidore, but Agger rose highest, winning the aerial duel with authority.

The ball dropped to Gerrard, who controlled it instantly, eyes already scanning. He rolled it to Johnson on the right, and Liverpool were on the attack again.

Rob Townsend: [This is what they do. They smell weakness, and they don’t stop.]

Johnson surged forward, skipping past a tired-looking Martens before whipping in a cross. Suárez was lurking, ready to pounce, but Viergever got there first, heading it clear.

It wasn’t enough.

Henderson picked up the loose ball, shifting it quickly to Gerrard. The captain took one touch, then unleashed a thunderous shot from distance.

The crowd held its breath—

Alvarado reacted instantly, diving low to his left, parrying the ball away. It bounced out to Sterling, who controlled and struck—

Blocked!

Marcellis threw himself in front of the shot, the ball ricocheting off his chest and spinning away.

Jamie Carter: [How many times are we going to say it? AZ Alkmaar are just throwing their bodies on the line!]

Rob Townsend: [But can they keep doing it for another 18 minutes? Liverpool are relentless.]

Liverpool kept pushing. Gerrard was everywhere, dictating the tempo, keeping the pressure on. AZ Alkmaar could barely get out of their own half.

Benjamin finally got a moment of space. He skipped past Lucas, drawing a foul near the halfway line. It gave his team a chance to breathe.

The referee pulled out a yellow card. Lucas didn’t argue.

Jamie Carter: [That was smart from Benjamin. He knew he was under pressure and won the foul. AZ Alkmaar need more of that.]

The free kick was taken short. AZ Alkmaar passed it around, trying to hold possession, trying to slow the game.

Then, a quick one-two between Benjamin and Henriksen suddenly opened space. Benjamin turned sharply and sprinted forward.

Rob Townsend: [Here they come! Benjamin leading the charge!]

He threaded a perfect ball through to Berghuis, who cut inside onto his left foot and let fly—

Blocked! Carragher threw himself in the way, deflecting the ball out for a corner.

Jamie Carter: [That was a real chance! Berghuis just couldn’t get enough space!]

AZ Alkmaar prepared for the corner. Henriksen stood over it, wiping sweat from his brow. He raised his hand, signaling a routine.

He curled it into the 18 yard box—

Altidore climbed—but it was punched away by Reina!

The ball dropped outside the 18 yard box, and Gerrard was there first. He took a quick touch and immediately launched a counterattack.

Jamie Carter: [Here they go! Liverpool breaking at speed!]

Gerrard fed it to Suárez, who turned and sprinted down the right. The AZ Alkmaar defense scrambled back, but Liverpool had numbers.

Suárez cut inside, skipping past one defender, then another. He spotted Sterling making a run at the far post.

He chipped it toward him—

Too high!

The ball sailed just over Sterling’s head and rolled out for a goal kick.

Rob Townsend: [That was almost perfect! Suárez knew what he wanted, but the execution just wasn’t quite there.]

Alvarado hurried to take the goal kick. AZ Alkmaar weren’t just defending anymore, they were trying to find a winner.

Benjamin drifted wide, collecting the ball before playing a quick pass to Berghuis. He drove forward, looking for space.

Jamie Carter: [They’re not settling for a draw. AZ Alkmaar want this!]

Berghuis cut inside and spotted Henriksen arriving late into the 18 yard box. He whipped in a dangerous cross—

Too close to Reina! The goalkeeper plucked it out of the air and immediately rolled it out to Johnson.

The game was stretched now. Both teams were pushing forward. One mistake, one moment of brilliance, could decide everything.

Johnson sprinted down the right, linking up with Henderson before feeding it inside to Suárez.

Suárez turned, saw a gap, and took off.

Jamie Carter: [Suárez—he’s on a mission!]

He skipped past one, then another, dancing through tackles like they weren’t even there.

The 18-yard box was in front of him. The crowd roared.

Then, out of nowhere—Benjamin slid in with a perfectly timed challenge.

He took the ball cleanly, getting to his feet in one swift motion, then immediately drove forward.

Rob Townsend: [What a tackle! Benjamin saves the day! And now AZ Alkmaar are on the break!]

He burst into space, leaving Liverpool’s midfield behind. The defense was backpedaling.

Benjamin spotted Altidore making a run and played him through.

Altidore controlled, turned and let one rip. But it was shot straight at Reina!

Jamie Carter: [That could’ve been it! Altidore needed to do better!]

The Liverpool goalkeeper quickly restarted play. The game had no pauses now. It was all chaos, all intensity.