Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King-Chapter 286: Pandemonium 1

The game was wide open now. Every clearance, every counter, every touch felt like it could decide the match.

The clock had ticked into the 88th minutes time, and both teams knew there was still a few last chances left in this thriller.

Rob: [AZ Alkmaar have to throw everything forward now! They know time is running out!]

Chris: [But Den Haag, they’ve just come inches away from winning it! The momentum is swinging back and forth!]

Martens collected the ball in midfield, his head turning quickly, looking for movement ahead.

Berghuis darted down the right, his legs still willing to make one more sprint. The pass was sharp, cutting through the Den Haag midfield.

Chris: [Berghuis is free again! He’s been dangerous all night!]

The winger took one touch to steady himself, another to push forward. The defenders were retreating, backing up towards their 18 yard box. Berghuis faked a cross, cutting inside on his left foot—

A curling shot—

Rob: [Berghuis goes for goal!]

Coutinho dived—

Palmed away! But the ball wasn’t cleared! It fell to Altidore, just yards from goal!

Chris: [Altidore—has to finish this!]

He swung his right foot—

Skyed it!

Rob: [Oh no! He’s blasted it over! How has he missed that?!]

Altidore put his hands on his head, mouth open in sheer disbelief. That was the chance. The one they had fought so hard for.

Chris: [That was the moment! It fell right to him, and he’s completely lost his composure!]

The Den Haag fans erupted in relief. Their defenders were still scrambling, clearing their heads after the chaos. Coutinho slapped the ground in frustration, knowing they had gotten away with one.

But there was no time to linger. Den Haag sent the ball long, hoping for a flick-on, hoping for anything that could drag them forward one last time.

Holla leaped—won the header—knocked it into space for Van Duinen!

Rob: [Here they come again!]

Van Duinen took off, racing towards the 18 yard box. The AZ Alkmaar defenders were backpedaling, desperate to close him down.

Chris: [Can he find the final ball?]

He spotted Kramer peeling off to the left, unmarked. A quick pass—

Kramer lined up the shot and drilled it low—

Rob: [Kramer—]

Saved!

Esteban Alvarado stretched out a foot, just enough to deflect it away! The ball rolled agonizingly past the post!

Chris: [Would you believe it?! Another massive chance wasted!]

The AZ Alkmaar players couldn’t believe their luck. Their fans had their hearts in their throats. The Den Haag supporters groaned.

The tension in the stadium was unbearable. Every pass, every clearance, every tackle carried the weight of the match.

Rob: [They have to be careful, though. One mistake, and this could be over!]

Chris: [Den Haag are pushing again! They still believe they can find the winner!]

The ball was back in play quickly. A Den Haag throw-in deep in AZ Alkmaar’s half. Holla took it short, receiving it back before chipping a cross toward the back post.

Van Duinen leaped, nodding it down—

Kramer reacted first! A low drive!

Rob: [Kramer—]

Chris: [It’s in! Den Haag have scored!]

GOOAAALLLLLLL!!!~

The stadium erupted.

The Den Haag players sprinted towards the corner flag, bodies piling on top of each other in celebration. The fans in yellow and green bounced in the stands, their voices shaking the night air.

Rob: [Would you believe it?! Deep into normal stoppage time, Den Haag have found a way!]

Chris: [And look at the AZ Alkmaar players—they’re stunned! They can’t believe it!]

But wait.

The referee stood still, a hand to his earpiece. The cheers wavered. Something was off.

Rob: [Hold on, what’s happening here?]

Chris: [The referee’s talking to his assistant. Is there a problem?]

A slow-motion replay flashed on the big screen. Just before Van Duinen’s header, Holla had gone in for a 50-50 challenge with Adam Maher, using an arm to hold him back.

The referee jogged toward the sideline. The celebrations slowed as the realization spread.

Rob: [Oh no. They’re looking at a foul in the buildup. This could be ruled out!]

Chris: [It looked like Holla might have had a hold of Adam Maher there, just enough to give himself an advantage.]

The AZ Alkmaar players surrounded the referee, pleading their case. The Den Haag players stood frozen, waiting, barely breathing.

Then, the decision.

Goal disallowed!

Rob: [Oh, this is cruel! The goal won’t stand!]

Chris: [Listen to the reaction from the crowd! Absolute fury from the Den Haag fans!]

Holla threw his arms up, his face red with frustration. The Den Haag bench erupted in protest, Gertjan Verbeek shaking his head in disbelief.

The referee pointed back to the spot where the foul occurred, motioning for play to restart.

Rob: [You have to feel for Den Haag. They thought they had won it!]

Chris: [But by the letter of the law, that’s a foul. You can’t hold back a player like that.]

The noise inside the stadium was deafening. Boos rained down from the stands, the Den Haag fans furious with the decision. The AZ Alkmaar players, meanwhile, exhaled in relief.

Rob: [Well, if this game needed any more drama, it just got it.]

Chris: [We’re still tied at 1-1, and there’s barely any time left. What a finish this is!]

The game resumed, but the momentum had shifted again. Den Haag, still rattled from the disallowed goal, struggled to find their shape. AZ Alkmaar smelled blood.

Adam Maher picked up the ball, driving forward. He threaded a pass through to Henriksen, who turned and sprinted forward while accessing his options in front.

Henriksen had no time to think. Den Haag’s midfield was scrambling to get back, but the gap had already opened. He glanced up, saw Altidore peeling away from his marker, and slid a perfectly weighted pass into his path. freewebnøvel_com

Rob: [Here comes Altidore! This could be the moment!]

Altidore surged forward, his powerful strides eating up the ground. The Den Haag defenders were retreating, desperate to keep up.