Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King-Chapter 319: Second-half Begins 1

Jack’s voice sharpened. [He does. Elm and Henriksen got caught napping there. Udinese’s counter’s lethal—Armero’s flying down that left flank, and Di Natale’s waiting for one chance]

Tony leaned back, gesturing to the pitch. [But AZ Alkmaar’s fightback—credit to them. After that goal, they could’ve folded. Benjamin’s run, Henriksen’s finish—they’ve got the crowd roaring]

Jack’s tone warmed. [This place is a cauldron, Tony. Those fans are lifting AZ Alkmaar. Second half, they’ll push hard, but Udinese aren’t here to park the bus. Di Natale’s sniffing]

Tony’s voice grew thoughtful. [Guidolin’s got to be fuming with Domizzi’s foul, but Brkić’s keeping them in it. That save on Benjamin’s curler—world-class]

Jack clapped once, mic catching it. [Both keepers, Tony. Alvarado’s stopping Di Natale’s darts. It’s a proper battle—youth versus craft]

The camera panned to Gertjan Verbeek in the tunnel, barking instructions, hands waving. Tony’s tone lifted. [Gertjan Verbeek’s firing them up down there. I reckon he’ll tell Benjamin to keep running at Basta—stretch that right flank and maybe commit him]

Jack nodded, eyes on the screen. [And Guidolin? He’ll want more from Fabbrini. Link up with Di Natale, get those counters sharper. This game’s on a knife-edge]

Tony’s voice buzzed with anticipation. [Second half’s coming, Jack. AZ Alkmaar need one more to take control, but Udinese’s break could punish them. Who’s your money on?]

Jack laughed, leaning back. [Too close, Tony. Benjamin’s got another trick up his sleeve, but Di Natale’s never out of it. Buckle up—this one’s going to the wire]

The crowd roared as players re-emerged, boots echoing. The whistle loomed, the night ready to ignite again.

***

Fweeeee!~

The AFAS Stadion roared back to life as the second half kicked off, the floodlights slicing through the November chill.

The scoreboard held at 1-1, AZ Alkmaar’s fightback fueled by Henriksen’s screamer, but Udinese’s counter-threat loomed large. The crowd, a sea of red and white, chanted Benjamin’s name, their voices raw but unbroken.

Martens tapped the ball to Elm, who sprayed it wide to Benjamin. The winger took off, boots flashing, eyes locked on Basta.

The Udinese wing-back crouched, wary after the first-half torment. Benjamin slowed, teasing, then darted inside with a quick La Croqueta, leaving Basta grasping air. The crowd surged, scarves waving.

Tony’s voice soared. [Benjamin’s at it again! Basta’s got no answer!]

Jack clapped, mic crackling. [He’s picking up where he left off, Tony! Kid’s a nightmare!]

Benjamin aimed a low cross, but Domizzi slid in, deflecting it to Pinzi. The midfielder broke, passing to Badu, who charged through midfield. Elm lunged, but Badu skipped past, feeding Armero on the left.

The wing-back sprinted, outpacing Marcellis, and crossed low. Di Natale darted in, but Viergever threw himself across, the ball smacking his shin and rolling out.

Jack whistled. [Viergever’s a rock, Tony! Di Natale was sniffing there]

Tony exhaled, voice tight. [He’s got to be, Jack. Udinese’s counters are deadly]

AZ Alkmaar regrouped. Henriksen scooped a loose ball, firing it to Martens. The captain darted forward, slipping past Willians, and found Berghuis on the right.

The winger cut inside, past Armero’s lunge, and curled a shot toward the far post. Brkić leaped, fingertips brushing it wide.

Tony gasped. [What a save! Berghuis nearly sneaks it in!]

Jack’s tone buzzed. [Brkić’s on fire, Tony! That was heading for the corner!]

The corner sparked chaos. Benjamin’s delivery dipped, Altidore jostling with Danilo at the near post. The striker rose, but Benatia muscled in, heading clear.

Pinzi collected, sparking a counter. He fed Fabbrini, who darted past Reijnen, but Gorter slid in, grass flying, to win it back.

Jack’s voice lifted. [Gorter’s fighting, Tony! AZ Alkmaar are hanging tough]

Tony’s tone was warm. [They’re scrapping, Jack. This crowd’s got them fired up]

#48th minute.

Udinese pushed. Badu drove through midfield, shrugging off Elm’s press. He slipped it to Di Natale, who spun past Viergever, 20 yards out.

The striker’s shot was low, venomous, but Alvarado sprawled, gloving it wide. The corner fizzled—Reijnen headed clear.

Tony’s voice spiked. [Alvarado again! Di Natale’s knocking!]

Jack chuckled. [He’s keeping AZ Alkmaar in it, Tony. That save’s massive]

AZ Alkmaar attacked. Elm lofted a ball to Benjamin, who chested it down and sprinted. He chopped past Pinzi with a Snake Bite, drawing a roar from the stands. Basta charged, but Benjamin rolled it back, finding Martens. The captain’s shot sailed high, rattling the boards.

Jack sighed. [Martens got greedy there, didn’t he?]

Tony’s voice softened. [Had to try, Jack. They’re pushing for the lead]

Udinese responded. Armero tore down the left, crossing deep. Di Natale leaped, but Gorter matched him, heading clear. The ball landed with Willians, who drove forward, but Henriksen slid in, winning it back. The crowd cheered, sensing a shift.

Tony’s voice rose. [Henriksen’s everywhere, Jack! He’s got that fire]

Jack’s tone matched him. [He’s the engine, Tony. Keeps AZ Alkmaar ticking]

#52nd minute. AZ Alkmaar built patiently. Reijnen passed to Elm, who flicked it to Altidore. The striker held off Danilo, laying it back to Berghuis.

The winger’s cross was sharp, but Domizzi headed clear, and Badu broke, sprinting past Martens. He fed Fabbrini, who darted toward the box, but Viergever’s tackle was clean, rolling the ball to Alvarado.

Jack whistled. [Viergever’s standing tall, Tony. Fabbrini had him beat]

Tony’s tone was grim. [AZ Alkmaar can’t keep inviting these counters, Jack. Too dangerous]

Benjamin picked up a loose ball, dancing past Willians with a quick step-over. He slipped it to Martens, who curled a pass to Altidore.

The striker turned, but Benatia muscled him off, the ball rolling to Brkić. The keeper slowed it down, waving his defenders up.

Tony sighed. [Altidore’s battling, but Benatia’s a brick wall]

Jack’s voice was sympathetic. [He’s throwing everything at it, Tony. Needs a bit of luck]

Udinese struck back. Pinzi scooped a pass to Basta, who overlapped and crossed low. Di Natale dummied, letting it run to Fabbrini.

The forward’s shot was tame, rolling to Alvarado, but the intent was clear. Gertjan Verbeek barked from the touchline, arms waving.

Jack’s tone sharpened. [Di Natale’s pulling strings, Tony. AZ better watch out]

Tony’s voice was tense. [He only needs one gap, Jack. Alvarado’s on high alert]