Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King-Chapter 320: Second-half Begins 2

#57 minute.

AZ Alkmaar pushed hard. Henriksen drove through midfield, finding Benjamin. The winger faced Basta again, feinting left, then cutting right with a La Croqueta. He fired a low shot, but Brkić dove, palming it wide. The corner came—Benjamin’s delivery curled, but Danilo headed clear.

Tony’s voice surged. [Benjamin’s not stopping! Brkić’s earning his keep!]

Jack clapped, grinning. [That’s three big saves, Tony! He’s keeping Udinese alive]

Udinese countered. Armero broke again, crossing deep. Di Natale leaped, but Reijnen matched him, heading clear.

The ball landed with Badu, who charged, but Elm’s tackle was sharp, sparking an AZ Alkmaar break. Martens fed Berghuis, whose shot sailed wide.

Jack chuckled. [Berghuis is trying, but his radar’s off today]

Tony’s tone was hopeful. [He’s getting chances, Jack. One’s got to go in]

#60th minute.

The game stretched, both sides tiring but relentless. Benjamin scooped a pass to Altidore, who held off Danilo and laid it back to Henriksen. The midfielder’s shot was fierce, but Brkić tipped it over. The corner fizzled—Domizzi headed clear.

Tony gasped. [Brkić again! He’s a wall, Jack!]

Jack’s voice buzzed. [Unbelievable, Tony. AZ Alkmaar are throwing everything at him]

Udinese pushed. Willians drove forward, slipping it to Di Natale. The striker spun past Gorter, 25 yards out, and struck it—low, curling. Alvarado dove, gloves stinging, and pushed it wide. The corner came to nothing—Viergever headed clear.

Jack whistled. [Di Natale’s still hunting, Tony. Alvarado’s matching him]

Tony’s voice was tense. [It’s a duel, Jack. Both keepers are stealing the show]

The AFAS Stadion thrummed with intensity, the crowd’s roar a relentless tide as the 61st minute ticked over.

The scoreboard held at 1-1, AZ Alkmaar and Udinese locked in a bruising Europa League battle. The floodlights cast sharp shadows, the slick pitch gleaming as players chased every ball with desperate hunger.

AZ Alkmaar pressed forward. Elm scooped a loose pass, flicking it to Martens. The captain darted through midfield, eyes scanning, and slipped it wide to Benjamin.

The winger took on Basta, feinting right, then chopping left with a Snake Bite. Basta lunged, boots skidding, but Benjamin was gone, sprinting toward the 18 yard box.

Tony’s voice surged. [Benjamin’s at it again! He’s got Basta on toast!]

Jack clapped, mic crackling. [He’s running rings, Tony! Udinese can’t catch him!]

Benjamin crossed low, aiming for Altidore, but Danilo slid in, deflecting it out for a throw. The striker threw his hands up, muttering, as Gertjan Verbeek clapped from the touchline, urging more.

The throw went to Marcellis, who found Henriksen. The midfielder drove forward, passing to Berghuis, whose shot sailed high, clipping the advertising boards.

Jack chuckled. [Berghuis is swinging, but his aim’s off tonight]

Tony’s tone stayed hopeful. [He’s in the right spots, Jack. One’s got to stick]

Udinese countered. Pinzi collected a clearance, firing it to Armero. The wing-back tore down the left, outpacing Marcellis, and crossed deep.

Di Natale peeled off Viergever, leaping, but his header looped wide, landing in the stands. The away fans groaned, scarves slumping.

Tony exhaled. [Di Natale’s so close, Jack. He’s sniffing]

Jack’s voice sharpened. [He only needs one, Tony. AZ Alkmaar better stay sharp]

#64th minute.

AZ Alkmaar built again. Reijnen passed short to Elm, who turned and sprayed a long ball to Benjamin. The winger chested it down, chopping past Willians with a quick La Croqueta.

The crowd roared, sensing danger. He fired a curler toward the top corner, but Brkić dove, palming it wide. The corner came—Benjamin’s delivery dipped, but Domizzi rose, heading clear.

Tony gasped. [Brkić again! He’s a brick wall, Jack!]

Jack’s tone buzzed. [Four big saves now, Tony! He’s keeping Udinese in this!]

Udinese pushed back. Badu snapped a pass to Fabbrini, who darted past Reijnen. He slipped it to Di Natale, who spun past Gorter, 22 yards out.

The striker’s shot was fierce, low, but Alvarado sprawled, gloves stinging, and pushed it around the post. The corner fizzled—Viergever’s header cleared the danger.

Jack whistled. [Alvarado’s matching him, Tony! Di Natale can’t break through]

Tony’s voice was tense. [It’s a proper duel, Jack. Both keepers are stealing the show]

AZ broke through. Henriksen won a loose ball, firing it to Martens. The captain darted forward, slipping it to Altidore. The striker held off Danilo, laying it back to Berghuis.

The winger cut inside, past Pinzi, and crossed low. Altidore lunged, but Benatia’s boot nicked it away, rolling to Brkić.

Tony sighed. [Altidore’s fighting, but Benatia’s reading him like a book]

Jack’s voice softened. [He’s battling, Tony. Just needs a bit of luck]

#69th minute.

Gertjan Verbeek signaled a change, waving Adam Maher off the bench. Berghuis jogged off, head down, swapping with the fresh-legged midfielder.

Adam Maher slotted in, instantly snapping a pass to Benjamin. The winger took on Basta again, feinting left, then cutting right. His shot was low, but Brkić dove, gloving it wide.

Tony’s voice surged. [Benjamin won’t quit! Brkić’s on fire!"

Jack clapped, grinning. [That’s five saves, Tony! He’s a one-man fortress!]

Udinese countered. Armero broke again, crossing sharp. Di Natale darted in, but Reijnen threw himself across, the ball smacking his thigh and rolling out.

The veteran striker spun, hands on hips, muttering. Guidolin shouted from the touchline, urging more.

Jack’s tone sharpened. [Di Natale’s still lurking, Tony. AZ are living dangerously]

Tony exhaled. [They can’t keep inviting these, Jack. One slip, and it’s over]

AZ Alkmaar pushed hard. Adam Maher scooped a pass to Benjamin, who danced past Willians with a step-over. He slipped it to Altidore, who turned, but Danilo muscled him off, the ball rolling to Pinzi.

The midfielder broke, feeding Fabbrini, but Viergever’s tackle was clean, sparking an AZ Alkmaar counter. Martens fired it to Henriksen, whose shot sailed wide.

Tony’s voice lifted. [AZ Alkmaar are knocking, Jack! They’re so close!]

Jack’s tone matched him. [They’re throwing everything, Tony. Udinese are hanging on]

Guidolin made a move, subbing Fabbrini for Maicosuel. The fresh winger sprinted on, instantly chasing a long ball from Badu. He crossed low, but Alvarado dove, scooping it before Di Natale could pounce. The keeper rolled it quick, sparking an AZ Alkmaar break.

Jack whistled. [Alvarado’s on it, Tony! He’s keeping AZ Alkmaar in the hunt]

Tony’s voice was tense. [He’s got to, Jack. This game’s on a knife-edge]