"Coooooooooooooooool!" Lineker roared. "My God! Yaya Toure, he leaped high and headed a powerful header from the edge of the six-yard box. Even Van der Sar's best efforts couldn't stop this header flying towards the top corner of the goal! 2-4, friends, I might have to take back what I said for the second time tonight. Manchester United lads, forget about posing! Put your attention back on the pitch!"
Like Lineker, Eddie Gray on TV was equally ecstatic: "Wow!!! Our young captain is amazing! Milner's precise long pass found Toure in the box, and Toure completed a beautiful shot, 2-4, we still have hope!"
"Bang!" Another water bottle flew to the side of the fourth official, but this time it was Ferguson who kicked it.
The old man was furious; that goal conceded was simply unforgivable!
The distance from the halfway line to the goal on a football pitch is only 45 meters, but Milner dribbled the ball from the halfway line towards the Manchester United goal for almost 20 meters without a single player pressing him. The only defender was Giggs, who was desperately chasing Milner! Therefore, Milner's pass was very easy, and when the ball entered the penalty area, Toure was also completely unmarked. Ferdinand and Vidic, the two center-backs, were about 2 meters away from him, which allowed Toure to easily jump, exert force, and complete the final shot!
Thinking about this, Ferguson felt ashamed of the young players on the field. The game had been going on for almost 60 minutes, and these 20-somethings were having the nerve to let 33-year-old Giggs chase after them alone? Could he even catch up? And the defenders in the penalty area, were they eating shit? Such a big guy was jumping so calmly right in front of them, couldn't they see him?
Enraged, Ferguson had lost the composure he displayed when conceding the first goal. He stood on the sidelines and began hurling insults at the Manchester United players on the field. The players, knowing they were in the wrong, all lowered their heads and remained silent.
Toure also didn't celebrate. After snatching the ball from Van der Sar, he quickly ran back to the center circle, placed the ball, and waited for the Manchester United players to come and kick off. The two goals scored in a short period of time greatly boosted Leeds United's morale. With half an hour left, everyone was holding their breath. If what Li Shiguang said in the locker room at halftime was true, as long as they didn't give up, there would definitely be a chance!
Before the restart, Ferguson made his move, replacing Saha with Fletcher, taking off a striker and bringing on a defensive midfielder. The old man's intention was clear: Leeds United's morale was high, and Manchester United's first priority was to stabilize the team's defense.
Ferguson's idea proved to be correct. After the kickoff, Leeds United's attacks came wave after wave, at one point pinning Manchester United in their own half and making them unable to move. However, Fletcher's introduction greatly reduced the pressure on Park Ji-sung in midfield and also strengthened Manchester United's ability to sweep up in midfield. As a result, Leeds United did not score again for a while!
But Leeds United's almost frantic pressing and attacking style left Manchester United's players feeling very frustrated!
I'm clearly stronger than you, and I'm even two points ahead of you, but now you're beating me up on the ground. It's not like every punch landed on my skin, but I'm fucking furious!
This mentality caused the Manchester United players to gradually lose their temper, especially the young Ronaldo and Rooney. As the game progressed, their actions became increasingly aggressive. Before long, Rooney had already received a yellow card for a foul from behind. Because of this, Ferguson called Rooney onto the field and gave him a lecture, telling him to be more careful and not to get a second yellow card.
As time went on, the game entered the final 15 minutes of regular time, and the score remained at 2-4.
Leeds United's recent performance has been all talk and no action, causing those who were hoping for a miracle to gradually lose their enthusiasm.
Lineker calmly analyzed, "The situation on the field is gradually stabilizing. To be honest, Leeds United's performance in the second half was completely different from the first half. But they were trailing by too much, and Manchester United have recovered from their previous two goals. Judging from the situation, it's unlikely that Leeds United will be able to close the gap... Wattfa?! My God! I confess! I spoke too soon! Falcao!! It's him again! With the game deadlocked, he stepped up! His beautiful shot inside the penalty area helped Leeds United pull one back! 3-4! Friends here, you're in luck today! I have a feeling that the most exciting part of the football match is about to unfold!"
Just as Lineker was analyzing the situation, Falcao's goal interrupted him, igniting a sea of white in the Millennium Stadium, with cheers from the fans reaching the heavens!
In fact, this goal was a consequence of Ferguson's recent warning to Rooney.
Just now, Maicon was advancing with the ball. Because Maicon was in a relatively deep position, Rooney was the one who came up to block him.
Rooney, who rose to fame at a young age, was the envy of everyone at Manchester United, except for Ferguson, who brought him from Everton two years ago. His previous yellow card had earned him a scolding from Ferguson, so the words "be careful with your actions" had been echoing in Rooney's mind lately.
On Maicon's side, seeing Rooney coming up to block him, the Brazilian instinctively made a breakthrough move.
In the past, Rooney might have just kicked the ball directly; if he had, he could at least have gotten the ball past the player.
But Ferguson's reminder made Rooney inexplicably retract his right leg, which was already halfway out, and instead use his body to collide with Maicon, who was trying to break through.
Maicon took one look and thought, "Hey! Young man, you're thinking a bit too simply." So the Brazilian first moved the ball forward, then with a slight twist of his nimble body, he dodged Rooney's charge and drove away.
After getting past Rooney, Maicon had a clear path ahead of him, carrying the ball all the way to the edge of the penalty area before Park Ji-sung, who was coming to cover, blocked the passing lane. Maicon then passed the ball across the penalty area, where Falcao, who was already waiting, slipped down and swept the ball into Manchester United's goal with his right foot!
After the goal, the Leeds United players finally had a brief celebration. Li Shiguang, on the sidelines, turned around and raised his hands repeatedly to the Leeds United fans behind him, signaling them to cheer even louder!
The match still has more than ten minutes left, and the outcome is still uncertain!
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