Chapter 288: The Declaration of Victory
Chapter 288: The Declaration of Victory
According to FIFA rules, there is no offside when both players are in their own half.
Mertesacker crossed the halfway line, standing about two meters from it. Di Natale was the closest to the halfway line, running towards the opponent's half.
In an instant, Bruno couldn't judge the best direction to pass to, or else by the time he made the pass, all three could be offside.
Bruno pushed the ball forward with strength instead of dribbling further. At the moment he kicked the ball, Di Natale's front foot was just stepping on the halfway line, positioning himself behind Mertesacker.
Seeing Bruno's pass, Mertesacker didn't turn to chase back immediately but raised his hand to signal offside, subconsciously assuming Di Natale was offside since he saw him behind.
He had forgotten the possibility that he had already crossed the halfway line.
"Idiot!" Koscielny cursed his partner while chasing back. He clearly saw Di Natale still in Udinese's half, making offside impossible.
Koscielny ran back rapidly, signaling Mertesacker to defend. Alongside him, Monreal, Bellerin, Coquelin, and Özil were all turning back to chase.
Once Di Natale crossed the halfway line, Immobile and Adnan followed. Three Udinese players in blue jerseys sprinted ahead, chased by six Arsenal players in red and white jerseys—a spectacular scene.
Bruno's pass was strong, giving Di Natale ample sprinting space but also prompting the goalkeeper to rush out and intercept. It was a race of speed!
Di Natale sprinted with all his might, pushing his aging legs to their limit, while Arsenal's goalkeeper Cech also charged forward decisively. The question was, who would reach the ball first?
After passing, Bruno didn't continue forward but waited in place for the result. In his usual position as an attacking midfielder, he would have surged forward after a pass, but today he was a defensive midfielder, burdened with defensive responsibilities, and had to stay back to prevent Arsenal's quick counterattack.
Di Natale and Cech reached the ball almost simultaneously, but as they collided, the ball bounced towards the middle.
"Di Natale reached the ball first and passed it!"
Immobile was the only Udinese player receiving the ball in the middle, with Koscielny, Özil, and Coquelin chasing behind, along with the now-aware Mertesacker. Ahead lay an open penalty area and an empty goal.
"This is the best chance yet! Thirty minutes in, Udinese has the best opportunity—Cech's missed interception gave Di Natale the chance to pass it to the middle..."
Some Udinese fans raised their arms, ready to cheer. Those watching or listening at home clenched their fists in anticipation.
Di Natale and Cech collided and fell, with Cech scrambling back. He knew his failure to reach the ball meant an open goal.
For Immobile, the task was simple: keep calm and shoot the ball into the empty goal from about twenty meters out.
"Shoot, don't dribble!" Assistant coach Portoluzzi shouted anxiously from the sidelines, fearing Immobile would lose the chance by hesitating. But amidst the deafening boos from Arsenal fans, Immobile couldn't hear anything.
Immobile reached the ball, and though the task was simple, its simplicity bred hesitation: shoot now or dribble closer to ensure the goal?
"Shoot!" Udinese fans on the stands yelled in unison.
Portoluzzi cursed as he saw Immobile not shooting immediately but then watched as Immobile kicked the ball towards the goal from outside the penalty area. Until the ball crossed the line, no one could be sure, as football often witnesses missed golden opportunities. Would Immobile become one of those unlucky players?
Arsenal fans, desperate, seemed to blow at the ball, hoping to steer it off course, but their efforts were futile. After shooting, Immobile stood still, waiting for the result, as Koscielny and Mertesacker ran past him. Özil and Coquelin had given up, but the two center-backs hadn't, striving to clear the ball before it crossed the line. But it was inevitable.
As they reached the six-yard box, the ball had already crossed the goal line.
Bruno watched the entire process from the back. When Immobile scored, Bruno raised his fists towards the sky.
He didn't shout, jump, or run around. He stood firm, like a powerful statue. Soon, Badu hugged him from behind with a scream. More teammates ran past them, celebrating with Immobile.
Di Natale got up and joined the celebration. The Emirates Stadium didn't fall silent; it erupted with louder boos expressing Arsenal fans' frustration and hatred towards Udinese, while Udinese fans sang their team's anthem and chanted Immobile's name.
"Di Natale collided with Cech, and the ball rolled to Immobile! Immobile! Immobile! GOOOOOAL!" The Italian commentator shouted passionately.
"Udinese leads Arsenal at the Emirates! After thirty minutes of dominance without a goal, Arsenal concedes! This is football! Superior skill doesn't guarantee victory. Well done, Udinese boys!"
People often sympathize with the underdog, and despite Udinese's recent accolades, they were still seen as the weaker side against the renowned Arsenal. Thus, seeing Udinese challenge Arsenal's dominance, the commentator cheered for them.
Immobile and Di Natale, surrounded by teammates, returned to hug Bruno, the orchestrator of the attack. But amidst the crowd, they weren't just celebrating—they were strategizing.
"We're ahead, but it's not enough. We should score more if we can!" Di Natale urged, unsatisfied with just one goal, knowing how dangerous a single-goal lead could be.
"I agree," Immobile said, showing camaraderie.
"Yes, let's continue to pursue goals but not push too far forward," Bruno instructed.
The teammates encircled him, knowing that on the field, Bruno was their leader, interpreting and executing the coach's tactics flawlessly. Often, what Bruno said reflected the coach's intentions.
"We'll keep playing defense and counterattacks like before. Be patient; we may not get many chances until halftime. Not conceding is more important than scoring now. I'll decide when to counterattack. Follow my lead," Bruno commanded.
He spoke naturally, and no one questioned his authority. It was normal; they always listened to Bruno on the field.
Bruno saw confidence in their faces, a stark contrast to their pre-match expressions. The goal had catalyzed their belief in victory.
"Defend and counter until halftime. Don't counter without good chances. Above all, don't let them score," Bruno said, extending his hand.
Di Natale placed his hand over Bruno's, followed by Immobile and the rest.
"Beat Arsenal!" they declared together, a proclamation of victory.
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