The Penalty of Fate

A strange atmosphere lingered over the Mestalla stands.

Despite the scoreboard reading 1-0 in Valencia's favor, the fans of the Bat Pack could not feel any joy. From their expressions to their hearts, they were filled with worry.

Based on the first half, it seemed inevitable that Valencia would concede a goal sooner or later.

Millwall may not have scored yet, nor managed to equalize, but the pressure exerted by this European powerhouse was unnerving. Just thinking about the countless close calls in front of goal during the first half, with 45 minutes still to play in the second half, could Valencia hold on?

Years of accumulated confidence allowed the Lions' fans to remain relatively calm.

They firmly believed that their team would score in the second half, even potentially turning the game around. Aside from that one counterattack that resulted in a goal, Valencia's offense had been largely ineffective, while Millwall's attacks had been flowing, creating relentless pressure that was very exciting to watch. They were just a goal away from breaking through.

No worries, the goal would come soon enough.

The players and coaches walked out from the tunnel. Cooper had his head down, burdened with worry. The poor form in the first half seemed unsolvable.

Perhaps a more open style, like that of Premier League teams, could alleviate the defensive pressure, but that wasn't the style of a La Liga team. It would go against their preference for midfield-based control and technical play. Even though clearing the ball and pushing it away from danger could ease immediate defensive pressure, it essentially handed possession back to the opponent. Millwall's ability to counter-attack at speed was frightening. If their own defense became too relaxed, the opponent could strike quickly, taking advantage of any lapse in focus and easily overpowering them.

The issue was that Valencia's counterattacks lacked real threat, especially due to Aimar's performance.

Since Aimar's arrival, Cooper had been trying to implement a new style of play. The 4-3-1-2 formation was their preferred approach. Aimar was the core of the attack. Not only did he orchestrate quick counterattacks down the wings, but he also provided key passes for the forwards.

However, in the first half of today's match, Aimar had virtually disappeared. In his duels with Gattuso, he struggled to make an impact. In the Premier League, defenders are known for their close marking, especially when they're full of energy and covering a large defensive area. In their defensive zones, it's common to see defenders sticking tightly to the attacking players, like a second skin.

Although Aimar was a brilliant young talent, he was still a bit too raw. In the Champions League quarterfinals, under the pressure of facing Millwall, he struggled to perform at his best. His nerves and pressure were affecting his game, and against a tenacious and aggressive Gattuso, he was losing the battle in every confrontation. Gradually, his confidence began to fade away.

At the start of the second half, Valencia launched a fast-paced attack down the wing. Aimar, afraid of Gattuso, didn't hold onto the ball for too long. He combined well with Mendieta for a quick one-two, then made a sudden change of direction, sending the ball to Gonzalez on the left. Gonzalez made an excellent cross, perfectly placed in the middle of the penalty box.

Carew jumped to contest the header, while Materazzi also rose to challenge. As the ball descended, a pair of large hands securely plucked the ball out of the air and cradled it to his chest.

Carew and Materazzi collided in the air, and with Pagliuca charging in, both the Valencia striker and Millwall center-back lost their balance and crashed to the ground.

The two giants fell in an almost "X" shape, with Pagliuca standing firmly between them. After gathering the ball, he straightened his back and scanned the penalty area, looking for an opportunity to quickly initiate a counterattack.

A chorus of boos rose from the Mestalla stands as the referee blew the whistle to stop play. Aimar and Mendieta rushed to the referee, pointing at Millwall's penalty area, signaling a foul!

"The referee didn't pay any attention to Aimar and Mendieta's complaints. He simply stopped the game, walked over to ask Carew and Materazzi about the incident. Both of these tall players had collided in midair, and it was difficult to say who committed the foul. Both were heading toward the ball, but neither made contact with it. It was Pagliuca who caught it. If the referee called a foul on Millwall, it would be utterly unreasonable."

Although Materazzi and Carew made contact in the air, both were actually knocked over by Pagliuca!

Pagliuca took the initiative to jump and exert force, and with the goalkeeper's natural knee-lifting protective action, Materazzi was struck on the shoulder by Pagliuca's elbow, while Carew was knocked sideways in the waist.

It was a strange sight. The two towering players lay on the ground, unable to get up. Pagliuca, seeing the referee stop the game, lowered his head to check on them.

After a brief pause, both players returned to the field to continue the match.

Aldrich cursed quietly on the sidelines.

Valencia's fast breaks were just a formality. As long as there were no individual errors in one-on-one situations, Millwall wouldn't give them many chances to score. On the other hand, whenever they attacked, the counterattack opportunities were better than their chances in a set-piece battle.

Milwall's relentless pressure continued, and Valencia's goal area was once again in danger.

"Ronaldinho takes a powerful low shot from outside the box! Canizares leaps and uses one hand to deflect it out for a corner!"

Ronaldinho furrowed his brows. His shot had been aimed for the bottom left corner of the goal, but even that hadn't been enough to break the deadlock.

Aldrich gestured at the attacking players from the sidelines, signaling them to quickly adjust their attacking movements.

Pirlo and Nedved both attempted threatening long shots, forcing Valencia's defense to shift slightly outward, hoping to limit Milwall's space for further shots.

This shift in the defense worked right into Milwall's hands. In the 57th minute, Milwall executed a brilliant passing move. Larsson collected the ball on the right wing, passed it to Pirlo, who then played it to Ronaldinho, now in the center. Ronaldinho quickly released the ball to Nedved, who sent a precise through ball that squeezed between Baraja's legs, landing perfectly at the feet of Henry, making a diagonal run to stay onside.

After beating the offside trap, Henry was one-on-one with Canizares, who rushed out of his goal. Henry feinted to shoot, fooled Canizares, and neatly dribbled around him, heading for an almost open goal.

At that moment, every Valencia fan's heart was in their throat.

Henry took the shot without hesitation, but just as he struck the ball, a foot appeared from behind, blocking the shot. The ball deflected off and brushed the outside of the post, rolling out for a goal kick.

Henry couldn't believe it. He turned to see Ayala being joyfully embraced by Pellegrino. Canizares scrambled to his feet, gritting his teeth as he shouted at Ayala. The two exchanged a hard high-five.

"Incredible! Milwall's sequence of quick touches and passes put them in perfect position. After beating Canizares, Henry's shot was blocked by Ayala, changing the course of the ball. If Milwall had been luckier, maybe that deflection wouldn't have been enough to prevent the goal. I hate to say it, but Valencia narrowly escaped disaster!"

The stands erupted in applause. Valencia's supporters were satisfied with the defense. Milwall's attacking prowess was evident; their varied attacking strategies, especially the long shots that created space for their quick passes, nearly caught Valencia off guard. The fleeting opportunity was seized by Milwall, but it was Valencia's unwavering defensive spirit that kept them in the game.

Was it just luck?

Valencia fans didn't think so. Football isn't just about footwork and tactics—it's also about teamwork, spirit, and determination.

Despite not conceding, Cooper made a substitution in the 60th minute.

Aimar and Carew were substituted for Jukic and Juan Sánchez.

This change sparked a murmur of excitement in the stands. The fans began discussing it animatedly.

Valencia's supporters felt frustrated but helpless, resigned to the situation.

The Lions' fans were exchanging questions with each other.

"Sanchez is a forward, so he's taking Carew's spot—forward for forward, no surprises there! But hold on, Jukic looks like a defender, right? They're subbing a defender for an attacking midfielder? Does this mean Valencia is shifting into full-on defensive mode?"

Aldrich's mind was racing.

It looked like Valencia had withdrawn an attacking player for a defender, seemingly strengthening their defense.

Strengthening the defense wasn't necessarily a bad move, but there was no way Valencia would settle for a 1-0 lead and abandon all attacking efforts.

After watching the game for 5 minutes from the sidelines, Aldrich began to understand Cooper's reasoning behind the substitution.

Jukic coming on seemed more like a clean-up job, bolstering the defense inside the box while easing the defensive burden on Alberda and Baraja. This allowed the two defensive midfielders to focus more on covering the wings, with Mendieta and González being given more freedom to press on the flanks.

Aldrich made no changes to the strategy despite Valencia abandoning their central attack, relying solely on the wings for their offensive play.

The departure of Aimar and the release of Gattuso to help cover the flanks allowed him to assist in defending the edges. Given his fitness, he could manage lateral coverage with ease.

By the 72nd minute, with the second half well underway, Millwall's attacks had intensified, yet they were still unable to score.

Nedvěd pushed past Albelda, using his strength to launch a powerful shot from distance, but it struck the crossbar and flew into the stands.

Frustrated, Nedvěd sighed, staring upwards, realizing that luck was simply not on his side today.

No matter how hard he shot, the ball refused to go into the net.

Every shot that looked promising was blocked by either Cañizares or a Valencia player making a timely interception.

Aldrich, standing on the sideline, muttered a curse under his breath. The lack of goals was demoralizing, and had Millwall's resolve been weaker, a series of missed chances might have led to a psychological collapse. But this Millwall side wasn't fragile. They continued to push forward—attack after attack, relentlessly.

In the 77th minute, Ronaldinho drifted inside from the left, but couldn't find a passing lane. He weaved past Albelda and Baraja, and just as he reached González, he threaded a ball into the box. Larsson ran onto it, but couldn't get a clean shot, nor could he find a route to pass. With Pellegrino in front of him and Carboni closing in behind, Larsson tried to turn the ball outside to create space, but Pellegrino was just a step too quick, stepping on Larsson's foot. Larsson fell inside the penalty area.

The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. It was a penalty!

"Larsson was fouled in the box, Millwall gets a penalty! There's no debate, the replay clearly shows Pellegrino's tackle was late, stepping on Larsson's foot," the commentator declared.

The Valencia fans at Mestalla were furious. The stands erupted in boos, protesting the referee's decision.

Ignoring the protests from Valencia players, the referee remained firm. Pellegrino, knowing full well that his challenge had been a foul, didn't attempt to argue.

Millwall's players, visibly relieved, now saw a glimmer of hope after their relentless attacking play. Finally, they were on the brink of something.

Larsson, the team's designated penalty taker, stepped up to the spot, facing the man of the match so far, Cañizares.

The boos from the stands continued, with Valencia's fans doing their best to disrupt Larsson's concentration.

But Larsson remained composed, taking a few steps back to prepare for the penalty kick.

If he scored, all of Valencia's hard work would be in vain. Not only would they lose the home advantage, but they'd also give Millwall an away goal, making the return leg in London a perilous uphill battle for them.