Chapter 267 – Charging Counterattack

With Kaká's brilliant near-post goal, AC Milan extended their lead once again.

At home, they now lead Bayern Munich 2-0!

The Bayern Munich players were visibly anxious.

Given the current situation, the overall momentum was very unfavorable for them.

As the AC Milan players returned to their half, they deliberately strolled slowly.

The Bayern players were grinding their teeth in frustration—everyone knew those guys were wasting time, but there was absolutely nothing they could do about it.

They didn't even urge them verbally, fearing those Milan players might use it as a pretext to create conflict and further delay the game.

Even unwilling, they had no choice but to endure it.

Suker was the last to return to his position. Looking forward, he could clearly sense the Bayern players' restlessness.

That was great news for AC Milan.

When people get desperate, they make mistakes!

Beep!

With the referee's whistle, the match resumed.

After kickoff, Bayern Munich passed the ball around a few times before sending it directly into AC Milan's half.

Ballack used all his strength to shield Pirlo and bring the ball under control, but just as he planned to turn, Pirlo went in with a sliding tackle and took him down.

Beep!

The referee blew his whistle again, and once more, Milan's players swarmed forward.

Ballack anxiously shouted, "Kick it! Kick it! Don't waste time!"

Eventually, AC Milan still burned off a good few dozen seconds before finally lining up the wall.

Suker also fell back to join the wall, standing right next to Seedorf.

At this point, Suker was already a core part of the wall.

One hand over his face, the other protecting his more sensitive areas.

Just then, Makaay came charging in, trying hard to wedge himself into the wall.

Breaking the wall?In free kick situations, when an attacking player squeezes into the wall, they act like a nail in the wall—creating a gap when they suddenly dart out at the right moment.

As the ball is struck, that "nail" player ducks out, and an opening naturally appears.

Makaay managed to slip between Suker and Seedorf.

The two exchanged a glance and subtly nodded.

Break the wall?Dream on.

Everything was set. Ballack stood over the free kick.

The moment Ballack launched the shot, Makaay suddenly darted away.

But Suker and Seedorf, in perfect timing, jumped sideways and instantly filled the gap.

Thud!

The ball smashed into Seedorf's abdomen and dropped.

Seedorf, in pain, couldn't react immediately, and Suker, seeing this, quickly dragged the ball out and launched it forward with a powerful touch.

Whoosh!!!

Suker takes off running!

"Suker!!! Milan on the counterattack!!"

Suker charged forward with the ball.

Ballack and Schweinsteiger immediately pressed up to intercept.

But Suker shifted gears with a sudden tempo change and weaved right between them with a side touch and an inside cut.

"Hold him!"

Ballack shouted furiously.

Schweinsteiger reached out and grabbed Suker's jersey.

Suker stumbled slightly but kept leaning forward and powered through again.

"Let go!!!—"

Suker struggled violently, his shirt stretched long, the tucked hem now hanging loose.

Schweinsteiger started to panic.

He couldn't hold him!

And the ref was watching him like a hawk, the whistle already raised.

Schweinsteiger quickly let go.

Suker lost balance, tipping forward.

But he didn't fall. He braced with his hands, kicked the ball ahead, and exploded forward again.

"He's through!!!—"

Commentator Aldo Serena shouted excitedly.

All around, AC Milan fans leapt up, eyes blazing as they watched Suker charge straight toward the Bayern penalty area.

In that moment, Suker's full-speed burst was unleashed.

Sagnol and Lúcio tried closing in from both sides.

But they quickly realized—they couldn't keep up.

Even Kaká, sprinting without the ball, was barely able to keep pace with Suker.

"Suker is too fast!"

Aldo Serena marveled.

In just half a season since joining AC Milan, Suker's playing style had changed. He was no longer just "run and gun."

They'd even forgotten—Suker was originally a blistering winger!

With top-tier acceleration in world football!

"Go Suker!!"

"Keep running!!!"

"Wow~~~!!! He's insanely fast!!"

"Bayern's back line can't keep up!"

"Oh my god! Even Kaká can't catch him!"

Watching Suker tear through the defense like a lightning bolt, the Milan fans in the stands felt adrenaline surge through their veins.

Then came an explosion of cheers.

"Suker!!!! Charge!!!!!!!—"

San Siro was shaking with chants and roars.

On the pitch, Suker sprinted like an arrow.

He was like a hurricane tearing forward.

Nearing the edge of the penalty area, he suddenly looked up.

Sure enough—Kahn had rushed out of his goal.

The Lion King didn't want to sit and wait. He wanted to intervene proactively.

"Get out of my way!!!!!!!—"

Kahn roared.

Mouth wide open, face twisted like a demon.

His aggressive posture suggested he was ready to wreck Suk physically.

Most players would've flinched.

But Suker had been in this situation before. And now, at this distance, Kahn might not even reach him.

At about three meters away, Suker suddenly cut to the side.

Kahn lunged, aiming right at Suker's ankle.

Even if he missed the ball, he wanted to bring Suker down.

But once again, he underestimated Suker's explosive power.

Suker's sidestep and burst created instant separation.

Kahn's fingers barely brushed Suker's ankle but couldn't do any real damage.

"He's past him!!!! Suker with an open goal!"

The broadcast showed Suker calmly nudging the ball sideways—

—and the ball rolled cleanly into the net.

Suker then turned and sprinted toward the corner flag.

The San Siro crowd erupted in celebration.

They gave their loudest cheers to the boy in the red and black kit, arms wide, basking in their adoration.

WHOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—

SUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKERRRR!!!!!!!!!!—

The entire San Siro was shaking.

The ground itself seemed to tremble.

The air was thick with heat and emotion.

Cheers, applause, stomping—it all blended into a storm of noise.

The excitement engulfed the stadium, marking this third goal with explosive passion.

"Milan 3:0 Bayern Munich at home!!!—"

Aldo Serena shouted:"This is Milan! Even Bayern Munich, when they come to San Siro, can only taste defeat!"

"Only 31 minutes in, and Milan have scored three goals! What a phenomenal start!"

"From now on, Milan fans can relax, drink, and just enjoy this Champions League knockout match!"

The implication—Milan had it in the bag.

Milan fans heartily agreed.

Their drinks were already flowing.

They toasted and laughed in pure joy.

Who would've guessed, at just 30 minutes in, they'd be leading 3-0?

The match had gone better than anyone imagined!

"Unbelievable! 31 minutes in, and they're up by three!"

"Inzaghi, Kaká, Suker—each with a goal. The front line has exploded!"

"Bayern Munich is reeling. They never expected this kind of opening."

"This is Milan! Glorious in history, and still glorious now. Bayern? Bundesliga giants? Doesn't matter. At San Siro, everyone falls!"

"This is Milan's message to the world!"

"F*** yeah!"

Someone shouted in a bar, and the crowd erupted.

"Oh God!"

"Smash Bayern!"

"Milan! Milan!"

"Bayern ain't sh*t! Slaughter 'em!"

The frenzied crowd jumped and roared.

They tossed their drinks into the air in celebration of such a thrilling match.

The entire city of Milan was set ablaze with passion.

Back at San Siro, Suker ran from the South Stand to the North, then East to West.

Each time he raised his fists, the crowd roared louder.

Soon, the referee ran up to pull Suker back and gave him a warning.

"Suker has been warned. With this lead, his celebration might've been a bit much," joked commentator Aldo Serena.

The Milan fans just laughed.

They knew—Suker was stalling.

Three-goal lead and stalling? Might seem cheeky.

But for Milan fans, Suker could do no wrong.

Besides, time-wasting meant protecting the win.

When the game restarted, the clock had already reached the 34th minute.

With just 10 minutes left in the first half, AC Milan calmed things down and shifted to possession play.

Bayern, rattled and frustrated, were now being toyed with.

In just three minutes, they committed three fouls and picked up two yellow cards.

That's how badly they were unraveling.

Despite their desperation, they couldn't claw back the scoreline.

Bayern remained at a heavy disadvantage.

Halftime: AC Milan 3 – 0 Bayern Munich.