Chapter 542: Decision
Tottenham left only Alli up front. Despite being nearly 1.9 meters tall, his defensive skills were mediocre, and he had little interest in defending. Tottenham understood this and never expected him to participate in defense. They had enough tall players for that. Leaving Alli up front often proved effective. He was fast, had great stamina, excellent dribbling, and good scoring ability, making him perfect for quick counter-attacks.
In football, corner kicks can be a double-edged sword, offering scoring opportunities while also leaving you vulnerable to counter-attacks if the opposition capitalizes on the gaps left by your defenders moving forward. Bruno understood the risks and knew that Alli would be looking to use this chance to equalize. The temptation of scoring a tying goal was immense.
However, Bruno didn't stick to Alli closely because Valencia was already marking him. The right-back, standing only 1.8 meters tall, wasn't effective in aerial duels and thus stayed back during set-pieces to defend. Similar to Valencia, Kante, the French midfielder, also remained in the back during set-pieces, positioned centrally and a bit far from Alli.
Bruno picked a spot not too far from Alli, allowing him to quickly support Valencia or Kante in case Tottenham countered through the center instead of via Alli. With limited defenders, he had to cover multiple options. Alli was not his primary target unless he received the ball, which was likely.
Alli noticed Bruno too. Valencia was marking him closely, especially after their earlier skirmish. Alli glanced towards Bruno, understanding that Bruno's positioning suggested he was prepared to thwart any counter-attacks led by Alli.
...
In the 87th minute, Manchester United's corner flew towards Tottenham's goal, causing chaos in the penalty area. Players from both teams collided, trying to reach the ball, which was eventually caught by Lloris.
"Lloris has it! He caught the ball!" commentators around the world shouted in different languages. Manchester United players immediately began retreating, knowing the danger of a quick counter-attack. The three center-backs, all over 1.9 meters tall, and other players started running back, aware of the potential threat.
...
Bruno began backpedaling as soon as he saw Lloris catch the ball. Amidst the crowded penalty area, Lloris threw the ball into the air and then kicked it downfield with a powerful shot.
Bruno, retreating while monitoring the situation, saw Tottenham players rush out of their half like horses released from a stable. The ball shot forward like a missile, climbing high before starting its descent. As it descended, Bruno turned and sprinted towards Alli, who was already accelerating away from Valencia.
Valencia, caught off guard by Alli's sudden burst, realized too late that Alli was breaking free. Knowing only De Gea stood between Alli and the goal, he felt a pang of desperation. But then another figure, Bruno, flashed past him, reigniting his hope.
Alli, sensing Bruno's approach, didn't look back but focused on the descending ball, preparing to receive it. As Bruno closed in, just a few meters behind, Alli began to slow down slightly to control the ball. This gave Bruno a slim chance to catch up.
...
When the ball reached Alli, he didn't stop to control it. Instead, he headed it forward, maintaining his momentum and gaining speed. Realizing the danger, Bruno lunged forward with a desperate sliding tackle.
Alli, anticipating the challenge, tried to jump, but Bruno's tackle clipped his legs, causing him to stumble. Yet, determined to continue, Alli kept his balance, scrambling after the ball.
The Tottenham fans roared in support as Alli pushed forward, their cheers growing louder with every step.
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