Cousins placed the ball carefully in the corner arc, wiping his hands on his shorts before leaning over it.
The Stoke box was already crowded, Keane jostling with two defenders, Broadhead hanging a little deeper, and the noise from the home end swelling in anticipation.
But before Cousins swung a boot, a shadow drifted into view. Calderón — jogging toward him, palm raised, a quiet nod for the short option.
Calderón called for it, tapping his boot twice in a quick signal, but
Cousins hesitated a bit.
He looked into the box, then slid it short, but that moment of hesitation had already cost Leo freedom on the ball.
He met the pass at a brisk trot, but a red shirt was flying at him almost immediately.
He pushed further towards the byline, faking a pass towards Cousins, which was so convincing the player pressuring him almost left him for CCousins.
As the opposing player recovered again, Leo sold the cross with a sharp swing of his left leg.
