Thirty-two minutes into the first half, the score was still 0:0. But the Forest fans were full of confidence for the outcome of the game because Nottingham Forest was completely in control of it. Tony Twain had no intention of letting the Spaniards turning the situation around!
Villarreal had automatically adjusted their tactics in the game. After seeing Riquelme being blocked by Wood, the ball was seldom passed to their side. Even if the ball was passed to the Argentine, he could not organize a decent offense.
Senna rushed to take on the task of organizing offense for the team. But he still was not made for offense. When he dribbled the ball forward this time, Arteta intercepted it and the Forest team immediately launched the attack from the vicinity of the center circle. Arteta passed the ball to Ribéry, who retreated to help with the defense. Compared to Sorín on the other side, the strength of Villarreal’s right back on this side was not as strong. The Forest team seized upon this point to maneuver the main attack to be on the team’s left flank, which was the opponent’s right flank. And on the Forest team’s left flank, Ashley Young’s main task was to contain and suppress Sorín.
Ribéry received the pass and turned around, relying on his speed to force a breakthrough past the Ecuadorian player, Antonio Valencia. Ribéry’s rapid breakthrough on the flank was one of the Forest fans’ favorite thing to watch last season. Whenever Ribéry forced a breakthrough, the Frenchman’s nickname would be chanted: Blade Warrior.
Just like this, Ribéry cut through the Villarreal defensive line at the flank like a sharp blade.
“Oh my God! Ribéry is really fast! He plays like he’s gliding on ice with skates on. This is a quick counterattack from Nottingham Forest!”
It was indeed a quick counterattack from the Forest team. When Senna dribbled the ball for the attack, it was Villarreal’s offense opportunity. They did not expect the ball to be intercepted in the midfield. The Yellow Submarine team had to fall back in a flurry to defend.
But how could the speed of their return to defense be faster than the Forest team’s counterattack?
Last season, the Forest team had relied on their speed at the flanks in the English tournaments. In this new season, that fine tradition naturally could not be lost.
Ribéry broke through on the left flank and Ashley Young worked in concert on the right flank. Equally fast and resolute in pressing forward, he firmly restrained Sorín and prevented him from going to the middle for support. At the same time, Viduka and Bendtner charged into the penalty area one after another. After he passed the ball, Arteta also rushed forward. In the moment when they changed from defense to offense, the Forest team had put in five players.
This was the result of the Forest team’s usual training. Twain hoped that his team could maintain this mobility to be able to advance to attack and retreat to defend. Since he had started coaching the team, he had continually instilled that idea in training and competitions. Now, it was finally assimilated into the blood of the Forest team.
He did not need to wave his arms and roar like a madman on the sidelines anymore, saying, “Go up! Rush up! Attack!” or “Come back! Return! Withdraw!”
His players knew what to do in those situations.
Attack!
The goal is near!
Ribéry beautifully changed direction and accelerated to flash past the Dutch defender, Jan Kromkamp. He then looked up at the penalty area and saw the tall Bendtner and the strong Viduka. So he no longer hesitated and swung his leg to cross the ball!
There were only two fullbacks in front of the Villarreal goal. Their attention was still on the football.
Viduka slashed across to rush forward. He caught all of Villarreal’s defense attention. But as he exerted all his energy to leap, he drew back his neck instead and let the ball pass over the top of his head!
The two Villarreal defenders, including the goalkeeper, were distracted by Viduka. Sorín was also caught by Ashley Young and was helpless against what happened in front of the goal in a flash.
Bendtner suddenly charged up!
“Nicklas Bendtner!! And GOOOAL!”
The City Ground stadium shook violently with the roar.
“This is Nottingham Forest’s first Champions League goal in twenty-four years! This is the City Ground’s first rallying cry for a Champions League goal in twenty-four years! The cameras are shaking. I’m sorry we can’t see the scene after the goal in the first instance. But I don’t think we need to watch this scene to understand. We can imagine it in our minds! The team that once had power over Europe, Nottingham Forest has finally returned!”
Regardless of the differences in the domestic arena, patriotism still prevailed in such European competitions, not to mention the proud British people. They were accustomed to thinking that everything British was good and outstanding. At that moment, not only the Forest fans but even the commentator, who never liked the Forest team, cheered without reservations for Nicklas Bendtner’s goal.
Twain knelt on the ground, raised his arms, and looked up at the sky. He had waited two years for this moment!
The pain of losing a friend, the isolation of meeting with setbacks, being ridiculed, being insulted, and the crushing pressure he had faced. And now it was like he was a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Surrounded by people cheering, the coaching team, substitute players, and fans in the stands behind him, he was still kneeling on the ground with his hands pointing to the heavens.
Thank you, God, for sending me here. This is your best decision!
※※※
The Forest bar had become a sea of beer with the golden suds splashing in the air and raining down on everyone’s faces. Laughter, singing, and shouting had long drowned out the sounds of the television.
Either way, the sounds from the televisions must have been the cheering from the City Ground stadium. There was no need to listen when they were cheering too.
The bar’s owner, Kenny Burns, did not join the cheering crowd. He just stared at the television screen and watched the sea of red inside the City Ground stadium, lost in his thoughts.
How familiar this is…
The cheering sounds around him changed and faded into the background. The sounds from the television had also changed, becoming somewhat hazy and indistinct.
“Kenny Burns… What a terrific assist! Nottingham Forest is one of the most powerful teams of this era. Brian Clough’s team defended their Champions League crown! He has accomplished a great achievement that no one has even dared to think of before! The red tide has swept across Europe! Red is the only color of European football in this era!”
Chief, did you see it?
That Forest team is still here. It has come out of the fog of time. Twenty-four years have passed, and the red color is still brilliant.