Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 152: PSV Pull Ahead

Chapter 152: PSV Pull Ahead

PSV wasted no time after the restart. Strootman, visibly fired up, took charge immediately, surging forward with the ball.

He evaded a sliding challenge from Elm with a sharp turn, his eyes scanning the field for options.

[And here come PSV again,] Mike said, the urgency in his voice matching the tempo on the pitch. [They’ll want to respond quickly after that equalizer]

Strootman picked out Dries Mertens on the left with a perfectly weighted pass.

The diminutive winger controlled it effortlessly, his low center of gravity allowing him to spin away from Martens in one fluid motion.

[Mertens has been lively all game,] the co-commentator remarked. [AZ Alkmaar will need to stay sharp here. You give him an inch, and he’ll punish you]

Mertens drove at the right-back, Marcellis, teasing the defender with quick stepovers. With a burst of pace, he darted toward the byline and whipped a dangerous cross into the 18 yard box.

[That’s a beauty of a delivery!] Mike exclaimed. [Matavž is lurking—]

Matavž rose high above Reijnen, his header powerful and direct. For a split second, it looked destined to ripple the net, but Alvarado was alert, diving low to his right to palm the ball away.

[What a save by Esteban Alvarado!] Mike shouted, his voice almost cracking. [That’s world-class goalkeeping right there!]

[Absolutely brilliant,] the co-commentator agreed. [Matavž did everything right, but Alvarado was equal to it. AZ Alkmaar are hanging on a thread here]

The ball deflected off Alvarado’s gloves and fell to Jeremain Lens, who reacted instantly, firing a first-time shot toward the bottom corner.

The stadium held its breath...

[Another chance—Lens!]

Alvarado somehow scrambled across his line, throwing his body in the way to block the effort. The ball ricocheted off his chest and was cleared desperately by Marcellis.

[Unbelievable from Alvarado!] Mike yelled. [He’s single-handedly keeping AZ Alkmaar in this!]

[It’s a one-man wall back there,] the co-commentator said, shaking his head. [PSV must be wondering what they have to do to score]

The AZ Alkmaar players regrouped, visibly relieved, as the PSV fans groaned in frustration.

Dick Advocaat clutched his head on the touchline, pacing back and forth like a man possessed.

[This game is on a knife-edge,] Mike said. [PSV throwing everything at AZ Alkmaar, but the visitors refuse to buckle]

AZ Alkmaar responded with a counterattack that nearly caught PSV off guard.

Alvarado’s quick throw found Henriksen, who surged forward with intent. He fed the ball to Berghuis, who again caused problems down the right flank.

[Berghuis has been a thorn in PSV’s side all evening,] the co-commentator noted. [Can he deliver something special here?]

Berghuis skipped past Willems, cutting inside onto his weaker left foot. He spotted Benjamin making a late run toward the edge of the 18 yard box and threaded a lobbed pass into his path.

[Benjamin again—he’s looking dangerous!]

The youngster took one touch to control, his confidence brimming after his earlier goal. He lined up a shot, but this time, Derijck threw himself in the way, blocking it with his body.

[Great defending by Derijck,] Mike said. [He wasn’t taking any chances there]

The deflected ball spun toward Henriksen, who attempted an ambitious overhead kick, but he couldn’t make clean contact. Waterman claimed it comfortably and immediately launched another PSV attack.

[End-to-end stuff,] Mike said, catching his breath. [This is football at its finest]

PSV pushed forward again, with Strootman at the heart of everything. He played a quick one-two with Lens, breaking into the final third with purpose.

The AZ Alkmaar defense scrambled to organize, but Strootman’s vision opened up yet another opportunity.

[Strootman is pulling the strings,] the co-commentator observed. [He’s the man to watch right now]

Strootman slid a perfectly timed pass into the path of Dries Mertens, who burst into the 18 yard box.

The winger shaped to shoot but instead cut it back to Matavž, who was unmarked near the penalty spot.

[This could be it—Matavž!]

The Slovenian striker struck it cleanly, aiming for the bottom corner, but Esteban was there yet again, diving low to make an incredible save.

The ball spilled loose, but Gorter was first to react, hoofing it clear for a corner.

[Alvarado, take a bow!] Mike exclaimed. [He’s having the game of his life!]

[PSV just can’t find a way past him,] the co-commentator said. [It’s like there’s a force field around that goal]

The clock ticked toward the 60th minute, and the intensity showed no signs of waning. Both sides were giving everything, the match hanging in the balance.

[We’re witnessing something special here,] Mike said, his voice steady with anticipation. [This is football at its most thrilling. Who will break through next?]

Strootman jogged to the corner flag, the PSV captain exuding calm despite the chaos around him. He placed the ball carefully, stepping back to assess the positioning in the box.

AZ Alkmaar defenders jostled with PSV attackers, arms tugging and pushing, the tension almost unbearable.

[This is a crucial moment, Mike,] the co-commentator said, his voice steady but loaded with anticipation. [PSV have the quality to punish AZ Alkmaar from set pieces. Can they deliver here?]

[Strootman stands over it,] Mike responded, leaning forward in his chair. [His delivery has been spot on all night. AZ Alkmaar need to stay switched on here]

Strootman’s run-up was without rush, his foot connecting with the ball cleanly. The cross was a beauty—a wicked, curling delivery that arced toward the penalty spot, dipping at the last moment.

[What a ball!] Mike exclaimed as the crowd collectively held its breath.

Tim Matavž rose highest, towering above the melee of bodies, his forehead meeting the ball with a resounding thud.

The direction was perfect, the power unstoppable...

[Matavž with the header!] Mike shouted, his voice rising with the ball’s trajectory. [This could be it—]

The net bulged as the ball zipped past Alvarado, who could only flail helplessly, rooted to his spot.

GOOOOOAAALLLL!!!~

The stadium exploded, PSV fans erupting into wild celebration.

[GOOOOOAAALLLL!] Mike’s voice cracked with the intensity. [Matavž restores the lead for PSV! It’s 3-2, and the Philips Stadion has come alive!]

The co-commentator chimed in, his tone filled with admiration. [That’s textbook from Matavž. Perfect timing, perfect execution. He out-jumped everyone, and once he made contact, there was no stopping that]