Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 198: One-up

Chapter 198: One-up

[This is relentless from AZ Alkmaar,] Mike observed. [They smell blood, and they are not letting up]

This time, Benjamin changed up his delivery. Instead of whipping it into the crowded area, he played it short to Berghuis, who stood just outside the 18 yard box.

[Oh, a short corner—what’s the plan here?]

Berghuis controlled it smoothly, looking up to see Benjamin sprinting around him in a looping run. With a deft touch, he laid it off into Benjamin’s path.

[Here he comes!]

Benjamin didn’t hesitate. With his body leaning slightly over the ball, he struck it first-time with his instep. The shot flew low and hard, threading through a sea of legs in the crowded penalty area.

Chaos erupted.

Defenders scrambled. Van den Kieboom barely saw it until the last second, diving desperately to his left—

But the ball took a wicked deflection off Frank van Mosselveld’s outstretched leg, changing direction completely.

[Deflection! It’s in!!!] Mike screamed. [AZ ALKMAAR TAKE THE LEAD!]

The net rippled, and for a split second, there was silence—before the AZ Alkmaar supporters erupted in celebration. Benjamin turned sharply, his fists clenched as his teammates swarmed him.

[Well, well, well! It took a bit of luck,] the co-commentator laughed. [But if anyone deserves that goal, it’s Benjamin Rijkaard!]

[Two near-misses, and now he finally gets his reward,] Mike added. [AZ Alkmaar are in front, and RKC Waalwijk’s early resistance has been broken]

As the players jogged back to their positions, the replays rolled.

[Let’s take another look at this,] Mike said. [The technique on that strike was top-class, but that deflection... Frank van Mosselveld won’t want to see this again]

[It’s one of those moments, Mike,] the co-commentator added. [He had to try and block it, but he just got unlucky. Either way, AZ Alkmaar won’t care. They’ve got their lead]

The scoreboard changed.

RKC Waalwijk 0-1 AZ Alkmaar

The match restarted, but the momentum had firmly shifted.

RKC Waalwijk wasted no time in trying to respond. From the kickoff, they pushed forward, moving the ball quickly between their midfielders. The home crowd urged them on, their voices rising with each pass.

[Let’s see how RKC Waalwijk react to going behind,] Mike said. [They’ve been disciplined so far, but now they need to show something going forward]

Robert van Dijk picked up possession in midfield, his head on a swivel as he searched for options. He spotted El Makrini making a run down the left and sent a looping pass in his direction.

[That’s a good ball,] the co-commentator noted. [El Makrini’s got space to work with]

El Makrini controlled it well, pushing forward with intent as Elm closed in on him. The wide midfielder feinted to his right before darting inside, cutting across the edge of the 18 yard box.

[He’s looking for an opening...] Mike said, his voice tightening.

El Makrini spotted Mart Lieder making a diagonal run and threaded a precise pass through the AZ Alkmaar defense.

The forward took it in stride, his first touch setting him up perfectly as he neared the penalty area.

[Mart Lieder is in! Big chance for RKC Waalwijk!] the co-commentator shouted.

The AZ Alkmaar defense scrambled. Marcellis rushed in, stretching out a leg, but Lieder shifted his weight just in time, skipping past the challenge. Now it was just him and Esteban Alvarado.

[This is it! Can he level it up?]

Lieder struck it cleanly, aiming low toward the bottom corner.

But Alvarado read his intentions like an open book.

The AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper reacted in a flash, diving sharply to his right and getting the faintest touch on the ball with his fingertips.

[What a save by Alvarado!] Mike bellowed. [That was heading in!]

[That’s top-class goalkeeping,] the co-commentator said, impressed. [Mart Lieder did almost everything right, but Esteban Alvarado just gets enough on it]

The ball rolled out for a corner, and Lieder clutched his head in disbelief. The RKC fans groaned—so close, yet denied.

[That was RKC Waalwijk’s best chance of the match so far,] Mike said. [If Alvarado doesn’t get that touch, we’re looking at 1-1]

The replay flashed on the screen, showing the goalkeeper’s lightning-fast reaction. His fingertips had barely made contact, but it was enough to push the ball just wide.

[He saw it late as well,] the co-commentator added. [That makes it even more impressive]

Imad Najah stepped up to take the corner, placing the ball down before scanning the box.

RKC Waalwijk’s players lined up, jostling for position as Alvarado barked instructions to his defenders.

[Here comes the delivery,] Mike said, the tension rising.

Imad Najah curled the ball in toward the near post, where Dustley Mulder leaped, trying to glance it goalward. But Henriksen was there, his timing perfect as he met the ball first, clearing it high and away from danger.

[Excellent defending from Henriksen,] the co-commentator noted. [He wasn’t taking any risks there]

The clearance fell to Berghuis near the halfway line. With a single touch, he turned and sprinted forward, AZ Alkmaar launching straight into a counterattack.

[And here they go again!] Mike shouted. [AZ Alkmaar looking to hit RKC on the break!]

Berghuis charged forward with intent, his strides long and powerful as he carried the ball over the halfway line.

The RKC Waalwijk defense, still disorganized from the corner, scrambled to regain their shape.

[This is dangerous for RKC Waalwijk!] Mike’s voice climbed with excitement. [AZ Alkmaar have numbers forward, and Berghuis is leading the charge!]

To his left, Benjamin surged ahead, signaling for the pass. On the right, Altidore peeled away from his marker, his movement clever as he drifted into space. Berghuis had options, and he knew it.

[They have to play this right,] the co-commentator noted. [The opportunity is there, but the final ball has to be perfect]

Berghuis feinted a pass to Benjamin before cutting inside onto his left foot, forcing Van Mosselveld to hesitate.

That split-second was all he needed. With a flick of his boot, he slipped the ball through the gap, threading it perfectly into Altidore’s path.

[What a pass! Altidore is through!] Mike shouted.