Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 242: Goalkeeping Brilliance

Chapter 242: Goalkeeping Brilliance

Martens arrived late in the 18 yard box, stretching to meet it—but Wisgerhof got a crucial touch, deflecting the ball away from goal.

[What a vital interception!] Erik said. [That could’ve been number four for AZ Alkmaar!]

Twente weren’t giving up, though. Brama won the second ball and quickly released Tadić again.

[This is end-to-end stuff!] Ronald said, barely catching his breath.

Tadić drove forward, twisting past Marcellis before threading a through ball toward Castaignos.

He was one-on-one with Alvarado.

[Castaignos! This is the moment—] Erik shouted.

Castaignos took the shot early, aiming low for the far corner—But Alvarado made himself big, blocking it with his outstretched foot!

[Unbelievable save!!] Ronald roared. [Alvarado denies Castaignos again!]

The Twente striker fell to his knees, hands on his head, disbelief on his face.

[He should be scoring that,] Erik said. [Twente’s biggest chance of the game, and Alvarado comes up huge!]

The AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper punched the air in triumph as his teammates rushed to him in appreciation.

[You can see what that means to him,] Ronald added. [He knows how important that stop was!]

The crowd erupted, applauding the incredible action.

[This game is wide open,] Erik said. [Twente are throwing everything at AZ Alkmaar, but they just can’t find a way past Esteban Alvarado!]

[And if they don’t take their chances,] Ronald warned, [they might just get punished at the other end.]

Twente weren’t slowing down. They needed a goal, and they needed it fast. Brama, leading by example, won a crunching midfield duel and quickly spread the ball wide to Tadić.

[Tadić again,] Erik noted. [He’s been their brightest spark in the second half]

Tadić feinted left, then cut inside past Marcellis, creating just enough space to curl in a dangerous cross.

Castaignos made a late dart toward the near post, trying to shake off Reijnen—

[Great delivery!] Ronald shouted. [Castaignos is there!]

But Reijnen, showing his experience, got a slight nudge in, just enough to disrupt the striker’s leap. Castaignos’ header lacked power, and Alvarado comfortably gathered the ball.

[That’s frustrating for Twente,] Erik said. [Castaignos got there, but he couldn’t generate enough force on the header.]

Alvarado wasted no time. He rolled the ball out to Henriksen, who immediately turned and spotted a gap.

[And here come AZ Alkmaar again,] Ronald said. [They’ve been lethal on the break tonight.]

Henriksen charged through midfield before sliding a pass to Martens, who had peeled away into space.

Martens took a touch, lifted his head, and then released Benjamin on the left.

[Benjamin’s got space to run into!] Erik shouted. [Rosales is scrambling back—]

But Benjamin was already in full stride. He reached the ball, cut inside sharply, leaving Rosales lunging at thin air, and then squared it across the 18 yard box—

[Altidore! He’s free!] Ronald yelled.

Altidore took a touch to steady himself, then drilled a powerful shot toward the bottom corner—

Boschker dived!

A fingertip save! The ball skidded inches wide of the post!

[What a stop from Boschker!] Erik exclaimed. [Altidore was sure that was in!]

Altidore clapped his hands in frustration but gave Boschker a nod of respect as the veteran keeper pushed himself up.

[Twente are still alive,] Ronald said. [That could’ve been the killer goal for AZ Alkmaar.]

The resulting corner was swung in by Benjamin, but Twente defended it well. The clearance fell to Fer, who immediately looked to launch another attack.

[This game hasn’t slowed down one bit,] Erik said, shaking his head. [Twente are still fighting, but they need that goal soon.]

Fer found Brama, who sent a quick pass out to Tadić. The Serbian winger hesitated, scanning for options before whipping a deep cross into the 18 yard box.

Castaignos and Viergever both jumped—

The ball skimmed off Castaignos’ head, falling kindly to Gutierrez at the back post!

[Chance for Twente!] Ronald shouted.

Gutierrez controlled the ball, took a breath, and lashed a shot—

But Alvarado was there again! He threw himself across goal, parrying the ball wide with a brilliant reflex save!

[Oh my word!] Erik gasped. [Alvarado is putting on a clinic tonight!]

The Twente fans groaned in disbelief, hands in their hair.

[Castaignos, Gutierrez—both denied in quick succession!] Ronald said. [What more do they have to do to beat Alvarado?!]

McClaren clapped furiously on the touchline, urging his players on.

[Twente have had the chances,] Erik said, voice tight with tension. [But if they don’t score soon, AZ Alkmaar will punish them on the counter.]

The clock ticked past the 50th-minute mark. AZ Alkmaar stayed compact while playing a highline, absorbing the pressure as Twente pushed forward in search of a way back into the game.

Brama collected a loose ball in midfield and quickly shifted it out wide to Rosales, who surged forward, looking to whip in a cross into the 6 yard box.

[Twente aren’t giving up,] Erik said. [But they have to make these moments count.]

Rosales bent in a dangerous delivery toward the penalty spot. Castaignos timed his run perfectly, rising between Reijnen and Viergever—

[Big chance—] Ronald started.

But Castaignos mistimed his jump! The ball skimmed off his head and bounced harmlessly wide.

[That’s another wasted opportunity,] Erik sighed. [He had to do better there.]

Castaignos pounded the turf in frustration as Alvarado calmly retrieved the ball and signaled for his teammates to push forward.

[AZ Alkmaar are managing this well,] Ronald noted. [They’re letting Twente come at them, then looking to hit them on the break]

Alvarado rolled it short to Marcellis, who played a quick one-two with the captain, Martens, before launching a diagonal pass toward Benjamin on the left.

[Here we go again,] Erik said. [Benjamin’s been a nightmare for Twente’s defense tonight.]

Benjamin let the ball run past him before sprinting onto it, leaving his marker, Rosales chasing shadows. He glanced up, saw Altidore peeling away from Wisgerhof in the 18 yard box, and sent in a low driven cross.

[That’s dangerous!] Ronald shouted.

Altidore lunged for it—