Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 246: Full-time Analysis 1

Chapter 246: Full-time Analysis 1

Twente couldn’t believe it. Their players had their hands on their heads, staring at the AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper in frustration.

Boschker, all the way from his goal, was waving them forward. Time was slipping away.

[They’re running out of time,] Erik said. [This has to be one of their last chances.]

Twente played the corner short again, hoping to catch AZ Alkmaar off guard. Tadić faked a cross, then darted inside, creating space before whipping in a curling delivery.

Bjelland rose above everyone but his header flashed wide!

[Another missed chance!] Ronald groaned. [They just can’t find the target!]

The AZ Alkmaar fans erupted in celebration. They knew that had to be the last real threat.

Alvarado took his time with the goal kick. He adjusted his socks, looked around, let the clock run down just a little more before launching it long.

The ball soared through the night sky, falling to Altidore, who used his strength to hold it up. He shielded it, wasting valuable seconds before laying it off to Martens.

Martens took his time, rolling it back to Johansson, who sent it even further back to Alvarado.

[This is smart,] Erik said. [They don’t need another goal—they just need control.]

Twente chased, but their legs were heavy now. The fight was there, but the energy wasn’t.

The referee glanced at his watch.

A few more passes. A few more seconds drained from the clock.

Fweeee!~ Fweeeee!~ Fweeeeeee!~

[And that’s it!] Erik roared. [AZ Alkmaar survive!]

The final whistle blew, and the AFAS Stadion erupted.

Alvarado fell to his knees, arms raised. His teammates rushed to him, patting his back, ruffling his hair. He had done it. He had kept them ahead when it mattered most.

[Heroic performance,] Ronald said. [Twente will be wondering how they didn’t score more, but Alvarado had all the answers.]

The Twente players collapsed to the ground, exhausted. They had created chances, but they hadn’t taken them.

McClaren shook his head on the sidelines, running a hand through his hair. He knew his team had done everything, but it just wasn’t their night.

[This was a battle,] Erik said. [Twente gave it their all, but AZ Alkmaar held strong.]

The home fans chanted, celebrating the hard-fought win.

A night of grit. A night of heart. A night where Alvarado stood between Twente and a comeback.

A night where AZ Alkmaar proved they were still a force to be reckoned with.

[What a night of football,] Erik said, shaking his head in admiration. [AZ Alkmaar, under pressure for large parts of the second half, somehow held on. And you have to say, Esteban Alvarado was the difference tonight.]

[Without a doubt,] Ronald replied, exhaling. [Twente threw everything at them—crosses, shots, short corners, you name it—but Alvarado stood tall. That save from Tadić’s strike? That could be the save of the season.]

[It’s moments like those that win you games,] Erik agreed. [Twente had the ball, they had the chances, but if you don’t take them, you leave yourself vulnerable. And AZ Alkmaar, well, they took theirs.]

Ronald gestured to the screen as the replay of Jozy Altidore’s goal played. [This right here—this is what separates good teams from great teams. One moment of real quality. A precise pass, a clever turn, and a clinical finish.]

[And look at the composure,] Erik added, pointing at the slow-motion replay of Altidore calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. [A lot of strikers would have panicked there. But not him. That’s why he’s such a key player for AZ Alkmaar.]

The camera panned to Steve McClaren, still pacing on the touchline, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

[You can see the frustration,] Ronald said. [He knows his team played well enough to get something from this game. But football isn’t about playing well—it’s about putting the ball in the net.]

[Exactly,] Erik nodded. [Twente won’t take much comfort in ’almost’ scoring. They’ll be heading home thinking about those wasted chances. And let’s not forget—this result shakes up the league table. Let’s check out Matchday 8 results]

The broadcast shifted to the updated Eredivisie fixture report.

Ronald nodded. [Every point matters, especially in a league this tight. And look at some of these results from Matchday 8—Groningen held Feyenoord to a 2-2 draw, Ajax slipped up at home against Utrecht with a 1-1 draw, and PSV? Well, they absolutely tore NAC Breda apart, winning 4-0.]

[That’s a statement from PSV,] Erik added. [They’re reminding everyone they’re still in this race. And how about Roda JC? A 3-0 win over Venlo. They needed that.]

[Definitely,] Ronald agreed. [And let’s not forget Vitesse-Heerenveen—a six-goal thriller that ended 3-3! If you love attacking football, that was the game to watch.]

[Speaking of dominant performances,] Erik said as the highlight reel switched, [Heracles put in a solid shift with a 3-0 win over Zwolle. And Willem II grabbed a crucial 1-0 victory over Waalwijk, while Nijmegen and Den Haag shared the points with another 1-1 draw.]

[But the biggest result of the night?] Ronald gestured at the screen, where the final score of AZ Alkmaar vs. FC Twente remained frozen. [AZ Alkmaar 4, Twente 2. A game of high intensity, drama, and, ultimately, a brilliant home victory.]

The cameras cut back to the AFAS Stadion, where the home fans were still singing, savoring the win.

The players had finished their post-match handshakes, some exchanging shirts, others stretching on the pitch, taking it all in.

[You can feel the energy in the stadium,] Erik said. [These fans know this win means more than just three points. It’s a message. AZ Alkmaar aren’t here to make up the numbers—they’re in the title race.]

Ronald chuckled. [And with performances like this, they’ll stay there. Alvarado, Altidore, Benjamin, Martens—big players stepping up in big moments. That’s what you need in a long season.]

[Couldn’t have said it better,] Erik replied. [Matchday 8 delivered, and something tells me this Eredivisie season has a lot more surprises in store.]