Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 254: Pressure

Chapter 254: Pressure

Benjamin drove forward, gliding past Allen with ease, then shifting past Lucas with a quick flick of his boot.

Rob Townsend: [Benjamin isn’t fazed! Look at the control, the balance—]

He pushed forward with purpose, scanning the field. Berghuis was making a run on the right, and Altidore was lingering on the shoulder of Carragher.

Benjamin had options.

Jamie Carter: [Liverpool need to be careful. Benjamin is at his best when he’s dictating the game like this.]

He took one more touch before sliding a precise through ball between Agger and Johnson. Berghuis sprinted onto it, taking the pass in his stride.

Anfield tensed.

Berghuis took a quick glance at the 18 yard box before whipping in a low cross.

It fizzed past Carragher, past Reina—straight to Altidore at the back post.

Rob Townsend: [Altidore’s there—]

Altidore lunged, stretching out a leg. He made ontact but the ball skidded just wide.

The American forward sat on the grass, head in his hands. Another chance gone.

Jamie Carter: [Oh, Jozy! That had to go in! He’s missed a penalty, and now he’s missed from six yards out!]

Rob Townsend: [This is turning into a nightmare for him. That was perfect service from Berghuis. AZ Alkmaar could have stolen the lead again!]

Altidore slapped the ground in frustration before picking himself up. Benjamin walked over, giving him a pat on the back. There was no time for sulking.

Meanwhile, Reina urged his team forward, waving his arms. Liverpool weren’t slowing down.

Reina booted the ball long, looking for Suárez. The Uruguayan fought for it in the air, managing to flick it toward Sterling.

Sterling’s first touch killed the ball dead. He was off again, flying down the right.

Viergever hesitated, unsure whether to dive in. That was all the opening Sterling needed. He shifted inside, then outside, then inside again, sending the defender spinning.

Jamie Carter: [Viergever’s got no idea where Sterling’s going!]

Rob Townsend: [Neither do I!]

Sterling finally darted inside, cutting onto his right foot. He saw Suárez making a darting run across the 18 yard box.

He let loose a perfect pass. Suárez let the ball roll across his body, then struck a low and orecise strike.

Alvarado was beaten... But so was the post.

The ball smacked off the outside and rolled out.

Suárez ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He knew that was a chance he usually buried.

Jamie Carter: [Liverpool are knocking hard. AZ Alkmaar need to find a way to breathe, or they’re going to crack.]

Rob Townsend: [And look at Gerrard! He’s demanding more! Liverpool can feel it—momentum is on their side.]

Gerrard clapped his hands, shouting instructions. His voice cut through the noise.

AZ Alkmaar tried to slow the game again, passing sideways, holding possession. But Liverpool smelled blood.

Lucas pressed high, forcing Martens to rush a pass and Allen intercepted.

He sent the ball straight to Gerrard who took one touch and then launched a rocket.

Jamie Carter: [Gerrard—]

Alvarado reacted, diving full stretch to his left. His fingertips brushed the ball ever so slightly, but it was just enough to push it wide.

Another groan came loose from the Kop.

Rob Townsend: [Another world-class save! Alvarado is keeping AZ Alkmaar in this game!]

The corner came in quickly. Agger attacked it with a bullet header.

Blocked.

The ball ricocheted out to Johnson at the edge of the 18 yard box. He struck first-time.

Blocked again.

Chaos followed.

Then—The ball fell to Suárez just six yards out.

Jamie Carter: [It’s Suárez! Surely this time—]

But just as he swung his foot, a blur of white lunged in.

Benjamin.

He slid in with a perfectly timed tackle, his boot knocking the ball away just before Suárez could connect.

The stadium gasped.

Rob Townsend: [What a tackle! Benjamin Rijkaard, saving AZ Alkmaar at one end after nearly setting up a goal at the other!]

Jamie Carter: [That’s top-class awareness. He saw the danger, reacted instantly. He’s a special player, Rob.]

Benjamin barely had time to get to his feet before the ball was coming right back. Gerrard, never one to slow down, recovered the loose ball and whipped it back into the 18 yard box.

Suárez, still fuming from the missed chance, outmuscled Viergever and got his head to it.

Alvarado dived, his reflexes sharp. He parried it away, but the ball spilled dangerously into the six-yard box.

Rob Townsend: [Another save! But it’s not cleared—]

Carragher charged in, swinging a boot at the rebound.

Blocked.

The ball deflected off Reijnen, bouncing awkwardly toward the penalty spot.

Sterling reacted first. He lunged forward, his right foot poised. But out of nowhere, Henriksen threw his body in front of the shot. A last-ditch block.

Jamie Carter: [Bodies on the line! AZ Alkmaar are defending for their lives!]

The ball spun wide for a corner, but Liverpool weren’t slowing down. Reina, standing near the center circle, was already shouting for his teammates to stay up.

Gerrard jogged over to take the corner, wiping sweat from his brow. He took a deep breath, then whipped in another dangerous cross.

Agger climbed high again, his header powerful, aimed for the far post. It looked destined for the net.

Then Alvarado, at full stretch, tipped it over.

Another roar from the crowd. Another frustrated shake of the head from Agger.

Rob Townsend: [Alvarado AGAIN! This is getting ridiculous!]

Jamie Carter: [That’s five, six, maybe seven crucial saves already! AZ Alkmaar should be trailing by now, but this man refuses to let them go down!]

Alvarado got to his feet, pounding his gloves together, urging his teammates to stay locked in.

But Liverpool’s pressure didn’t let up.

Gerrard took another corner. This time, he drilled it low. It skidded through the crowd, taking a slight deflection—straight to Suárez.

The Uruguayan took a quick touch and pulled the trigger.

Blocked.

Jamie Carter: [Again! AZ Alkmaar just keep getting something in the way!]

The ball deflected back out to the edge of the 18 yard box.

Lucas ran onto it, striking first-time.

It fizzed toward goal, but Viergever lunged, getting just enough of his foot on it to change the trajectory.

The ball looped up, falling into the hands of Alvarado.

The AZ Alkmaar players exhaled.

For the first time in ten minutes, they had a moment to breathe.