Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 258: Penalty 1

Gerrard hurried to take the corner. He set the ball down, wiped his forehead, and scanned the penalty area. He knew they were close.

He whipped it in—another wicked delivery, dipping and swerving into the heart of the 18 yard box.

Bodies clashed.

Suárez wriggled free, his eyes locked on the ball. He twisted his body, attempting an acrobatic volley—but he Missed!

The ball bounced through the crowded area, skipping dangerously along the six-yard box.

Jamie Carter: [It’s still loose! Who’s there?]

Scrambling defenders and desperate attackers lunged for it. The ball deflected off an Alkmaar defender’s knee, rolling straight into Skrtel’s path.

Skrtel swung his foot and made contact!

Rob Townsend: [Skrtel—]

Blocked again!

Reijnen threw himself in front of it, the ball smashing against his chest before he collapsed to the ground, winded.

The ball spun out of the 18 yard box. Liverpool weren’t done.

Sterling reacted first, darting after it. He caught it just outside the penalty area, took a touch, then another—he saw a gap.

Jamie Carter: [Sterling—can he find a way through?]

The young winger twisted, dropping his shoulder, sending Gorter the wrong way. With a snap of his right boot, he drilled the ball low and hard toward the far post.

Alvarado dived.

The ball whizzed past his fingertips—but fortunately for him, it brushed the outside of the post!

Rob Townsend: [Agonizingly close! Sterling nearly found the equalizer!]

Gasps filled Anfield. Heads went into hands. Sterling slapped the turf in frustration. He knew how close he had been.

Jamie Carter: [Liverpool are getting closer and closer. AZ Alkmaar are hanging on by a thread here!]

AZ Alkmaar Feel the Pressure

Alvarado, still catching his breath, took a moment before collecting the ball. His teammates signaled for him to slow things down. Time was their ally now.

The referee glanced at his watch. 60th minute.

Alvarado finally booted it long. The ball soared toward the halfway line, where Altidore battled with Carragher. The big striker managed to get a flick-on, nodding it toward Berghuis.

Berghuis stretched a leg—

But Lucas got there first. He intercepted smoothly, then immediately turned defense into attack, spraying a pass wide to Johnson.

Rob Townsend: [Liverpool refuse to let AZ Alkmaar breathe! They’re coming again!]

Johnson accelerated down the right, weaving past one defender, then another. He squared it inside to Gerrard, who let it roll across his body before firing a first-time pass forward.

Straight to Suárez.

Jamie Carter: [Suárez in the 18 yard box—]

Suárez twisted sharply, his movement unpredictable. He faked a shot, forcing Viergever to dive in—then skipped past him effortlessly.

Only Alvarado stood between him and the equalizer.

Rob Townsend: [Suárez—]

The Uruguayan fired low—Alvarado parried!

The rebound spilled to the left. Downing arrived, stretching to meet it—Another block!

This time, Johansson threw himself across the line, the ball smacking off his shin before rolling away.

Jamie Carter: [How many more times can AZ Alkmaar survive this?!]

The pressure was suffocating. Liverpool had them pinned back, trapped inside their own 18 yard box. The red shirts swarmed forward, refusing to let the ball escape.

Henderson picked it up on the edge of the area. He took a touch, steadied himself, and struck it sweetly—

The shot flew toward goal—Alvarado tipped it over!

Rob Townsend: [Another crucial save! Alvarado is having the game of his life!]

Jamie Carter: [He just won’t be beaten! Liverpool are throwing everything at him, and he’s answering every single challenge!]

The resulting corner was swung in again. This time, Agger met it first. His header thundered toward the bottom corner—

But Alvarado was there again! Another diving save, pushing it away from danger.

The crowd groaned. Liverpool’s players looked at each other, disbelief written across their faces.

Gerrard, hands on his hips, took a deep breath.

The game ticked into the 65th minute. AZ Alkmaar had all eleven men behind the ball, fighting for every inch.

Jamie Carter: [There’s still 25 minutes to play. Can they hold out?]

Liverpool surged forward once more. Gerrard, always the leader, drove through midfield. He slipped the ball through a tiny gap to Suárez, who turned and struck—

Straight at Alvarado!

Rob Townsend: [Once again, the AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper stands firm!]

Alvarado grabbed the ball and clutched it tightly, refusing to let go. The clock kept ticking.

Liverpool attacked with everything they had. Crosses rained in. Shots flew toward goal. But AZ Alkmaar refused to break.

The relentless pressure mounted. Liverpool’s attacks were like massive waves crashing against a wall, but cracks were beginning to show.

Gerrard received the ball near the center circle and immediately drove forward, determination burning in his eyes. He spotted Suárez making a run, a brief gap opening in Alkmaar’s defensive line.

A perfectly weighted pass slipped through.

Suárez latched onto it inside the 18 yard box, twisting his body to shield the ball as Viergever lunged in.

Unfortunately, Viergever’s trailing foot caught him from behind. Suárez tumbled exaggeratedly, his arms outstretched as he crashed onto the grass.

Fweeeeee!~

The referee’s whistle cut through the Anfield air.

Jamie Carter: [Penalty! The referee points to the spot!]

The stadium erupted—half in protest, half in anticipation.

Rob Townsend: [That’s the decision Liverpool were waiting for! Suárez, clever as always, felt the contact and immediately went down comically. But was there enough contact in it? Who knows!]

Replays showed Viergever’s knee clipping Suárez’s ankle just as he spun away. A soft foul, but a foul nonetheless.

The AZ Alkmaar players swarmed the referee with their arms raised, pleading their case. Viergever shook his head in defense, frustration etched across his face.

Jamie Carter: [They’re furious, but the decision is made. Liverpool have a golden chance to level the game]

Suárez picked himself up, wiping the sweat from his face. He placed the ball on the spot, took a step back, and exhaled.