Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 262 - 4 Minutes Added Time

Chapter 262: 4 Minutes Added Time

Reina took his time. He bounced the ball once, twice—then sent a booming kick upfield.

Jamie Carter: [Reina’s in no rush now. Liverpool just want to see this out.]

The ball sailed over the midfield, Sturridge challenging Reijnen in the air. The defender won the header, nodding it down to Adam, but immediately, Gerrard was on him.

Adam barely had a second—Gerrard barged in, shoulder to shoulder, and the ball spilled loose.

Rob Townsend: [Gerrard again! He’s everywhere!]

Shelvey reacted first, swooping in and stabbing it wide to Johnson. The right-back pushed forward before laying it off to Henderson, who had just come on.

Jamie Carter: [Liverpool keeping it simple now. Short passes, killing the clock.]

Henderson knocked it back to Agger, who shifted it across to Skrtel. The center-backs exchanged passes, forcing AZ Alkmaar to chase shadows.

Benjamin exhaled sharply on the bench, his jaw tightening. He could see it. Liverpool weren’t just defending—they were controlling the tempo. AZ Alkmaar needed the ball, and Liverpool weren’t giving it to them.

AZ Alkmaar’s press grew desperate. Victor Elm sprinted toward Skrtel, forcing him to play it long.

A rare mistake—too much power. The ball skipped out for a throw-in near AZ Alkmaar’s bench.

Jamie Carter: [That’s what AZ Alkmaar need. A little pressure, force Liverpool into mistakes. But is there enough time?]

Gertjan Verbeek grabbed the ball himself, tossing it to his full-back, urging him to restart quickly.

Rob Townsend: [If they’re going to do something, Jamie, it has to be now.]

Viergever threw it down the line to Beerens, who turned sharply and sprinted forward. He skipped past Enrique, knocking the ball into space—

The crowd tensed.

Jamie Carter: [Here’s Beerens! This is promising!]

Beerens glanced up, saw Altidore making a run into the 18 yard box, and whipped in a cross.

It was a good one—whipped, dangerous.

Altidore launched himself at it—

But Reina was there! The goalkeeper threw himself forward, punching the ball clear before the striker could connect.

Rob Townsend: [Brave goalkeeping! Reina had to get that right!]

The ball landed with Suárez. Instead of clearing, he flicked it past Adam and turned upfield.

Jamie Carter: [And now Liverpool break again!]

Suárez drove forward, skipping past one challenge, then another. The space opened up in front of him—

Jamie Carter: [Suárez might go himself!]

The Uruguayan reached the edge of the 18 yard box, shaped to shoot—

Then slid a pass to Sturridge instead!

Rob Townsend: [Sturridge—!]

Sturridge took a touch, steadied himself. Then curled it toward the far corner—

CLANG!~

Anfield gasped. The ball smacked off the upright and spun away, just inches from sealing the game.

Jamie Carter: [Oh my word! That would’ve wrapped it up!]

Alvarado scrambled to his feet, rushing to collect the rebound. AZ Alkmaar were still alive.

But time was running out.

86 minutes.

AZ Alkmaar surged forward once more.

Benjamin stood now, hands clenched into fists at his sides. He couldn’t do anything—but he willed his team forward.

Jamie Carter: [AZ Alkmaar throwing everything at this! Can they find one more chance?]

Elm clipped a pass into Adam, who spun and found Beerens out wide.

Beerens took a deep breath. This had to be perfect.

He drove down the flank, Johnson keeping pace beside him. The winger hesitated, then chopped back onto his left foot and delivered—

A curling cross, deep to the far post. Guðmundsson attacked it—but Skrtel rose highest, powering a header clear.

Jamie Carter: [Big, big header from Skrtel! Liverpool are holding firm!]

The ball dropped to Adam outside the 18 yard box. He controlled it with his thigh, eyes darting for an opening. Henderson rushed to close him down—

Adam feinted left, then right, and fired a shot—

Blocked!

Agger threw himself in the way, the ball smacking off his knee and ricocheting back toward the halfway line.

Rob Townsend: [They just can’t get through! Liverpool are putting their bodies on the line!]

AZ Alkmaar weren’t done. Viergever rushed forward, recovering the ball before Suárez could reach it. He quickly spread it wide to Beerens again.

Beerens didn’t hesitate—one touch, then another cross, low and hard—

Chaos in the 18 yard box. The ball pinballed between legs—

Jamie Carter: [Loose ball—who’s there?!]

Elm reacted first! He swung a boot—

Straight at Reina!

Rob Townsend: [Reina saves!]

The Liverpool keeper smothered the ball against his chest, curling over it as AZ Alkmaar players swarmed around him in frustration.

Jamie Carter: [That might be their last chance!]

Reina took his time, rolling onto his back before finally getting up. He glanced at the clock—88 minutes.

AZ Alkmaar had minutes—seconds—to find something.

Reina finally punted the ball long. Sturridge fought for it, but Reijnen won the header again, nodding it toward Adam.

Adam sprinted forward, desperate, but Henderson stuck a foot in, disrupting his run. The ball trickled sideways—Suárez latched onto it.

Jamie Carter: [And Liverpool have it again!]

Suárez slowed things down, rolling his foot over the ball, teasing the defenders. He shifted left, then darted right, drawing a desperate foul from Elm.

Fweeeee!~

The referee blew the whistle. Free kick, Liverpool.

Rob Townsend: [That might do it, Jamie. Liverpool are just running the clock down now.]

Suárez grinned as he got up, dragging the ball away from Adam, who snatched it back angrily.

Jamie Carter: [AZ Alkmaar know it too. They’re frustrated. Time is slipping away]

90 minutes.

The fourth official held up the board—4 minutes added on.

A final flicker of hope for AZ Alkmaar.

Reina played it short. Liverpool weren’t in a rush. Gerrard exchanged passes with Henderson, then sent it back to Agger.

Benjamin clenched his fists on the bench. He wanted to be out there. He needed to be out there.

Rob Townsend: [AZ Alkmaar need the ball. But Liverpool aren’t giving them a sniff.]

Suárez danced on the left, shielding the ball near the corner flag.

Viergever lunged in but he missed.

Suárez dragged the ball back, rolled it to Enrique, who drilled a low pass toward Sturridge inside the 18 yard box.

Sturridge flicked it behind his standing foot, tricking Reijnen—