Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 284: AZ Alkmaar Draw Level

Chapter 284: AZ Alkmaar Draw Level

Chris: [Maher—OH MY WORD!]

The ball ripped through the air, swerving just as it approached the goal. Coutinho reacted late, diving to his right, but it was too late—

The net bulged and the stadium exploded.

GOOAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!~

Rob: [It’s in! Finally! Adam Maher has done it!]

Adam sprinted toward the corner flag with his fists clenched, roaring into the night. His teammates swarmed him, piling on in a chaotic celebration.

Chris: [They’ve battered the Den Haag defense for 72 minutes, and at last, the equalizer! What a hit from Adam Maher!]

In the stands, fans jumped, screamed, clapped, and let out all the frustration that had built up throughout the match. Even Benjamin, watching from his apartment, leaped to his feet, punching the air.

On the pitch, Den Haag players stood frozen on the spot with hands on their hips, staring at the ground. Their plan had worked for so long—until now.

Rob: [Den Haag defended like warriors, but you always felt AZ Alkmaar had too much. And in the end, it takes something special to break them down.]

Chris: [And what a goal to do it! Power, precision, everything you want from a long-range strike!]

Gertjan Verbeek pumped his fists on the sideline, then immediately started shouting instructions. One goal wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He wanted to win the game.

Den Haag had no choice now. They had to come out. They had to attack.

Chris: [This changes everything. AZ Alkmaar will have more space now. Can they kill the game off?]

The restart was rushed. Den Haag players hurried back into position, eager to respond. The urgency was clear now. They played forward quicker, sent more players into the final third.

But it played right into AZ Alkmaar’s hands.

Adam Maher, still buzzing from his goal, pressed high, winning the ball back almost immediately. He laid it off to Berghuis, who spotted Jóhannsson making a run.

A clever through-ball.

Jóhannsson sprinted in behind and was One-on-one with the keeper!

Chris: [Jóhannsson—this could seal it!]

Jóhannsson took a touch, steadied himself—

Coutinho rushed out, spreading his body wide—

Jóhannsson struck low, but it was saved!

Rob: [Coutinho again! He’s kept Den Haag alive!]

The rebound bounced loose, but a defender hacked it away before Altidore could pounce.

Chris: [AZ Alkmaar smell blood now. They want another one. They don’t want to settle for a draw, they’re hungry for the winner]

Den Haag were wobbling, struggling to regain composure. Their earlier discipline was cracking.

Martens picked up the second ball, feeding it wide to Berghuis, who again looked to drive at his full-back. He twisted one way, then the other, before whipping in a teasing cross.

Altidore rose and connected with a firm header—

But it flew straight at Coutinho.

Chris: [Another chance! But it’s right at the keeper!]

Coutinho clutched the ball to his chest, staying down again. More time wasted. More frustration.

Rob: [He knows what he’s doing. Every second that ticks away is a small victory for Den Haag.]

The referee jogged over, gesturing for him to get up. Boos echoed from the stands. The AZ Alkmaar fans wanted the game moving.

Coutinho finally got to his feet and booted it long. The ball soared past midfield, but Viergever was there, winning the aerial duel and heading it forward.

Martens controlled it with his chest and immediately turned upfield. AZ Alkmaar weren’t slowing down.

Chris: [They want this winner. You can see it in the way they’re playing. They’re pushing for one more goal.]

Martens picked out Berghuis on the right. The winger took off, skipping past his man, cutting inside—

Left-footed curler!

Blocked!

The ball spun loose in the 18 yard box. Scrambling defenders. A tangle of legs. Jóhannsson lunged, trying to poke it toward goal—

Cleared at the last second!

Rob: [Den Haag are hanging on by a thread here!]

The loose ball rolled to Adam Maher, who let it run past him before unleashing another thunderous shot from distance—

Chris: [Adam Maher—]

Just wide!

Gasps filled the stadium. Adam bent over with hands on his knees, exhaling. So close.

Rob: [You can feel the tension. AZ Alkmaar are throwing everything at them. It’s a matter of when, not if.]

Den Haag had barely made it out of their half since the goal. They looked exhausted, their passes rushed, their clearances desperate.

Then—

A misplaced pass.

Chris: [And now AZ Alkmaar come again!]

Martens intercepted in midfield, feeding it to Adam Maher. A quick turn, a sharp pass to Berghuis on the right.

Berghuis lifted his head—

A whipped cross to the back post—

Altidore, lurking just past his marker connected with a powerful header—

Chris: [ALTIDORE!]

GOOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!~

The stadium erupted.

Rob: [There it is! Jozy Altidore wins it for AZ Alkmaar in the 76th minute of the game!]

Altidore tore away in celebration, his teammates chasing after him. Fists pumping. Roars filling the night.

Chris: [They never gave up. They kept pushing, kept believing. And now, they’ve got their reward!]

Rob: [Den Haag defended for their lives, but AZ Alkmaar just had too much. And in the end, it’s Altidore who delivers the knockout punch.]

Gertjan Verbeek clapped furiously on the touchline. He had demanded more—and his players had delivered.

Den Haag players sank to the turf. All that effort, all that resistance, undone in an instant.

Chris: [They gave it everything, but they couldn’t hold on. AZ Alkmaar just wouldn’t be denied tonight.]

But then—

The linesman’s flag shot up.

Chris: [Wait a minute...]

The roar of the crowd faltered. Confusion rippled through the stands. Altidore had wheeled away, fists clenched, but the referee hadn’t pointed to the center circle.

Rob: [Oh no... This might not count.]

The referee jogged over to the sideline, confirming from his assistant. Boos rained down as the AZ Alkmaar players surrounded the official, pleading, gesturing.

Chris: [They can’t believe it. Jozy Altidore had thought he’d won it. The fans thought he’d won it. But the linesman has his flag up.]