Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 35: Intense Moments

Chapter 35: Intense Moments

The No. 8 midfielder for Heracles didn’t think twice after intercepting the poorly played pass from Overtoom.

He started the counterattack with a quick ball to his teammate on the left. With a lightning-fast reflexes, the Heracles winger forced AZ Alkmaar’s defense to scramble back.

The home fans were alarmed by his speed and control as he ran up the field with the ball at his feet. Tensed as if he could will the AZ Alkmaar defenders back into position, Benjamin leaned forward on the bench.

Verbeek’s response from the sidelines was instantaneous. His voice broke over the growing muttering of the crowd as he yelled. "Return! Keep an eye on your mark!"

His hands waved wildly, telling his players to reorganize and fill in the gaps in their backline that were now blatantly visible.

Heracles, however, pressed on with intent. The winger pulled AZ Alkmaar’s left-back, Gorter, out of position by passing the ball to a teammate who was running up the right flank.

The teammate received the ball in open space from the winger.

A few home fans stood up and yelled in exasperation, their voices joining the clamor of anxiety and stress that pervaded the stadium.

"Come back!" shouted one man near the front. "Close him down quickly!"

Benjamin felt sick to his stomach. Despite the defenders’ best efforts, Heracles was moving quickly and with ease, as if they had often trained for this exact kind of situations.

A wave of hopelessness washed over him. He had always wanted to be a part of this kind of moment, where he could make a difference by delivering and exceeding expectations.

Within the commentary booth, one of the commentators was so alarmed that he was barely able to control himself.

[Now on the break, Heracles is moving with a deadly intent! This could have disastrous consequences, thus AZ Alkmaar must act swiftly to organize and survive this attack]

Heracles pressed on. Only one AZ Alkmaar defender stood between the goal and the winger who had initiated the attack as he rushed down the right side, approaching the box.

The center-back, Reijnen and right-back Gorter had been the last line of defense when AZ Alkmaar was in the high press to break through Heracles defense.

With Gorter beaten and left behind, Reijnen was at a loss of what to do. As the winger closed in on the 18 yard box, he instantly decided to commit a tackle instead of giving him an opportunity to take a shot.

Gorter lunged at his mark with both legs in a sliding tackle.

The winger however, had expected the challenge so he kicked the ball sideways and leaped over Gorter’s sliding figure, dodging his marker with a swift cut.

"Sh*t!" Gorter cussed out loud as he was dribbled past.

Getting past his final obstacle, the winger relaxed and readied to pull the trigger but soon he tensed up as AZ Alkmaar’s goalie, Alvarado, came charging forward to block his shot.

He instinctively squared the ball to the left side of the box, where another Heracles forward was running in.

The forward touched the ball, aiming for a shot, and Alvarado, despite knowing the outcome still leaped to the side. At least he tried. With the intent to cover as much ground as he could, he sprang forward with his arms spread wide.

There was no hesitation on the part of the Heracles forward. He hit the ball precisely, sending it into the lower left corner.

As the ball shot toward the goal, time appeared to slow down. The crowd prayed for a miracle save while holding their breath.

Alvarado’s fingers barely touched the ball as he extended as far as he could. However, it was insufficient. With a deafeningly faint thud, the ball slid past and struck the back of the net.

Except for the raucous cheers of a small group of Heracles fans, the stadium became silent. When the scoreboard was updated, the vivid numbers revealed what everyone was afraid of:

AZ Alkmaar 1 - 2 Heracles Almelo.

The Commentator’s voice followed up.

[Disappointment for the home fans. AZ Alkmaar is punished by Heracles on the counter!]

[A devastating conclusion following Overtoom’s catastrophic mistake. And that...is his second howler of the new league campaign]

[Heracles have forced AZ Alkmaar to pay for their mistake against-the-run-of-play, even though they had been exerting a lot of effort]

As he stood on the sidelines, Gertjan Verbeek inhaled deeply, his face darkened and his jaw tensed.

His expression was one of frustration, the kind that only a manager could experience after his squad had been so close to victory yet left so vulnerable.

He had a angry look on his face, and Benjamin knew that when they got back together, there would be no consoling words.

The supporters moaned in shock, with some folding their arms in mute annoyance and others shaking their heads.

With his hands up in the air, an elderly fan said, "We’re leaving gaps and gifting them chances. And Overtoom?... He’s been sh*t throughout the game. He should be taken off"

It started in that manner and soon half of the stadium was calling for Overtoom to be taken off the pitch. Soon the yelling of the angry fans became louder.

After assessing the atmosphere, the assistant manager, Martin Haar paused and leaned closer. "Verbeek?"

The manager glanced at him and said in a low, determined voice without missing a beat. "Inform Henriksen, Benjamin, and Adam that they have five minutes to warm up and prepare to come in."

The assistant manager nodded, his eyes narrowing as he made his way directly to the bench where Adam, Henriksen, and Benjamin sat in anxious expectation.

As if forcing himself into the game, Benjamin’s leg hopped in a restless beat as his eyes were fixed on the field.

The assistant manager’s voice sounded, "Benjamin, Henriksen, Adam," making Benjamin’s heart skip a beat, "Get up and warm up, you three. You have five minutes."

A flash of joy swept through Benjamin. He was entering. As he looked at Adam and Henriksen, he could not control the smile that was spreading across his face.

With the opportunity to make an impact driving their motions, the three of them got up and jogged along the sidelines, stretching and getting ready.

As the three young players started their warm-ups, the spectator’s yelling seemed to catch on and temporarily subdue.

AZ Alkmaar players resumed play, their movements had become aggressive, and each pass was delivered with tenacity as they advanced, obviously trying to regain control.

They were on fire from the sting of Heracles’ goal. Each AZ Alkmaar player pressed higher as the ball zipped from foot to foot, attacking with a sense of intensity that reflected their displeasure.

As they charged up the field, Benjamin stared.

Altidore got into position and jumped to meet Marten’s strong cross into the box, but his header went over the bar as it was just a bit too high. The spectators’ collective moan reverberated throughout the stands, creating a tumultuous environment of tension and hope.

Overtoom appeared uncomfortable as he shifted to position and his shoulders were tense out toward the left flank. The midfielder’s head hung low, his movements slowed down a notch, and Benjamin could feel the weight on him.

The chanting went on, louder now, an unrelenting chorus demanding that he be replaced. As if anticipating the inevitable, Overtoom’s face became pale and his eyes darted to the sidelines.

Despite his sympathy, Benjamin remained focused since his opportunity was imminent. This is football, anyone could have such moments and how you responded to that was what matters the most.

As time passed, the ball was soon out of play in the 63rd minute due to a quick clearing by a Heracles defender.

The referee indicated the substitutions by blowing his whistle and pointing to the AZ Alkmaar bench.

Benjamin’s long-awaited time had finally come.