Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 80: League Table

Chapter 80: League Table

The final whistle seemed to have released the tension that had built over the match, but the excitement lingered like electricity in the air.

The AZ Alkmaar players gathered near the center circle, exchanging handshakes and embraces, their faces glowing with satisfaction.

[It’s been a statement performance, Martin,] Dirk said, his voice brimming with admiration. [AZ Alkmaar didn’t just get the much needed three points, they dominated in every department]

[Absolutely,] Martin agreed while leaning forward as the camera panned to Gertjan Verbeek. The coach stood near the technical area with his arms crossed but his expression betraying a hint of pride. [And credit to Gertjan Verbeek for setting up the team to play with such intent tonight. They never took their foot off the pedal]

The focus shifted to the stands, where fans waved flags and sang loudly. Many held up scarves with "AZ Alkmaar" written on them, their joy as infectious as the performance they’d just witnessed.

[Listen to this crowd, Dirk,] Martin said. [You can feel the connection between the fans and the team. Nights like this remind you why football’s called the beautiful game]

The camera caught Benjamin who was sitting on the bench, and now covered in a large coat to ward off the evening chill.

Despite his exhaustion, he wore a satisfied smile as he clapped along with the fans. Martens sat beside him, sharing a quiet word that earned a nod and a small chuckle from the teenager.

[You have to wonder what’s going through Benjamin’s mind right now,] Dirk mused. [Two goals, three assists—it doesn’t get much better than that for a 17-year-old]

[He’s living the dream,] Martin replied. [And what’s scary for opponents is that this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come from him]

As the players made their way around the pitch to acknowledge the fans, Benjamin joined them, still looking slightly in awe of the roaring crowd.

Supporters near the touchline reached out their hands. He took a moment to shake the hands, sign a few shirts and also give out his match worn jersey to a young fan, his humility shining through.

[Look at that, Dirk,] Martin said, his voice softening. [The fans love him, and he’s giving that love right back. That’s what you want to see from a young player]

[It’s not just about talent; it’s about character,] Dirk added. [Benjamin’s got both in abundance]

[But you know everyone’s going to be talking about Benjamin tomorrow] Dirk remarked.

[And not just tomorrow,] Martin replied. [If he keeps this up, he’ll be a headline name for years to come]

[Alright, Dirk, let’s shift focus a bit,] Martin said, his tone transitioning to a more analytical one. [With this game wrapping up Matchday 3, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the league table. There’s already a lot to unpack]

The large screens in the stadium showing the postmatch activities, switched to the league table and the concluded Matchday 3 fixtures:

*****

P Teams Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts

1 Ajax 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9

2 PSV 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7

3 Utrecht 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 7

4 Twente 3 2 1 0 6 4 +2 7

5 ADO n Haag 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6

6 Heerenveen 3 2 0 1 5 9 -4 6

7 Groningen 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5

8 AZ Alkmaar 3 1 1 1 11 3 +8 4

9 RKC Waalwijk 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4

10 Feyenoord 3 1 0 2 5 3 +2 3

11 Willem II 3 1 0 2 2 4 -2 3

12 Heracles 3 0 2 1 2 5 -3 2

13 PEC Zwolle 3 0 1 2 1 5 -4 1

14 NEC Nijmen 3 0 1 2 1 6 -5 1

15 Roda JC 3 0 0 3 0 4 -4 0

16 VVV-Venlo 3 0 0 3 1 6 -5 0

17 NAC Breda 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0

18 Excelsior 3 0 0 3 2 10 -8 0

*****

[Absolutely, Martin,] Dirk agreed. [Let’s start at the top. Ajax—they’re flying, aren’t they? Three wins out of three, nine goals scored, and just one conceded. That’s as good a start as you can hope for]

[It’s the hallmark of a title-winning side and defending champions,] Martin said. [They’ve been clinical and defensively solid. I don’t think anyone’s surprised to see them at the summit]

[But look at the chasing pack,] Dirk continued. [PSV, Utrecht, and Twente—seven points each. That’s shaping up to be a proper battle for those Champions League spots]

[And PSV, in particular,] Martin added. [They’ve looked strong going forward but a bit shaky at the back. Seven goals scored is impressive, but three conceded might be something they’ll want to tighten up]

[Fair point,] Dirk nodded. [And how about Utrecht? They’re quietly going about their business, picking up points without too much fuss. They’ve got a solid base, and I think they’ll be tough to break down this season]

The camera showed the AZ Alkmaar players gathering near the dugout for a quick debrief from Gertjan Verbeek. The coach’s animated gestures suggesting he wasn’t entirely done with his instructions for the night.

[Speaking of solid teams, let’s talk about AZ Alkmaar, Martin,] Dirk said. [They’re currently ninth on the table, but look at that goal difference—+8. That’s better than everyone except Ajax. They’ve been unlucky not to have more points on the board due to their previous fixtures, a 2-2 draw against Heracles Almelo and a 2-1 loss against league leader, Ajax]

[You’re spot on, Dirk,] Martin agreed. [It’s a bit of a false position for them right now. Two tough results earlier in the season, but tonight’s performance shows what they’re capable of. If they can string a few wins together, they’ll climb up quickly]

The screen shifted to a highlight reel, showing AZ Alkmaar’s goals and assists for the match.

[But, Martin, let’s not sugarcoat it for Heerenveen,] Dirk said, bringing the focus back. [They’re seventh on table, but that goal difference—minus four—tells a different story. Tonight was a reality check for them]

[Absolutely,] Martin said. [They started well, but this loss will sting. They’ll need to regroup quickly if they want to stay in that top half of the table]

[And it’s not just Heerenveen who need to bounce back,] Dirk added. [Look at the bottom half—teams like Roda JC and NAC Breda haven’t even picked up a point yet. It’s already looking like a long season for them]

[It’s early days, Dirk, but you’re right,] Martin replied. [You don’t want to fall too far behind. And for teams like AZ Alkmaar, you don’t want to lose sight of that top four]

The commentary paused as the camera returned to the players, who were now walking off the pitch and into the tunnels amidst the continued applause from the crowd.

Gertjan Verbeek lingered for a moment, exchanging a quick handshake with the referee before heading down the tunnel.

[All in all, it’s been a fascinating start to the season,] Dirk concluded. [And Matchday 3 has given us plenty of talking points—big wins, early surprises, and of course, performances like the one we’ve just witnessed from AZ Alkmaar]

[Couldn’t agree more, Dirk,] Martin said. [And with fixtures like the Europa League coming up, it’s only going to get more exciting]

The broadcast cut to a panoramic view of the stadium, the fans still buzzing as they filed out into the night.

[Well, that’s all from us here at the AFAS Stadion,] Martin said. [A fantastic performance from AZ Alkmaar, an unforgettable night for the fans, and plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead]

[Goodnight, everyone,] Dirk added. [We’ll see you next week]

The big screens faded to black...

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This Chapter is dedicated to all the readers who are supporting this novel. I am truly happy and motivated after seeing the support this novel is receiving.

If you guys keep supporting the novel like this, I will try to upload 3 Chapters daily starting next month.

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