218 One on One (2/2)
He rushed to the sideline. When he discovered that the ball had not entered the goal, he scratched his head with some embarrassment.
But he did not lose heart, because he saw a scene full of hope.
Albertini was leading George Wood to run forward, and taught him step by step how to pass the ball and position himself; Wood did well, too.
He rarely emphasized offense in the center. The Forest team was a team that placed importance on offense through the wings. However, if Wood could develop quickly, the center could also become an important trigger point.
Viduka had wasted Albertini's incredible pass. It was almost impossible to get another opportunity like that in the game because a high-caliber opponent like Arsenal was very adept at self- adjustment.
But Albertini did not grumble about Viduka. Instead, he stepped forward to pat the Australian on the shoulder and ruffled his short hair. Without a word, he ran to the spot for the corner ball. He was also the Forest team's player in the first position for the place kick.
While the team was using a place kick to attack, Twain's task for Wood was to be at the back to defend. Hierro and Upson both ran up, and Wood turned and ran back. Standing in his position and looking at the crowded penalty area, he was still relishing his recent drive.
Twain asked him to learn the Italian's playing style and how to handle the ball. So he watched Albertini very closely during the game. He remembered the scene of Albertini letting him press on, but not passing the ball to him. Instead, he had passed the ball to Viduka. Honestly, he had not even anticipated it. He had not seem Viduka's position while he was pressing on. Furthermore, he was even facing Viduka; Albertini's back was to him. How had he known that Viduka was inside the penalty area?
And there was also the long pass in the first half. It was so accurate! He had never kicked a pass that was more than fifteen meters long, but the team captain's pass was estimated to be fifty meters! He seemed to know in advance that area had no opponents, and knew in advance that Ashley Young would run up, and then he had timed his pass perfectly. It was amazing!
Wood almost never admired anyone, and would not say good things about others. However, at this time, he sincerely admired his team captain and mentor who did not speak much English.
Just as he had snapped out of his thoughts, the Forest team's corner ball was kicked.
Lehmann did not feel reassured by the center back, Cygan. He stood in between the two men and struck out Albertini's corner. Fàbregas beautifully dropped the ball outside the penalty area. George Wood was still in the Forest team's midfield area. Now no one could threaten him, and he could finally handle the ball comfortably.
Henry was starting to make a move!
He scanned this point from the corner of his eye, immediately shot a direct pass and sent the football accurately to the foot of the team captain.
”Arsenal counterattacks! Their speed is incredible!”
The Forest players ran back as if their lives depended on it, but for a veteran like Hierro, the mind was willing, but the body was powerless.
”The Forest team's singlehanded shot boosted the players' morale, and almost everyone rushed up for the corner ball; maybe they thought that they were close to scoring a goal… but now, the Forest team's large-scale pressure made the Arsenal players feel like they're closer to the goal!”
”Now, except for the goalkeeper, Darren Ward, the only Forest players in the backfield are the left back, Leighton Baines, and George Wood! Arsenal's counterattack is swift. Except for Henry, Pennant and Pirès have quickly followed up, three against two! An excellent opportunity for Arsenal… not to be missed!”
As Taylor was shouting excitedly, Twain was not excited at all. He cursed, ”Damn it!”
He suddenly remembered one of Henry's goals. It was Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur's throw-in ball was headed by one of the Arsenal players; then Henry received the ball in the midfield, and began a long-range raid. Through the change of speed and rhythm, he continuously flashed past the interception of Matthew Etherington, Stephen Carr, Ledley King and other Tottenham Hotspur players, and finally shot the ball into the Tottenham Hotspur's goal, which helped Arsenal win with a score of 3:0.
That had happened in November 2002. Was he going to replicate it in the City Ground in 2004?
Ribéry chased Henry at full speed and dived behind the opponent to shovel him, at the risk of getting a red card.
It was as if Henry had eyes on the back of his head. He accelerated the ball forward, then jumped just in time to escape Ribéry's dive, and continued to move forward!
Everyone in the stands, whether they were Forest fans or Arsenal fans, all stood up from their seats.
Would this be another magnificent goal for the Arsenal fans to relish? Or were the forest fans about to be humiliated?
”Henry broke through Ribéry! Now, the only man in his way is George Wood!”
※※※
George Wood looked up at Henry, who was driving the ball towards him, and did not show any confusion or panic. There was no time for him to do such a thing. Henry was charging like the wind.
Do I commit a foul? Or should I…
Henry would not give Wood time to make a choice. He suddenly slowed down and let Wood think that he was about to do a feint to bypass him. Wood was fooled, and lowered his center of gravity.
Henry was delighted to see this. He was the most frustrated person in this game. The Arsenal midfield was completely restrained by the destructive play of the Forest team, and was unable to support him effectively. And when he had finally gotten the ball after much difficulty, he was surrounded by the Forest players and it was hard to break through. Now it would all be okay; as long as he bypassed this kid in front of him, it would be wide open ahead!
Wood had just dropped his center of gravity when he saw Henry suddenly poke the ball outwards and then speed up! He overtook him from the side!
”And he has broken through!”
He had forced a breakthrough!
Wood's reaction was also quick. The cheers of the Arsenal fans had just begun to ring out when he turned around and chased Henry.
He did not give up; he did not know how to give up. All he knew was that Twain had told him to keep the defensive line safe, not to let his opponents break through right in front of him, and he had to do it. This is my job. If I can't do this, how am I supposed to get paid?
With this in mind, Wood pounced towards Henry.
”Oh, no! He didn't shake him off! The distance between George Wood and Henry isn't widening!” Andy Gray exclaimed. Even he did not think that George Wood's speed was on par with Henry's, who was widely recognized as a speedy striker.
”Get past him!!” The Arsenal fans leaned forward and shouted in the stands.
”Stop him!” The Forest fans roared, waving their fists.
Henry was a little surprised to find himself entangled again. He knew it was that Number 13, whom he had not expected to be so tenacious. He decided to switch gears again, and stopped suddenly. He pushed the ball slightly leftward with the outside of his left foot; Wood missed his aim and overshot. Henry started again and was going to catch up with the football, thinking that he should have completely shaken off this troublesome shadow now.
No!
After Wood found that he had missed his target, he came to a sudden stop as well, and then turned around, hurled himself across, and dived towards the ball at the fastest speed he could muster.
He might lack experience in his technique compared to Henry, but in terms of physical fitness, he would not lose out to anyone.
The football was rolling in front of Henry; as long as he could get over to it, he could do it with a single shot....
Suddenly, a foot cut in front of his eyes, and the football was swept by that foot and flew out!
Damn it!
Who's this?!
When Henry jumped up to avoid the leg, he saw that the man lying on the ground was Number 13!
How—can—this—be—possible?! Where did he come from? I clearly shook him off! He couldn't possibly have show up again!
The seasoned Henry stared wide-eyed at George Wood, and watched him get up from the ground and stagger along to kick the football in front of him out of the sideline, despite the fact that there was no other Arsenal player apart from him. He could take control of the ball and seize the opportunity to give Arsenal a chance to fight back.
”What a hero! George Wood!!”
Gray used the tone reserved for cheering after a goal to shout Wood's name.
When Henry first had begun to speed up his dribbling, bypass Ribéry, and charge across the center circle, who would have had the slightest confidence that Wood could stop the King of Arsenal from moving forward?
When Henry was switching gears between fast and slow to break through him, who would believe that this kid could still turn around and stick to him?
When Henry used the sudden stop to make Wood overshoot, how many people had already thought that Henry had succeeded?
The kid had done it. Even though nobody knew how, he had surprised everyone. He successfully defended against a world-class striker in a one-on-one defense of the rapid dribbler, Henry.
The moment when they saw him turn around to intercept the ball from an impossible position, forcing Henry to jump up, was even more exciting than watching a goal being scored!
The fans felt the same way. The chants of ”Wood! Wood!” over the City Ground were louder than the ones that had come after Eastwood's goal.
Albertini rushed back and hugged Wood. He then slapped him on the back and shouted repeatedly, ”Well done! Well done!”
He almost gave up when he was still running forward at that moment, and many of his teammates probably had the same thought. But George Wood's performance spurred them, and they sped up their slowing pace. They gritted their teeth and ran back, panting, to their defensive positions.
Met with Albertini's praise, George Wood did not have a happy expression on his face, but his heart was a little excited.
This feels terrific!